CB Radios

The cb shop I was at used an external meter to measure it at first and it matched up with the internal meter on the 29. As for the cables I checked as much of it as I could see and they looked well brand new as they should lol. I replaced the stud because my old one was messed up because of me not knowing anything lol and that got my swr down to just a tad below 3. I will try the test of 1 20 and 40 using the internal meter on the radio and see what kind of info that provides. I do want to buy a new antenna because I'm still using the stock one that came with the truck.

I'm debating on wether to go with a standard one or one of those oil filled ones they always have on sale. I figure an antenna upgrade will help regardless. If I do the test and let's say I just buy a shorter antenna will that accomplish the same thing as shortening a long one?

I'm debating on wether to go with a standard one or one of those oil filled ones they always have on sale. I figure an antenna upgrade will help regardless. If I do the test and let's say I just buy a shorter antenna will that accomplish the same thing as shortening a long one?

I don't know anything about oil filled antennas. A wire whip bottom or center loaded will work just fine, as will continuous or helical wound fiberglass antennas.

Any antenna you get will have some kind of loading coil (unless you have an 8 foot whip) regardless of the length of the antenna. Some antennas are not tunable, but most wire whip antennas are. Shortening the antenna means actually adjusting or trimming the antenna, not replacing it with a shorter one.

By the way, for any antenna longer and higher are always better. Thicker is also better for bandwidth, but that's not much of a concern here since the CV band (11 meters) is so narrow to start with.

John, I have a question for you: you've obviously got the big boy's equipment, but what if I don't want to spend more than my radio costs on a Bird? Are the Meters that sell for $25 worth it? Or maybe I should ask, what would you recommend for less than $100?

Most of the cheap meters will work, but remember that any meter that requires calibration (like the SWR meter in your Cobra 29) will give you relative rather than absolute power readings.

I like the MFJ-822 dual needle watt/SWR meter for HF (1.8-200MHz). It is the exact same meter sold under the Diamond label, but is just $60 compared to $90 for the Diamond. It has two power ranges 300 and 30 watts. Although 30 watts is still high for CB work, you will have just under 1/2 scale deflection at full power (4w), so you can be confident of the readings.

Another good thing about this meter is the size. You don't want to give up precious space in your cab to store a Bird. This meter is about the size of a Rubik's cube.

You'll also want the formula to calculate SWR from forward and reflected power. Anyone who is squeamish about math look away now!

SWR = (1 + (R/F)^(1/2) ) / (1 - (R/F)^(1/2) ) where R = reflected power and F = forward power

Yes I have had everything checked out so I guess that's it the linear or they just don't want to answer

Hello fellow truckers, I am having a CB radio crisis. I am looking for a good radio that gets out pretty good. I currently have a cobra 29 which is ok I guess, but a lot of times I get no response from others or I get walked on. What makes for a pretty strong radio? Is it the radio itself or the antenna? I use a Wilson 3000 antenna. Can anyone help me with some suggestions without breaking my wallet? A lil humor there....... Thanks in advance......

That was quick.

You're a funny guy, PackRat

That was quick.

Allll of that. And nobody mentioned a possible bad Mic.

Microphones go bad.

The best radio and best tune but bad mic is bad for the heart. just sayin. Running sand and gravel we were always on the radio 25 tons 25 tons hey man where you going mind your business yada yada... lot a dudes running galaxies... i had an old school cobra 25 from the early 90s tuned right with a good mic and single antenna and never got stepped on. never talked to puerto rico but never got stepped on.