Cannot get my cb radio tuned
- Thread starter kolelt
- Start date
RockyrT4R
New member
On the bottom part of the stud there is the little threaded part that goes through your metal bracket (antenna mount) make sure the stud part that goes through is NOT touching the mount or it will cause high SWR, I had this problem and put a price of heat shrink on it just enough to keep it from contacting, I also took a price of wire and grounded my antenna at the mount.
hyken
New member
Something that really helped me was going to the Firestick website and reading up on every single article that they have. Firstly, the ground plane doesn't have to be just flat surfaces. The frame and all metal in your car acts as the ground plane provided the antenna is grounded to the frame. Also, transmitting without an antenna is a NO-NO and will burn up the radio in a skinny minute. Here's two things I would try if you cant get the antenna to tune correctly:
Check your antenna system for shorts or opens. If you have continuity between the center pin of the connector and the outer threaded housing, you may have a short. Don't transmit! If you do not find continuity between the center pin of the coax and the antenna base, you have an open. Some base loaded antennas use a center tap design and there will be continuity from ground to center conductor. Also, Firestik "No Ground Plane" antenna kits will have coaxial center pin to ground continuity.
Also, try running a 10 gauge wire from the antenna mount to a solid point on the frame to ground the mount.
All of this from the Firestik website. As far as CBs go, they offer unbiased helpful information. They also recommend not using magnetic mounts unless you need to move the antenna or only use the CB occasionally.
Hope this helps!
Check your antenna system for shorts or opens. If you have continuity between the center pin of the connector and the outer threaded housing, you may have a short. Don't transmit! If you do not find continuity between the center pin of the coax and the antenna base, you have an open. Some base loaded antennas use a center tap design and there will be continuity from ground to center conductor. Also, Firestik "No Ground Plane" antenna kits will have coaxial center pin to ground continuity.
Also, try running a 10 gauge wire from the antenna mount to a solid point on the frame to ground the mount.
All of this from the Firestik website. As far as CBs go, they offer unbiased helpful information. They also recommend not using magnetic mounts unless you need to move the antenna or only use the CB occasionally.
Hope this helps!
DK327
Member
I'll try this myself tomorrow but with a braided ground wire. When I had the Wilson Little Wil (3-foot) mag mount I didn't notice any electrical noise but with the 5-foot Firestik on driver side drifter mount I'm noticing some buzzing, most likely from the alternator when the vehicle's running. This weekend I have Wilson 1000 mag mount coming as well so I'll get a chance to test that and see which 5-foot antenna will yield best performance. I'm guessing it will be Wilson because it's higher and also can be placed in the middle of roof for optimal radiation pattern in all directions...
DK327
Member
Quick Update: The braided ground wire did absolutely nothing. I've since removed the Firestik and drifter mount and put up the Wilson 1000 mag mount right behind the sunroof. The whip is friggin huge at ~60" but it's sweet not having the alternator noise anymore. Radio receive improved even more and SWR seems to be 1:1 midband and 1:1.2 at the edges. Still wondering what happened with the OP's SWR troubles...
SilverRidgeRunner1
Member
I've been running a Wilson 1000 for few years now after having a Fire stick setup u won't be disappointed ... If u want to really play in the atmosphere get yourself a old Galaxy best radio sense sliced bread
Ended up finding a local guy who works with radios for a living. He diagnosed me. Turns out I had a short on the end that goes into the radio. And had to make the MSTUDT cb antenna mount hole bigger so the nylon washer fits into the hole better. Once we did that. He tuned it and everything works. $30 that's it.
Kanoe
New member
ended up being a short, on the mount side and where i soldered the aux cable end.
So now it is tuned and working.
But it doesnt explain why my horn sometimes beeps when i transmit or why my blinker indicators flash!
DK327
Member
i'm glad you got it sorted out. Did you ever get a chance to order that filter I told you about?
no, havent had a chance yet. Currently redoing my 3rd member, i will though try it
Kanoe
New member
Do you know anyone who has a magmount antenna you could borrow for a test? Slap that on your roof and hook it up to the radio. If your problem is RF leakage related, that should take care of it. See if the symptoms go away.
Alternatively, pull that CB out of the dash and set it as far back on the console as you can to get it away from the dash wiring. See if that helps.
It is possible that the coax cable you have is very leaky and blasting your dash area with RF. The above tests should tell you. If this is the case, you need a better quality piece of coax or you have problems with the solder on connector you are using behind the radio.
Alternatively, pull that CB out of the dash and set it as far back on the console as you can to get it away from the dash wiring. See if that helps.
It is possible that the coax cable you have is very leaky and blasting your dash area with RF. The above tests should tell you. If this is the case, you need a better quality piece of coax or you have problems with the solder on connector you are using behind the radio.
Hoffie
New member
This was all very interesting to read. I want to install my Uniden 510 & Wilson magnet mount antenna in the same area - lower center console just behind the sunroof.
In my Duramax, I had a Uniden 980SSB with a K40 antenna. That was a great setup due to the fact that the 980 has an adjustable SWR tune dial to work with any antenna. I did need to add extra grounding straps to both the antenna mount and the radio mount for the optimum readings. That radio really got out.
In my Duramax, I had a Uniden 980SSB with a K40 antenna. That was a great setup due to the fact that the 980 has an adjustable SWR tune dial to work with any antenna. I did need to add extra grounding straps to both the antenna mount and the radio mount for the optimum readings. That radio really got out.
Hoffie
New member
I have found that the best/cheapest place to buy radios is at any truckstop/cb radio shop. They have great prices on radios new and used. Most all of them have been peaked and tuned, as well.
As far as radio features, I really enjoyed having the weather channels on the radio with the weather alert function. It came in real handy when I was a transporter out on the road averaging 11,000 mile a month. The SSB feature did not get used at all. I thought that I would play with it when I was bored driving or falling asleep, but I never did. Multi colored and adjustable lighting is a great feature for day/night driving. I used either bright/green or bright/blue during the day and dim/red at night to reduce glare. Noise canceling mikes are great and only cost on average less than $50. Just remember to hold the mike right up to your lips or the receiving end will not hear you.
As far as radio features, I really enjoyed having the weather channels on the radio with the weather alert function. It came in real handy when I was a transporter out on the road averaging 11,000 mile a month. The SSB feature did not get used at all. I thought that I would play with it when I was bored driving or falling asleep, but I never did. Multi colored and adjustable lighting is a great feature for day/night driving. I used either bright/green or bright/blue during the day and dim/red at night to reduce glare. Noise canceling mikes are great and only cost on average less than $50. Just remember to hold the mike right up to your lips or the receiving end will not hear you.
No I don't know anyone with that antenna. The cable is a good quality coax cable made my firestik. The solder end was done by a professional and tested with multi meter. He tested multiple things.
This was happening before I got my cb straighten out and tuned. And is happening now.
What really bothers me. Is that I'm not the only one on the forum that runs this exact cb, antenna, mount/the whole set up. And has 0 issues.
I will try that filter. I just don't understand why my horn would go off or my blinkers flash while I talk into the mic
Kanoe
New member
I once put a VHF radio in a diesel that was used in the natural gas production area. It had a mechanism to shut off the air intake to the engine in the event of an over reving engine caused by a natural gas source being sucked in. Air intake shutdown valve I think it was.
After the radio install the mechanism would trigger when keying up the radio. I had the antenna coax too close to the under dash control box. Had to just move the coax 12" away.
There is not too much to your system that could be messing you up. You don't have a few feet of extra coax tucked up under the dash do you? If you are sure of the ant/coax, and you are sure of your power then what is left? Swap someone else's CB in for a few minutes to check??
I can think of 2 other instances of troubleshooting strange symptoms like yours. Both were people who had caused damage to the factory wiring harnesses while installing their own radio. (Screws through a panel and into a wiring harness etc.)
Hope you figure it out.
After the radio install the mechanism would trigger when keying up the radio. I had the antenna coax too close to the under dash control box. Had to just move the coax 12" away.
There is not too much to your system that could be messing you up. You don't have a few feet of extra coax tucked up under the dash do you? If you are sure of the ant/coax, and you are sure of your power then what is left? Swap someone else's CB in for a few minutes to check??
I can think of 2 other instances of troubleshooting strange symptoms like yours. Both were people who had caused damage to the factory wiring harnesses while installing their own radio. (Screws through a panel and into a wiring harness etc.)
Hope you figure it out.
So, I checked the wires behind the cb. I even attached a ground to the actual CB radio. No matter what. EVERYTIME I talk into my radio. My horn goes of , BEEP. Can actually hear the relay click once. And the blinker indicators flash to my voice. Frustrated beyond.
Maybe I should try to get a new CB radio? The antenna wire is fire ring ran through the center of the truck and out from driver side vent flap. The radio is tuned. The power wire is ran through the OEM firewall grommet. To blue sea aux fuse box.
Maybe I should try to get a new CB radio? The antenna wire is fire ring ran through the center of the truck and out from driver side vent flap. The radio is tuned. The power wire is ran through the OEM firewall grommet. To blue sea aux fuse box.
