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Author Topic: Any CB Experts...  (Read 4079 times)

Offline Shrimper

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Any CB Experts...
« on: September 26, 2017, 11:33:39 AM »
I recently installed a small Uniden CB in my hunting rig but can't get it to receive or send any transmissions.  The CB is new but old, found this unopened box in the attic, can't even remember where I got it. :chuckle:

I'm looking for some tips from anyone with experience with this type of issue.  I hooked up the power and ground properly as well as the coax and antenna but still no signal and there seems to be a lot of static from the engine too.  I tried testing this with my Motorola Handheld radio.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
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Offline ghosthunter

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2017, 11:44:48 AM »
I am no expert.

But Motorola's operate on different frequency than CB I think.

If you are keying the mic and the needle is moving right, I would think you are broadcasting.
Turn on the radio and turn down the squelch to see if you hear anyone talking.

Or pick a popular channel like 19 and ask for a radio check. See if you get a response.
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Offline Woodchuck

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2017, 11:46:28 AM »
The little handheld radios that people carry hunting operate on a different wavelength and will not work with a cb.
Does the cb have a gauge or lights that move when you key the mic?
« Last Edit: September 26, 2017, 12:13:22 PM by Woodchuck »
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Offline ghosthunter

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2017, 11:49:36 AM »
The Motorola's that you buy has handhelds for hunting cannot communicate with Citizen Band. They operate on FRS or GMRS.

If you are looking for a truck base that will communicate with Rhinos Cabelas sells a plug and play radio the plugs into you 12vol t for $100.00. Comes with ant. and gives out 5 watts of power.
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Offline ghosthunter

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2017, 11:52:27 AM »
What kind of antennae do you have? Magnetic or bumper mount.?????
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Offline DRobnsn

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2017, 11:53:33 AM »
I agree the little Motorola radios are a different frequency but he could be talking about the handheld cb one.

You might need a noise filter on the positive side, depending on where your pulling the power from. I would eliminate the possible power and ground issues and go straight to the battery to rule them out. What antenna are you using?

Also make sure your not trying to send/receive from inside of a metal pole type building. Every one I have had didn't like operating inside the metal building.

Finding a good CB tech seems difficult these days.

Offline CP

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #6 on: September 26, 2017, 11:54:34 AM »
I thought C/Bs went the way of 8 tracks, haven’t seen one in decades.  Do people still use them?

10-4 good buddy.

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #7 on: September 26, 2017, 11:59:08 AM »
I thought C/Bs went the way of 8 tracks, haven’t seen one in decades.  Do people still use them?

10-4 good buddy.



Fairly certain most if not all log trucks, rock/gravel trucks out in the woods and semi-trucks on the interstate still have and use them daily....
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Offline ghosthunter

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #8 on: September 26, 2017, 12:00:05 PM »
Most big rigs have CB and most logging trucks operate on CB.
If you ever been around active logging areas you will often see a Channel number posted at the road entrance.
Logging trucks announce there locations to other trucks so they can plan to pass each other on narrow roads.
As you go up the logging roads you will often see mileage markers on trees. The log trucks announce they are at a certain mile marker so they know when they are getting close to each other.
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Offline ghosthunter

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #9 on: September 26, 2017, 12:05:31 PM »
CB is the preferred choice because depending on your set up you could broadcast hundreds of miles.
It is not uncommon to here folks from Texas on a CB in Washington. A process called SKIP allows the transmission to bounce off cloud cover and cover large distances as I understand it.


But I am no expert a nd may be wrong.

CB has been making a come back. And any off road or hunting rig should have it. I carry a handheld CB in my truck.
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Offline ghosthunter

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #10 on: September 26, 2017, 12:08:16 PM »
Breaker ,Breaker, Huntwa for the CP,
This is the ghosthunter were trying. Whays your 10-20?
GHOST CAMP "We Came To Hunt"
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Offline ghosthunter

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #11 on: September 26, 2017, 12:09:25 PM »
GHOST CAMP "We Came To Hunt"
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We are all traveling from Birth to the Packing House. ( Broken Trail)

“I f he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Offline Shrimper

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #12 on: September 26, 2017, 12:09:53 PM »
The little handheld radios that people carry hunting operate on a different wavelength and will not work with a cb.
Does the cb have a gauge or lights that move when you key the mic?

That's probably my issue with a different wave length.  The particular unit does not have a gauge, it's fairly simple but the tx light comes on when the mic is keyed.
« Last Edit: September 26, 2017, 12:13:40 PM by Woodchuck »
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Offline Woodchuck

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #13 on: September 26, 2017, 12:11:45 PM »
The little handheld radios that people carry hunting operate on a different wavelength and will not work with a cb.
Does the cb have a gauge or lights that move when you key the mic?

That's probably my issue with a different wave length.  The particular unit does not have a gauge, it's fairly simple but the tx light comes on when the mic is keyed.
That is a good indicator that you are transmitting. Set it on channel 19 and go for a drive, I bet you will hear folks on it.  :tup:
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Offline Shrimper

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #14 on: September 26, 2017, 12:12:13 PM »
What kind of antennae do you have? Magnetic or bumper mount.?????

It's a bumper mount per-se but I fabbed an aluminum mount that has the antenna between the hood and the fender.
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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #15 on: September 26, 2017, 12:12:38 PM »
I have cb in my truck.  Rarely is a person talking.  Certain spots yes but as a whole in town or even I-5 not so much.  Make sure its tuned if applicable.  I agree on a comeback of sorts but still not common overall.  If you are close I would try n reach out?  South sound?
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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #16 on: September 26, 2017, 12:21:20 PM »
I using this to mainly communicate with the log trucks in my humting area in the North Sound.

There was a time when I used a CB quite a bit with my buddies in high school.  We all had cb's and they worked best for helping when one rig would get stuck while four-buyin'.
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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #17 on: September 26, 2017, 12:25:49 PM »
I agree the little Motorola radios are a different frequency but he could be talking about the handheld cb one.

You might need a noise filter on the positive side, depending on where your pulling the power from. I would eliminate the possible power and ground issues and go straight to the battery to rule them out. What antenna are you using?

Also make sure your not trying to send/receive from inside of a metal pole type building. Every one I have had didn't like operating inside the metal building.

Finding a good CB tech seems difficult these days.

I've got a direct lead to the battery and the antenna is a Larsen NMO 27 steel whip.  All the hardware is old stuff that I saved just for this occasion.

I have several other bigger nicer units and I'll hook one of them up to test out this unit.

Thanks everyone for the advice.
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Offline CP

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #18 on: September 26, 2017, 12:30:22 PM »
Breaker ,Breaker, Huntwa for the CP,
This is the ghosthunter were trying. Whays your 10-20?

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #19 on: September 26, 2017, 12:40:14 PM »
 CBs are fairly limited but you could get the most from some one experienced. I would bet that some you tube videos could help if you want to dyi... a  Sterio shop near you could tune your gear and isolate your power signal... and if you can't do that get in contact with an experienced ham operator.
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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #20 on: September 26, 2017, 12:59:23 PM »
You need to tune the antenna.  You have to cut it so it falls within the frequency of CB radios which is 27.25Mhz which is right in the middle of the band.  Lots of companies use CB's in the rigs.  I have one in my work truck along with a VHF, UHF, and 800 MHz radio.
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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #21 on: September 26, 2017, 01:19:29 PM »
I using this to mainly communicate with the log trucks in my humting area in the North Sound.

There was a time when I used a CB quite a bit with my buddies in high school.  We all had cb's and they worked best for helping when one rig would get stuck while four-buyin'.

We used to play cat and mouse with CB's

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #22 on: September 26, 2017, 01:26:35 PM »
@SniperDanWA

I think is a Hamm. 

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #23 on: September 26, 2017, 02:26:15 PM »
A wise man told me to use shielded ant wire for power wire to eliminate alternator freq causing static noise. :twocents:
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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #24 on: September 26, 2017, 03:30:44 PM »
Just tested the installed unit with an extra I have and it works great.  I didn't realize my small two way radio operated on a different frequency.

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #25 on: September 26, 2017, 04:20:50 PM »
Your antenna needs to be grounded as well. You said you fabbed up and aluminum bracket, I have a steel bracket that mounts in the hood channel so wouldn't need a separate ground. If you get a signal with a non grounded antenna your transmission abilities is usually limited to line of sight.

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Offline SniperDanWA

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #26 on: September 26, 2017, 05:42:25 PM »
If you are still getting static when keying up, put a EMI lead between the battery and the power.  You know, the kind on computer monitors, etc.  it just takes some of the noise out.

Russ is right on tuning in the frequency.

I am a HAM operator, not much to do nowadays with CB.  Most big rigs for over the road have moved to multi-band Ham radios that also cover CB.  I talk to drivers occasionally pulling through Federal Way, SeaTac, Des Moines, Burien, Auburn, etc.  I do think the loggers are still on CB as that is a different use case.

I've installed a lot of CBs over the years.  Keep the wires away from the alternator.  That's the primary noise source.  Punch through the firewall away from your AM/FM Radio too.  Find a grommet.  Don't run the antenna coax near the alternator either.  In addition, make sure the coax is soldered well.  Keep the antenna away from the cab.  Anything that can bounce the signal will deflect it some and lessen your distance and clarity.
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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #27 on: September 26, 2017, 07:38:02 PM »
Your antenna needs to be grounded as well. You said you fabbed up and aluminum bracket, I have a steel bracket that mounts in the hood channel so wouldn't need a separate ground. If you get a signal with a non grounded antenna your transmission abilities is usually limited to line of sight.

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Aluminum works as well if not better than steel due to it's resistance to corrosion. Aluminum is an excellent conductor of electricity.

Offline Russ McDonald

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #28 on: September 26, 2017, 07:58:17 PM »
The NMO style mount and coax will be grounded via the aluminum mount that you made.  So grounding is not a problem.  What kind of truck do you have?  I have over the past many year seen Chevy have a really bad alternator whine with any type radio I have installed in them.  Even with a noise filter put on the power line.
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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #29 on: September 27, 2017, 12:26:42 PM »
The NMO style mount and coax will be grounded via the aluminum mount that you made.  So grounding is not a problem.  What kind of truck do you have?  I have over the past many year seen Chevy have a really bad alternator whine with any type radio I have installed in them.  Even with a noise filter put on the power line.

Haha truck, one would assume so with a hunting rig.  No this is on a Nissan Stanza wagon, have had this car forever and it has been out of commision for years but with a jump it fired right up and still runs great.  With its really short wheel base and 4x4 it will make a great grouse hunting rig.  This is a really neat car, ugly as heck but very capable.

Took a fews pics of the set up so you can see what it is, pretty simple but it should work great for what I need which is mainly letting the log trucks know where I am or knowing where they are at for saftey.

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Re: Any CB Experts...
« Reply #30 on: September 27, 2017, 01:50:01 PM »
Today bracket is perfect.   That is what I used when installing cb's on rigs.  That is a old CB.  Haven't seen one like that.   Must have been one of the first versions of the small cb's.  Alternator whine is a tough one.   Make sure you ground is a chassis ground that is factory.  Make sure your battery connection is clean.  You can get alternator whine if the brushes on your alternator are wearing out.

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