CB set up, is it a black art.

[Henarar]

The coax cable also has to be multiples of a certain length the trouble is I can't remember what it is
I have a meter that clips on the coax cable and if you move it along the cable with the mike keyed the reading changes, I did know why this was but can't remember that either
I also know that driving in to a multi story car park with a six foot twig on the roof is not a good idea

 

[Kiwi Pete]

The coax cable also has to be multiples of a certain length the trouble is I can't remember what it is
I have a meter that clips on the coax cable and if you move it along the cable with the mike keyed the reading changes, I did know why this was but can't remember that either
I also know that driving in to a multi story car park with a six foot twig on the roof is not a good idea

I think it's an odd number of half wavelengths, taking into account the velocity factor of the coax?
So 5/2 or 3/2 etc.

That's to give the same impedance at the plug as at the antenna, IIRC, by having a resonant feedline.

Like you I had forgotten half of this stuff in the course of the past 30 years

 

[Henarar]

I think it's an odd number of half wavelengths, taking into account the velocity factor of the coax?
So 5/2 or 3/2 etc.

That's to give the same impedance at the plug as at the antenna, IIRC, by having a resonant feedline.

Like you I had forgotten half of this stuff in the course of the past 30 years

If I can find my bits of coax I can find out, got a feeling it was 8 foot something but may be way out

 

[mf7480]

So in answer to your question- it seems that yes, it is a black art [emoji23]

 

[ganderman]

Thanks for all the info, going to be a day or two before I can get back to it hope I am going to be able to make good use of it.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

So in answer to your question- it seems that yes, it is a black art [emoji23]

It really isn't very difficult to get a CB set running - if the set itself is OK and the antenna isn't shorted out or not connected there really isn't much to it, the finer points are just that.

HF AM CB just isn't always going to be a 100% reliable communications, as @Henarar said skip can make it completely different: you can work people fine at the other end of the country but not someone ten miles away when it is running, but the basic principles never change.

I was a hell of a pirate in my CB days, many moons ago, had a Yaesu ham radio transceiver running into a 3 element Yagi at about 40 feet high, and if skip still wasn't running then I just turned up the drive a bit.... so it soon turned into a ham radio hobby with the odd bit of CBing to catch up with mates.

Then high school buggered it, and the internet finished it off

 

[kiwi pom]

So come on all of you, what are, or were, your handles?

Mine was Nobby, a shortened name for knob job.......... Long story!

Frosty.
Even had the number plate

Still got it somewhere C'mon

 

[davidroberts30]

Many of you guys wearing rubber boots these days?

 

[Henarar]

It really isn't very difficult to get a CB set running - if the set itself is OK and the antenna isn't shorted out or not connected there really isn't much to it, the finer points are just that.

HF AM CB just isn't always going to be a 100% reliable communications, as @Henarar said skip can make it completely different: you can work people fine at the other end of the country but not someone ten miles away when it is running, but the basic principles never change.

It's FM over here or was 27/81 then CEPT but I didn't use that had a couple rigs with SSB on which was interesting as I said I never got in to the ham stuff, more work, mobile phones and then as you said tin tin net put a stop to it all, it was a laugh though not unlike forums there were some prats on there

 

[colhonk]

Also, don`t go forgetting about the sun spot activity

 

[steveR]

Got a new tractor for spring and got the dealership fit a new CB as we are not great at the job. Got going with it and it has a range of about 30 yards so could only speak when passing! Have put the meter on it and it's off the scale, I have lengthened and shortened the aerial,changed the position and changed the aerial nothing made any difference. Thoroughly hacked off , any suggestions please ?

Well, obviously the Dealership haven't a clue either.... If you paid good money for it to be fitted, I'd be asking for some money back!

As for the testing and setting it up, it's all pretty easy with a book or some internet directions BUT, as you've already said you are not happy at that, possibly look for a specialist, or find a friendly local.

Must be over 40 years since I "imported" my first AM CB from Ireland, shitting bricks as I came through Customs at Holyhead, with the beast in my bag!!

Then came the hassle of getting the installation gear as there were very few in the country then and most of the stuff came from HAM dealers, until the stuff like SWR meters and good aerials started to appear. Sad bugger that I was, Saturday nights were often spent up on top of the Long Mynd with a wheel fixed home made base aerial, talking to other CB enthusiasts all over the UK and when skip conditions were good, all over the world. All the time looking over the shoulder for Home Office who were still trying to control the things Now there was an impossible task...

 

[Donegal_TDI]

You have to find out if it's a radio issue or an antenna issue, or the little coax cable that connects the two. Borrow a magnetic mount antenna from someone and simply temporarily substitute it for the fixed tractor antenna. Check your range and report back.
Most aerials will look like a short circuit to a dc multimeter and so are hard to test. You can test the coax that feeds it - sort of - if you unplug it at both ends. You then should see continuity between both ends of the screen and the same for the centre conductor. You should see open circuit between them. If you don't, then you have a problem.
Keep it simple.

 

[Hurdle bunter]

Well, obviously the Dealership haven't a clue either.... If you paid good money for it to be fitted, I'd be asking for some money back!

As for the testing and setting it up, it's all pretty easy with a book or some internet directions BUT, as you've already said you are not happy at that, possibly look for a specialist, or find a friendly local.

Must be over 40 years since I "imported" my first AM CB from Ireland, shitting bricks as I came through Customs at Holyhead, with the beast in my bag!!

Then came the hassle of getting the installation gear as there were very few in the country then and most of the stuff came from HAM dealers, until the stuff like SWR meters and good aerials started to appear. Sad bugger that I was, Saturday nights were often spent up on top of the Long Mynd with a wheel fixed home made base aerial, talking to other CB enthusiasts all over the UK and when skip conditions were good, all over the world. All the time looking over the shoulder for Home Office who were still trying to control the things Now there was an impossible task...

No doubt where your (or were?) from when you mention the longmynd [emoji6]

 

[steveR]

No doubt where your (or were?) from when you mention the longmynd [emoji6]

Gods own County!!

Was up there on Tuesday, great day, stunning views

 

[Hurdle bunter]

Gods own County!!

Was up there on Tuesday, great day, stunning views

You local? I’m shrewsbury (by Rvt)

 

[celtis man]

Muckspreder on the side

 

[Hurdle bunter]

Muckspreder on the side

[emoji23]

 

[76masseyman]

Bring it in muckspreader,

What’s your twenty gud buddy.

 

[Lazy Sod]

14 for a copy.

 

[celtis man]

Bring it in muckspreader,

What’s your twenty gud buddy.

3 miles out of surf city