mgrande
New member
Yes it does unless you have a ngp antenna. Check out the guides on rightchannelradios.com
Need some help with CB install
- Thread starter mgrande
- Start date
Yes it does unless you have a ngp antenna. Check out the guides on rightchannelradios.com
Titanpat57
Senior Member
OK...I'm really really perplexed.....
I live within 2 miles of a major interstate up on the hill, so even any activity registers on my POS Radio shack CB....
So I put in this unit and nothing, just an occasional blurp, and even coming back form Vermont...no output, no one coming back to my requests for a radio check.
So I haven't checked my SWR's with my 4' Firestik..but what the hell else could it be?? I even placed a ground wire from the battery onto the mount just to be sure it was connecting, but no difference.:crybaby:
As you can see by the pictures the way it's mounted, the cable come through the roof rails, into the head liner, through the body and door sills, and into the center console, good power to unit, I just don't get it!
Thanks for any help in advance.
I live within 2 miles of a major interstate up on the hill, so even any activity registers on my POS Radio shack CB....
So I put in this unit and nothing, just an occasional blurp, and even coming back form Vermont...no output, no one coming back to my requests for a radio check.
So I haven't checked my SWR's with my 4' Firestik..but what the hell else could it be?? I even placed a ground wire from the battery onto the mount just to be sure it was connecting, but no difference.:crybaby:
As you can see by the pictures the way it's mounted, the cable come through the roof rails, into the head liner, through the body and door sills, and into the center console, good power to unit, I just don't get it!
Thanks for any help in advance.
How old is the CB? Could it be fried? If newer, go back to radio shack and see if they can test yours, or get one of theirs and hook it up to your connections as see if it works.
Also, I see that you have your antenna hooked up to something in your center counsel. Then another antenna lead from that connection to I assume your radio. Have you tried skipping that connection and connect your radio directly to your antenna lead? All this is assuming you have a good power and ground connection which you say you do.
Are you not getting ANY sound at all? Even the background noise when you adjust the gain/squelch dials. IF not, I am really thinking a bad radio or maybe a bad internal speaker connection. Be safe.
Also, I see that you have your antenna hooked up to something in your center counsel. Then another antenna lead from that connection to I assume your radio. Have you tried skipping that connection and connect your radio directly to your antenna lead? All this is assuming you have a good power and ground connection which you say you do.
Are you not getting ANY sound at all? Even the background noise when you adjust the gain/squelch dials. IF not, I am really thinking a bad radio or maybe a bad internal speaker connection. Be safe.
Titanpat57
Senior Member
It's a brand new unit...Cobra 75WX..and it has a separate power unit you can place out of site, so I kind of followed the Antman install. I have tried bypassing some stuff and go direct and nothing. I think I'm going to order a different antenna..a K40 magnet mount.
Hi Pat,
Without an SWR meter to tell you what is going on, the first thing that comes to mind is a short in your antenna wire (I F&^%'ed around with building one myself twice before throwing in the towel and paying a professional to make me one).
That Diamond K400 mount is grounded, so make sure you use all the mounting screws and that they make good contact with the hatch metal.
Check this post in my build thread on details how to check and tune your SWR: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/94578-okkis-build-thread-3.html#post1028187
Okki
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scanny
Senior Member
You need to check SWR. It might be that nobody hear you if you have bad SWR. In the other hand I asked for radio check few times when I heard chatter and nobody answered me. Then I gave mike to my wife and asked her to ask if anybody heard her. That way I learned that my radio was working : )
Titanpat57
Senior Member
Thanks guys..great suggestions.
I'll keep you posted of the outcome. I just remembered I have my old junkie mag mount antenna from my old one...I'll try that first thing tomorrow night.
Thanks too Okki..I'm trying to keep it up higher for further reception.
I'll keep you posted of the outcome. I just remembered I have my old junkie mag mount antenna from my old one...I'll try that first thing tomorrow night.
Thanks too Okki..I'm trying to keep it up higher for further reception.
Qjake
New member
Pat,
I just installed the same set-up and had a similar issue (though I could hear others) till I got my antenna tuned. Once tuned properly it all works fine. Make sure that your antenna stud mount is put together properly so that it's not shorting out, the center pin carries the signal the outer or screw cap is the ground, then get the antenna tuned properly. Didn't you mention there was a truck stop nearby? Have them check it out.
Also give THIS a read, lots of good info for troubleshooting.
Just thought of something else. Most roof racks are poorly grounded, try a temp ground wire from your antenna mount to the negative terminal on the battery. This is covered in the above link somewhere.
I just installed the same set-up and had a similar issue (though I could hear others) till I got my antenna tuned. Once tuned properly it all works fine. Make sure that your antenna stud mount is put together properly so that it's not shorting out, the center pin carries the signal the outer or screw cap is the ground, then get the antenna tuned properly. Didn't you mention there was a truck stop nearby? Have them check it out.
Also give THIS a read, lots of good info for troubleshooting.
Just thought of something else. Most roof racks are poorly grounded, try a temp ground wire from your antenna mount to the negative terminal on the battery. This is covered in the above link somewhere.
deekoi
New member
On that note, does anyone have experience with the magnet mounts? Do they whip back and hit the truck with any dmg/marks? I am thinking about going this route but haven't decided yet.
& why K40 vs any of the other ones like Wilson?
Qjake
New member
There's info about mag mounts in the link in my previous post. All antennas depending on where you mount them can whip around and cause damage. A tennis ball with a small hole through it can be slid onto the antenna to where it will contact the body for protection.
Titanpat57
Senior Member
Thanks Billy...that was super useful, and written on a two year old level so even I could grasp it. I'm going to stop at The Shack and grab an swr meter tonight and try yo tune it, and if that doesn't work, maybe rip everything out and order better coax and start with that.... and start over.
:ybrick:
Forgot to mention last night that you can check your coax with a multi meter by checking if you get a resistance reading when using the core and the shielding as your touch points. That means your cable has the core making contact with the shielding and thus shorting out.
You will still need the SWR meter in order to tune the antenna so you don't fry the CB electronics and it will hint at what might be wrong, but measuring through your sections of cable will tell for sure.
Okki
Antman
Elite Member
All good advice from these guys. I'm late to the party!
Few things to add-
Check the continuity of the center pins on each end of your cable to see if it's broken.
You need a good antenna ground to send properly!
Do not ever operate the CB without the antenna plugged in or you could fry it.
Get the damn SWR METER!
About those radio checks- It's easy for experienced CB'ers to tell that you have one of those "puny units" (no pun intended bro), and they are hesitant to answer radio checks. Pick a truck headed the opposite direction(!) on the highway and call the driver a bad name and mention the name on the side if his truck.
Works every time for a Radio check. Make sure you thank the guy after he yells back at ya.
Good luck Pat!
Few things to add-
Check the continuity of the center pins on each end of your cable to see if it's broken.
You need a good antenna ground to send properly!
Do not ever operate the CB without the antenna plugged in or you could fry it.
Get the damn SWR METER!
About those radio checks- It's easy for experienced CB'ers to tell that you have one of those "puny units" (no pun intended bro), and they are hesitant to answer radio checks. Pick a truck headed the opposite direction(!) on the highway and call the driver a bad name and mention the name on the side if his truck.
Works every time for a Radio check. Make sure you thank the guy after he yells back at ya.
Good luck Pat!
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scanny
Senior Member
I got magnetic Cobra HGA 1500 antenna. So far it didn't leave any marks (magnet is wrappped in thin plactic) and it holds quite well. The only thing I don't like it's a cable through the passenger door. I'd rather have a permanent antenna but can't decide where to put it.
Titanpat57
Senior Member
Got the SWR meter tonight...and of course it's pouring and dark out..FML..so I set up the swr meter and it's pegged, tried adjusting the screw, no change, and uncrewed some of the additional hardware and tried a direct hookup and no better.
Tomorrow I'll try a direct ground from the battery to the antenna connector and see what happens, and a multimeter to test the coax. I'm also going to bronk my cheapo stick on antenna and screw that in to see what happens.
Thanks for all the help guys
Tomorrow I'll try a direct ground from the battery to the antenna connector and see what happens, and a multimeter to test the coax. I'm also going to bronk my cheapo stick on antenna and screw that in to see what happens.
Thanks for all the help guys
Antman
Elite Member
Sounds like somethings grounded that shouldn't be- like the center coax pin.
At least you are on the right track!
Titanpat57
Senior Member
Thanks,
I did hook up my El Cheeso magnetic antenna and it worked..and pulled about 1.5 on the swr meter, so I'm thrilled the radio is not blown.
More troubleshooting tonight!
