Cb install gone awry...?

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cool breeze

cool breeze

Joined
Feb 25, 2007
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I installed a cobra 18wxstII into my 80 awhile back for a trip to off road park. I thought all was well but when i got there i was having nothing but problems.

The signal WHEN it came in was static full, i could hear someone talking but it was all chopped up. I tried moving the antenna, which is a cheap cobra mag mount two footer, still no good.

I am getting power from two places: constant and switched. a fused dist. block i installed for this and others and the switched is an unused 12 volt i found under the console. ground is going to same place as all other audio equipment to prevent gound looping.

I am fairly new to wiring so please give me some ideas of where my problem lies. hell could even be the cb it self as no one hears me when i speak into the mic.
 
This model has inline fuses already in the power wires...little 1 and 2 amp glass fuses. What about elimanating those?
 
cool breeze said:
I am getting power from two places: constant and switched. a fused dist. block i installed for this and others and the switched is an unused 12 volt i found under the console. ground is going to same place as all other audio equipment to prevent gound looping.
Click to expand...

The power leads need to be fuesd. But both fused power leads need to go directly to the battery. If you use your fused dist. block or the switched 12 volt source for power you will pickup all the noise from the rest of the truck. same go's for the ground if you use a common ground you will get lots of noise.

Here is a simple test to see if the noise is comming from the electrical. With everything turned off in the truck, turn on the CB and adjust the squelch a bit past when you stop hearing static. Now start your truck and see if the static and noise returns. If you have to ajust your squelch more then a little bit you have noise getting into your power... another big cause of noise is your window wipers and washer pump, give them a try and see if you can reproduce the problem.

Another thing that will cause noise is a bad antenna contact

Good luck
 
Drew knows what he is talking about. Definitely run the power back to the battery directly (even though it is more hassle than just using the power points you have inside the cab). Make sure you have proper fusing, and check the wires for cracks, breaks, chaffing, etc. . .

Then follow Drew's advice again and test the radio with the truck and accessories off. In fact, I'd be inclined to test the radio without it even in the truck (using a separate power source), but that may not be an option.

Did you buy the radio new or used?

Of course, make sure the antenna connection is secure and there are no breaks, chaffing, cracks, etc. . . in the coax.

The cheapie mag mount certainly won't help you with distance, but if you keep it in the center of the roof you should at least have a good image (ground) plane and DC ground. It is probably not tuneable (easily) but would still be good to get a SWR reading if you have access to a meter - but tackle the noise bleed first.

Good luck.
 
cool breeze said:
I installed a cobra 18wxstII into my 80 awhile back for a trip to off road park. I thought all was well but when i got there i was having nothing but problems.

The signal WHEN it came in was static full, i could hear someone talking but it was all chopped up. I tried moving the antenna, which is a cheap cobra mag mount two footer, still no good.

I am getting power from two places: constant and switched. a fused dist. block i installed for this and others and the switched is an unused 12 volt i found under the console. ground is going to same place as all other audio equipment to prevent gound looping.

I am fairly new to wiring so please give me some ideas of where my problem lies. hell could even be the cb it self as no one hears me when i speak into the mic.
Click to expand...
1)Make a single power connection. I'm not quite sure why you have two connections in the first place.

2)Ditch the antenna. Get a good Wilson mag mount or a decent Fire stick type antenna. I spent more on my antenna than my radio. I get my power from a cig lighter and often use it in other rigs (with a good mag mount antenna). For short distance contacts, ie on the trail, that is fine. Meanwhile check the antenna connections, make sure they are CLEAN and TIGHT.

If you still have problems replace the plug wires with resistive type. And start looking for other noise sources such as the alternator.
Getting rid of electronic noise sources in your rig will eliminate 99% of the problems you encounter.

BTW I use a $30 radio shack unit with no issues.

When you get tired of screwing around with CB look into HAM. 2M radio is so clear and has great long range ability. Once people are exposed to it most get their license ASAP. 99% of the members of our club use it and a lot of other clubs are moving that way.
 
Did you buy the radio new or used? used


1)Make a single power connection. I'm not quite sure why you have two connections in the first place.
the radio has two power wires off of it...switched and constant. I will run the power straight to the battery but should i ties these together?

I talked to a ham user already and he loves it. I wanted cb for the main reason of more people have it but if ham is better than might as well. They won't pick up each other correct, as in i cant talk to my buddy using his cb of im on my ham?

Ground:
I thought it was better to ground all electrical at the same point to eliminate loops. Are you saying each should have its own dedicated ground..including my amp, headunit?

Really appreciate your time here guys:beer:
 
cool breeze said:
I talked to a ham user already and he loves it. I wanted cb for the main reason of more people have it but if ham is better than might as well. They won't pick up each other correct, as in i cant talk to my buddy using his cb of im on my ham?

Ground:
I thought it was better to ground all electrical at the same point to eliminate loops. Are you saying each should have its own dedicated ground..including my amp, headunit?

Really appreciate your time here guys:beer:
Click to expand...

I run both a Ham radio and a CB. So lets get this thing fugured out... Like Rusty_tlc was saying 90% of your CB's performance is from the antenna I know with my Larsen 1/4 wave I get great results...

As far as your grounding go's for CB's and Ham Radio's go, both power and ground need to go directly to the battery to minimize interfearace from the rest of the electronics in your truck. For your Amp and Head unit are designed to work off of your vehicles standard power systems.
 
BJ_FJC: What Larsen antenna do you use for CB (model # if you have it)?
 
THanks guys, this trip out I had a working cb! I wired both power wires together then straight to the batt, same with grnd going straight to battery neg.

I do get interference when i turn on the AC though, i have to turn the squelch up a tad till it cuts off the interference noise. Also get some when i operate the radio antenna motor but thats only temporary.
 
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