I just installed my Cobra 75WXST CB. I currently hace a 3' whip on it attached to the top two bolt holes for my tire carrier. I haven't tuned it yet. Will I need a longer whip it's only above the roof 8" or 9". Also is $50 a reasonable price for a SWR meter from Radioshack? Will it have instructions on how to tune my CB in the directions for the SWR meter?
CB Tuning...Over my head...
- Thread starter CruisinMT
- Start date
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splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
Yes on the instructions with the swr meter, if you were closer, I'd let you borrow mine.
Pretty easy, some antennas have a set screw to raise or lower the whip for correct tuning. Others like the fiberglass units have a wire under the rubber cap on the top that gets trimmed to tune.
Pretty easy, some antennas have a set screw to raise or lower the whip for correct tuning. Others like the fiberglass units have a wire under the rubber cap on the top that gets trimmed to tune.
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
Should be, set it up and try it out first.
Mine is mounted on the tub, right behind the spare.
Edit, I like to keep it as low as possible because of tree issues.
Mine is mounted on the tub, right behind the spare.
Edit, I like to keep it as low as possible because of tree issues.
Back in the day when these things were really popular, I took mine to a well stocked truck stop on the interstate. THey helped me tune mine for free. In fact, everyboy had their CB's tuned there.
In my area a Loves, T/A or others might have a SWR. Give your local shop a call.
In my area a Loves, T/A or others might have a SWR. Give your local shop a call.
- Thread starter
- #6
ok well I am tuning my cb and here are the readings i'm getting from my SWR gauge, On Channel 1 it reads at one tick below 2, and on channel 40 it reads at about 3.5 Do i keep trimming my antenna until they are the same reading or what? How do I get channel 40 down into the safe range so i dont ruin my cb?
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
Tune somewhere in the middle like channel 20, It isn't critical, but try to get as close to zero as possible. Or, tune around the channel you will use the most. What kind of antenna are you running?
As far as engine noise, there should be an ANL switch on the cb (automatic noise limiter). If not Radio Shack sells an inline unit that wires in at your power source. Also did you use the squelch knob?
As far as engine noise, there should be an ANL switch on the cb (automatic noise limiter). If not Radio Shack sells an inline unit that wires in at your power source. Also did you use the squelch knob?
You need to be in an open area away from buildings, trees,etc... car doors need to be shut and the hood down.
Remember to calibrate each channel before checking the SWR.
A SWR below 2 on channel 1 is decent. You should be able to get channel 40 down quite a bit by trimming...but you'll want to monitor 1 as you do so. Don't trim (or adjust your antenna) more than 1/4" at a time then check.
If you see the number for channel 40 staying in the same place but channel 1 starts coming up STOP.
Alternately, you can tune in just an "area" (middle channels, lower channels, upper channels) if you spend most of your time there.
Remember: Calibrate every time you change a channel before checking the SWR.
