Need Help asap....Probs with set up

[Bridge Monitor]

hello all...just joined....im a bridge monitor for Maryland..and im having trouble with my cb equipment.
my job is to relay info to super loads about about bridges if they have to go around them or go slow over them..so my job is pretty important..sadly its not mt equipment..company truck company cb's

-the set up-

1 Cobra 18WXSTII......

2 mag mount 36" antenna ..unknown brand..doesn't say a name on the antenna
was running a k40 ..30 mag mount..but that had probs and didnt work any more

3 swr/pwr meter

- my prob-

the radio works. i can hear them fine...and they hear me for the first 10 mins or so then they cant hear me...they hear me just they cant understand what i am saying

the front escort who runs in front of me can hear me more clearly at times

and once in awhile the trucker will hear me ok and then it will go back to where he cant

....i purchased the swr meter to help tune it..the numbers look fine
power seems to be only hitting 1.9
swr is hitting a lil below 1.1

............
so what makes the cb radio act like this....i can hear them perfectly with in and around 1.5 miles away...and them not hear me when im 4 car lengths away



......
im thinking of getting a new antenna ...if i can find it

Wilson 1000 mag mounted...and hopefully get reimbursed for it

any ideas......what it could be


thanks....

 

[Wire Weasel]

Cheap crappy radio. Belongs to the company....tell them it doesn't work. Have them get a new radio. Not your problem.

 

[RatsoW8]

Cheap crappy radio. Belongs to the company....tell them it doesn't work. Have them get a new radio. Not your problem.

Ditto.

 

[BOOTY MONSTER]

when you say power is hitting 1.9 , do you mean 1.9 watts or 1.9 swr ? swr isn't measured with modulation , you want complete silence when you measure swr .

How to use a SWR meter

btw , always use a external meter for tuning your antenna , the ones built into radios can be way off .

 

[Bridge Monitor]

i think its 1.9 watts...

their is a switch where uf lip to swr or pwr.....the swr is good
the pwr(power) reads 1.9....on the instruction paper for the swr meter it doesn't say what is a read out for power just tells u how to do it....it tells me that 1.1 swr is good


the cobra 18 doesn't have a meter for calibration so its a external box

my prob is..if i buy a new radio ..and it turns out to be the antenna..i would be screwed..and would have to buy a new antenna...and it would be out of my pocket

i work for a small company and times are hard so money is low ..so they cant spend 500$ on a new cb set up...




weird..tho it worked for me during the day.....then my next run at night it was shaky .......not sure if weather plays a role..as it was raining...at night and clear during the first run....

 

[TonyV225]

To me it sounds like your drifting off frequency as it gets warm or hot Ide look into a different radio fixing the one you use now would cost about as much as getting a (better) radio. If all you need is AM those are obtainable everywhere.

If you just use the Standard 1- 40 channels I just found one still in the box here I was going to post on the swap section.

 

[trailboss]

If it is their radio, their truck, and their business, they should feel obligated to fix the equipment. Hauling oversized loads through narrow passages and bridges with pilot cars, instant, dependable communication is a must.
If they determine that they cannot afford to fix the problem, they probably should find another industry to operate in.
And risking your CDL along with the possibility of a civil lawsuit is a real possibility, should an accident happen.


It used to be illegal for a company to use the citizens band for commercial purposes, but I know that is one of the most broken laws on the books.

 

[BammBamm]

You said you travel with others.? Try putting your radio on one of their antennas and see how it works. Or even try your antenna on their radio. Try making a dipole antenna "cheap to make" and test the radio on it. I have to agree with the others that it is a cheap company radio and they should fix it. But it sounds like you are kind of stuck. I heard of one trucker wiring his mobile radio to a 110 plug and purposely burning it up so his company would replace it. I don't recommend this but they need to do something for you. If it is out of your pocket check craigslist or ebay as sometimes you can find a used combo antenna and radio cheap. good luck

 

[hotrod]

if all ya need is the standard 40 cb channels and 4 watts
look at the wilson silverload fgt antennas these are fiberghlass
and work great and are around 20.00 depending lenth.
not sure what ya got now but these will mount on mirrior mounts
or can use a mag mount.i recommend at least 4foot one the 5 foot is best
copper.com has the best prices on these i believe

 

[74IN]

Sounds like a possible heat related problem with the radio if after 10 minutes the problem occurs.

The testing Bamm Bamm suggests is a very good way to do it at no cost.

 

[hotrod]

The testing Bamm Bamm suggests is a very good way to do it at no cost.

agreed. i didnt even see that post...lol