I need some help

[redneckrebel]

hey im preety new to having a cb radio. i just got a cobra 85 dynascan from my grandpa and i have all the original parts and i bought a 1000w truck spec antenna with a truck spec 12 ft cable and i have the antenna mounted to my headache rack with my cb using a dc ac converter for power. im not getting almost any reception and when i tested it with my freinds truck i could barely hear him even though he was only about ten ft away. u can email at hayden.jones2395@gmail.com or just reply to this post. any info will help. thank you.

 

[Big Dummy 123]

Cobra 85

that a pretty old radio. The elecrolytic caps are probably dried out comen problem in old radios and othe electric devices. Ben

 

[Kamikaze]

I think you can lose the DC to AC converter and power the radio with 12 volts.

Some of those inverters are very noisy and might be plugging your ears.

Otherwise look for the usual antenna loose connections. Swap your radio to another station to eliminate it as a problem.

 

[hotrod]

yes definately lose the converter
for power use cigerete lighter socket with lighter plug on power wires
use fuse box for power if ya got a empty space for power
last goto the battery [best option imho]
second -check the swr of antenna makes sure its no higher than 2.1.1
3.1.1 could cause harm to radio and hurt performance.hope this helps

 

[redneckrebel]

yes definately lose the converter
for power use cigerete lighter socket with lighter plug on power wires
use fuse box for power if ya got a empty space for power
last goto the battery [best option imho]
second -check the swr of antenna makes sure its no higher than 2.1.1
3.1.1 could cause harm to radio and hurt performance.hope this helps

i guess where it shows sn unit on the meter, that is the swr. and how do i change it.

 

[hotrod]

i guess where it shows sn unit on the meter, that is the swr. and how do i change it.

you can use the swr meter on radio but better off buying an external
swr meter they have cheap ones that will work fine. check
sparkys.com or customcbradios.com u will also need a 3 ft coax
jumper to run from the meter to radio.if u have someone local
to help you get started i highly recommend u askj them.
check swr on ch 1 then ch 40 ideally you want themto read
the same or close to it.you change it by lenthing or shorten
the whip example
ch1 1.5
ch.40 2.0
this needs the whip to be shortened
next
ch1 2.0
ch.40 1.5
whip needs lenthed