New cb antenna... poor reception... ideas?

nix4x4 · 01-08-2008, 06:18 PM

Okay, so I hooked up my new Firestik II to my Cobra NightWatch today, and I've got a slight problem. From what my buddy tells me, I'm transmitting great, but My signal coming in is terrible. I could only pick up my buddies singal from about 10 feet away. He lives in the next town over and still could hear me from his driveway. What could be the issue here? I'm a CB newb for the most part and troubleshooting skills haven't quite developed yet.

jfreisner · 01-08-2008, 06:21 PM

Take it to a shop and they'll tune it for cheap.

nix4x4 · 01-08-2008, 08:28 PM

Well that's a thought but the problem is that there really isn't a CB shop around here. I went to friggin lexington, KY (200 mile round trip) to get my antenna. I was just wondering if it was a bad ground or something

CJM · 01-08-2008, 08:31 PM

You need a SWR meter, then you can figure it out. YOur radio may have one built in, read in the manual how to use. it.

nix4x4 · 01-08-2008, 08:34 PM

Thats what I thought would be the problem. My radio has the built in typeand its reading like its calibrated, but I'm still getting bad reception

jfreisner · 01-08-2008, 08:35 PM

Have you tried tuning the antenna?

nix4x4 · 01-08-2008, 08:40 PM

How does one go about doing that? I thought that all you had to do was point that line on the top of the tip forward and you were done.

silver runner · 01-24-2008, 10:35 PM

go to this website, www.cbradiotalk.com. There are so many techs on that website that know exactly what they are talking about. Just go ask in the general questions forum and they will help you out!

01-08-2008, 06:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
nix4x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: I'm an Ohio boy! Posts: 1,198	New cb antenna... poor reception... ideas? Okay, so I hooked up my new Firestik II to my Cobra NightWatch today, and I've got a slight problem. From what my buddy tells me, I'm transmitting great, but My signal coming in is terrible. I could only pick up my buddies singal from about 10 feet away. He lives in the next town over and still could hear me from his driveway. What could be the issue here? I'm a CB newb for the most part and troubleshooting skills haven't quite developed yet. __________________ The Stable... 2002 Toyota Tundra SR5 AccCab V8 4WD 1992 Toyota Truck DLX Xcab V6 5-speed 4WD 1995 Honda Accord LX 4 door I4 Check out my sweet myspace

01-08-2008, 06:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
jfreisner Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Leawood, KS/Fayetteville, AR Posts: 573	Take it to a shop and they'll tune it for cheap. __________________ New 2002 4Runner. Stock for now...

01-08-2008, 08:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
nix4x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: I'm an Ohio boy! Posts: 1,198	Well that's a thought but the problem is that there really isn't a CB shop around here. I went to friggin lexington, KY (200 mile round trip) to get my antenna. I was just wondering if it was a bad ground or something __________________ The Stable... 2002 Toyota Tundra SR5 AccCab V8 4WD 1992 Toyota Truck DLX Xcab V6 5-speed 4WD 1995 Honda Accord LX 4 door I4 Check out my sweet myspace

01-08-2008, 08:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
CJM Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Central NJ Posts: 4,580	You need a SWR meter, then you can figure it out. YOur radio may have one built in, read in the manual how to use. it. __________________ 96' T100 SR5 4x4, ISR mod, Custom ABS snorkel, KC 57's Hella optilux el cheapo backup lights. Cobra 19III CB, Firestick 4ft antenna, Bilstein shocks. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

01-08-2008, 08:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
nix4x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: I'm an Ohio boy! Posts: 1,198	Thats what I thought would be the problem. My radio has the built in typeand its reading like its calibrated, but I'm still getting bad reception __________________ The Stable... 2002 Toyota Tundra SR5 AccCab V8 4WD 1992 Toyota Truck DLX Xcab V6 5-speed 4WD 1995 Honda Accord LX 4 door I4 Check out my sweet myspace

01-08-2008, 08:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
jfreisner Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Leawood, KS/Fayetteville, AR Posts: 573	Have you tried tuning the antenna? __________________ New 2002 4Runner. Stock for now...

01-08-2008, 08:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
nix4x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: I'm an Ohio boy! Posts: 1,198	How does one go about doing that? I thought that all you had to do was point that line on the top of the tip forward and you were done. __________________ The Stable... 2002 Toyota Tundra SR5 AccCab V8 4WD 1992 Toyota Truck DLX Xcab V6 5-speed 4WD 1995 Honda Accord LX 4 door I4 Check out my sweet myspace

01-24-2008, 10:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
silver runner Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NC Posts: 7	go to this website, www.cbradiotalk.com. There are so many techs on that website that know exactly what they are talking about. Just go ask in the general questions forum and they will help you out!

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