Citizens Band radio question. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

woohog1 · 04-28-2007, 09:32 PM

Howdy all, Im not sure if the is the exact place for this post, but I thought it might be.
I just bought myself a new c.b.radio. I had an old one, for the longest time, but it finallly bit the dust. I installed everything the way it was on the old one, but when I changed out the antannea, I went from a metal anteannea to a fiberglass one. The radio no longer comes on. Does anyone have any ideas what may be wrong? Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

shakran · 04-29-2007, 03:32 PM

I'm guessing you didn't check SWR before you started talking on it. You REALLY need to do that as a high SWR is a very good way to blow out a radio. They're around 20 bucks at Radio Shack. You hook it up inline between the antenna and the radio, then you tune the antenna to get the lowest possible SWR while on channel 20. Takes awhile, but it's worth it. I keep my SWR hooked up permanently - that way if there's a break in the antenna cable the red light comes on and warns me of it before I fry the radio.

JStrider · 04-29-2007, 05:58 PM

yah my money is on the SWR as well, a high swr will kill a radio really fast.

my radio has an swr meter built in, and a red light to lemme know if its too high

woohog1 · 04-30-2007, 10:34 AM

Well I went out and spent some more money to get a new radio. Hooked it up llike I normally do and the thing wont even turn on. I wonder if I am going to have to run it from my battery instead of my fuse block.

JStrider · 04-30-2007, 03:35 PM

did you test the swr?

and if its not turning on at all it may be an issue with the power cable. if you have a voltometer stick it in the holes in the plug and make sure your getting power, if not then check any fuses in the power cable and continuity in each of the wires.

woohog1 · 04-30-2007, 03:43 PM

Ok guys, I got it figured out... Needless to say I needed to check the ground wires on the thing. Problem solved!

Im just wondering how exactly I should calibrate the meter on my c.b. It has a s/rf, SWR, and CAL. What do I need to do to calibrate the sucker? Any help would be appreciated.

04-28-2007, 09:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
woohog1 Crazy Location: Arkansas	Citizens Band radio question. Howdy all, Im not sure if the is the exact place for this post, but I thought it might be. I just bought myself a new c.b.radio. I had an old one, for the longest time, but it finallly bit the dust. I installed everything the way it was on the old one, but when I changed out the antannea, I went from a metal anteannea to a fiberglass one. The radio no longer comes on. Does anyone have any ideas what may be wrong? Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. __________________ God created man, Sam Colt made them equal.

04-29-2007, 05:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	yah my money is on the SWR as well, a high swr will kill a radio really fast. my radio has an swr meter built in, and a red light to lemme know if its too high __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

04-30-2007, 10:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
woohog1 Crazy Location: Arkansas	Well I went out and spent some more money to get a new radio. Hooked it up llike I normally do and the thing wont even turn on. I wonder if I am going to have to run it from my battery instead of my fuse block. __________________ God created man, Sam Colt made them equal.

04-30-2007, 03:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	did you test the swr? and if its not turning on at all it may be an issue with the power cable. if you have a voltometer stick it in the holes in the plug and make sure your getting power, if not then check any fuses in the power cable and continuity in each of the wires. __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

04-30-2007, 03:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
woohog1 Crazy Location: Arkansas	Ok guys, I got it figured out... Needless to say I needed to check the ground wires on the thing. Problem solved! Im just wondering how exactly I should calibrate the meter on my c.b. It has a s/rf, SWR, and CAL. What do I need to do to calibrate the sucker? Any help would be appreciated. __________________ God created man, Sam Colt made them equal. Last edited by woohog1; 05-01-2007 at 05:33 AM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

04-29-2007, 03:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	I'm guessing you didn't check SWR before you started talking on it. You REALLY need to do that as a high SWR is a very good way to blow out a radio. They're around 20 bucks at Radio Shack. You hook it up inline between the antenna and the radio, then you tune the antenna to get the lowest possible SWR while on channel 20. Takes awhile, but it's worth it. I keep my SWR hooked up permanently - that way if there's a break in the antenna cable the red light comes on and warns me of it before I fry the radio.