Posted: 2/9/2007 7:25:54 AM EDT
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I just bought a couple of inexpensive CB radios. I'd like to tune the antennas, as I hear that's important to get the best range out of them. Radio Shack doesn't sell SWR meters any more, and the local truck stop wants $25 for what would be a one-time need. I tried to contact a local "CB" guy, but the number for him is disconnected. Anyone in WI own one of these things? Does getting the antenna tuned really make that much difference? |
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I'll dig through what I have. My dad was a 35 year ham radio guy (been s silent key for a few years now) from when they used build their own stuff and I still have a couple of odds and ends. Don't you normally leave the field strength meter connected all the time? I thought the antenna needed an occasional tweak depending on how much reflected power you got from the varying atmospheric conditions. I may be all wet but I seem to remember a SWR meter being a full time component. Educate me. |
Hi Glenn I have had CB's for 35 years running back and forth across the country. I have a meter someplace and will look for it. The abiltiy to tune the antenna depends on the type you are using. If using the one piece fiberglass type there is usually no adjustment possible. If the antenna has a metal whip then you can slide it in or out of the load or base of the antenna or sometimes you trim the length. Having said all that I do not bother anymore unless it is for a very high end radio. The background noise is so high the small gain you may get with tuning, if your antenna allows it, is not worth the cost of having it done. Out on the highway I do not expect to be able to talk to a buddy that is anymore than a couple miles away. If I find it, you may have it, just to have something to play around with. 
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Thanks for checking, guys. I appreciate it. I know both antennas are tunable because they're stainless whips with little set screws on the antenna mount where the whip slides in/out. And one of the antenna's packages came with instructions on how to put a SWR meter between the antenna cable and CB, and then transmit on channels 1 and 40. Based on the reading, you were supposed to trim the thing. I *think* you tune them once and forget it. These are just plain-jane 40-channel CB radios, so I'm not going to bother tuning them for different atmospheric conditions, even if that's possible. I did read that failure to tune the antennas can reflect too much power back into the CB radio, frying it. And that tuning makes a difference in range. But I read those things on the internet, so I have no idea how true they are  Again, I really appreciate the offers to loan me the meter. I'll find something to send back with it to make the effort worthwhile. Thanks! 
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No real big difference the main thing is just make sure you have a good ground on the radio and run an extra ground off your ant. bracket all you need is good ground and you'll talk for miles 
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