CB problems

Discussion in 'Interior' started by Redneck_ranger, Mar 12, 2012.

  1. So I'm too lazy to make another mount for my CB antennas, so I tried connecting the dual coax with a T connector. But I still have no reception. Tried calibrating it, and barely hear any static. Anybody know why this might be? And what I can do to solve it?


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    Last edited: Mar 12, 2012
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  3. OP
    Redneck_ranger

    Redneck_ranger Banned

    I'm thinking it could be a grounding problem... So I'm gonna go out and ground the antenna to the frame somewhere.
     
  4. OP
    Redneck_ranger

    Redneck_ranger Banned

    Well, tried grounding it... Didn't help. It picks up the WX stations fine, and got chatter for two seconds then never again. Anybody know what my problem might be???
     
  5. mad hatter

    mad hatter Member

    swr too high?
     
  6. OP
    Redneck_ranger

    Redneck_ranger Banned

    I don't think so because I calibrated it again last night and it was right where it should have been.
     
  7. hazard-maine

    hazard-maine northern ranger driver

    go back to the dual coax cable, and you live in the city so your getting alot of interference
     
  8. OP
    Redneck_ranger

    Redneck_ranger Banned

    I'm gonna tomorrow. I was too tired today
     
  9. Scrambler82

    Scrambler82 Old Guy User

    What are you trying to do, two antennas ?

    First and I am sure you have heard it before, two antennas attached with a good quality coaxial harness need to be at least ¼ wave length apart to perform properly.
    ¼ wave length is 9 feet, I don’t think my Ranger is nine feet wide so a dual antenna setup will not work well on a Ranger.
    Also, a dual antenna coax harness is made out of 75 ohm coax not the usual 50 ohm stuff and both antennas need to be tune separately first then the dual antenna harness is added.

    So let hear what you are doing and we can help some.
     
  10. OP
    Redneck_ranger

    Redneck_ranger Banned

    That setup is long gone man, I took the tonneau cover off. I found that I need to have the antennas on the mounts that came with them in order to have it working properly. God only knows why, but I had the single antenna running with the T connector and it worked fine. I just switched back to the dual setup last night and it's working fine. Seems like the L bracket I used just wasn't cooperating with the antenna.
     
  11. hazard-maine

    hazard-maine northern ranger driver

    they were not providing enough ground
     
  12. OP
    Redneck_ranger

    Redneck_ranger Banned

    Yeah, that's probably it.
     
  13. Scrambler82

    Scrambler82 Old Guy User

    R U still using the “T” Connector and extra antenna ?

    If so, have you tried the system on a single antenna without the “T" ?

    How did you tune the antenna(s) for low SWR.

    thks
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2012
  14. OP
    Redneck_ranger

    Redneck_ranger Banned

    The antennas are pretuned from Radioshack, so I didn't tune em. The radio itself has a setting to calibrate the SWR signal to the antennas. I have tried it without the T connector, and it worked fine, I just have OCD and didn't want an open end lol So I went with that. Both antennas are hooked up now without the connector on em and it hasn't affected the performance of the radio so far.
     
  15. Scrambler82

    Scrambler82 Old Guy User

    OK then… not to argue but Rat Shack can not pre-tune an antenna, the antenna needs to be on a vehicle and the coax connected before an antenna can be tuned so you just lucked out.

    How the two antennas are working together is a mystery to me, IMHO it can’t be done so again you lucked out.

    Oh ya, don’t use the CB Meter to anything other than to know you have a signal going out, they are not good meters or electrics BUT again you may have lucked out.

    Glad to hear it is working so enough said.
     
  16. hazard-maine

    hazard-maine northern ranger driver

    i have duals on my ranger, and im getting about 200 miles on a clear day
     
  17. OP
    Redneck_ranger

    Redneck_ranger Banned

    Because you modded it ****bird lol
     
  18. hazard-maine

    hazard-maine northern ranger driver

    shhhhh. no one needs to know
     
  19. Fx4wannabe01

    Fx4wannabe01 New Member

    Grev knows his sh!t.


    And x2 on his previous posts in this thread.




    Spill the details of your setup, please.

    I swing 65w (unamplified) with perfect SWR and get out about 20mi depending on my surroundings.
     
  20. hazard-maine

    hazard-maine northern ranger driver

    oh my setup is modded to hell and back
     
  21. OP
    Redneck_ranger

    Redneck_ranger Banned

    This. Lmao.
     

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