CB Radio Transmitt Problems

[jarsong]

This is driving me nuts. The CB in my truck will receive fine but will not transmitt after after about 2-5 minutes or so. Figured it was my old CB and bought a new Cobra 29 NW, same thing. Nothing on the meter for transmitt at all, dead. Still can hear others though. Tried different Ant. , same thing. Took the mount all apart at the ant. , redid the connections, same thing. Receives fine, weather stations and all. Doesn't matter if the truck is running or not, moving or sitting still. I have followed the cables and wiggled them and no damage can be found. Internal break? If I had a bad cable, is it possible I could still receive stuff but not send? Please help, I've been stumped! :{

jarsong

 

[Bob Wagner]

did you check the mic ?

 

[jarsong]

Bought a new mic for the old CB first, no fix. Now I'm working with a new CB out of the box, same results... . aaaaaahhhhhhh!

jarsong

 

[Bob Wagner]

sounds like it time to take it to the shop.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Originally posted by jarsong

If I had a bad cable, is it possible I could still receive stuff but not send? Please help, I've been stumped! -------------------------------------------You would be able to receive if the cable/ant. is near the connection. May be a bad ant. or ant. cable. Do you have a base or center load ant. ? If you have access to some cable, run a new one temporarily from the radio to the antenni and see what happens. If you have a swr/power meter and a dummy load, hook it up and see if the radio is actually putting out a signal. If your ant. has a coil in it, that is probably the most suspect item. bg

 

[jarsong]

Re: Re: CB Radio Transmitt Problems

Originally posted by B. G. Smith

Originally posted by jarsong

If I had a bad cable, is it possible I could still receive stuff but not send? Please help, I've been stumped! -------------------------------------------You would be able to receive if the cable/ant. is near the connection. May be a bad ant. or ant. cable. Do you have a base or center load ant. ? If you have access to some cable, run a new one temporarily from the radio to the antenni and see what happens. If you have a swr/power meter and a dummy load, hook it up and see if the radio is actually putting out a signal. If your ant. has a coil in it, that is probably the most suspect item. bg

Ok, So I tried another ant. and had the same results. I'm starting to narrow it down to the cable. Could you explain this a little more, "You would be able to receive if the cable/ant. is near the connection". What does that mean? By the way, thanks for the help!

jarsong

 

[jarsong]

Originally posted by Bob Wagner

sounds like it time to take it to the shop.

Based on what? I am fully capable to do all the installs, matter fact I installed it years ago and worked perfect til now. Only a couple things left, Cable or Mount... Everything else has been changed.

jarsong

 

[B.G. Smith]

Re: Re: Re: CB Radio Transmitt Problems

Originally posted by jarsong

"You would be able to receive if the cable/ant. is near the connection". What does that mean? By the way, thanks for the help!

jarsong

I can't explain it in technical terms. You can stick a clothes hanger up and run a wire to it and pick up incoming signals but it won't transmit, at least not like an antenni that is matched to the radio. Incoming signals carry no current but outgoing signal does so the wire in the antenni cable may be getting warm at a break and seperating. bg

 

[jarsong]

Now that makes sense. I think that is it. Somewhere there is a wire that broke, but touching, after some energy is applied (Watts) the wire arc's, flexes or whatever and seperates. I'll pick up a new cable today...

jarsong

 

[Bob Wagner]

If the new one doesn't work why keep it?

 

[jarsong]

Originally posted by Bob Wagner

If the new one doesn't work why keep it?

From Original post:

"Figured it was my old CB and bought a new Cobra 29 NW, same thing. "



I really like the looks of the cobra 29 NW, One sweet unit.

jarsong

 

[bmoeller]

I would check the coax cable too. I had one get pinched off one time. Did the same thing. Receive only, no transmit. Damaged my radio though. Bought a new 29 Classic ST NW WX to replace my old 29.

 

[Philip]

It sounds like your old coax is bad. That is easy to replace. But it also sounds like you might have taken the finals out of both of the radio's you have.



Do you have a SWR meter? No where in your posts have I seen where you have stated you have checked the SWR. A high SWR can take the finals out of a radio pretty fast. Most SWR meters have radio output ratings. This will tell you if your radio's are putting out any power.

 

[jarsong]

Alright, thanks for the help folks! It's was the cable. Took me about 15 minutes to run a new cable yesterday afternoon and now all is well. The Cobra 29 has an SWR meter and now it is transmitting within spec. I know my transmitt power is going to be a little low because I'm using a SMALL firestick that doesn't exceed the roof height of the truck. This is so I can get into parking garages and such... .



Got to drive the truck last night and that Night Watch lighting is SWEET, even has a dimmer! Matches the truck dash lighting perfect so it really looks in place now, like it came with the truck, compared to the old CB I had with AMBER lighting. Anybody that is in the market for a new CB should really look at this one as a great option. Thanks again.

jarsong

 

[Philip]

Of the 4 or 5 Cobra 29's I have played with. None had a SWR meter I would trust. If you have a CB shop close. Let them tune in your ant properly.

 

[Hammer]

I know my transmit power is going to be a little low because I'm using a SMALL firestick that doesn't exceed the roof height of the truck. This is so I can get into parking garages and such... .

Antenna height has nothing to do with transmit power. Also,I will second the above comment on the SWR meter inside the radio as they are a guide to go by, but ,do not trust them. Have your SWR's checked with a good external meter and see how much difference there is between the meters,it may shock you... ... . Andy

 

[jarsong]

Great imput, thanks!

jarsong