Cobra 29 tuning help needed!

[trailless]

First let me say that I'm no expert with CB radios. I didn't even know the first thing about them until I got a Jeep. I honestly don't have the first clue to tuning the CB radio. So can you guys help me?

I have the CB hooked up to the battery and grounded on a bolt near the passenger door. There is a 25ft coax cable from the CB to the Firestik 2 antenna on the tail gate. The antenna is mounted on the stock tire carrier. At first I didn't ground the antenna so I threw something together to try different grounding locations.

For some reason I keep getting the antenna warning sign. :grayno: All the other radio checks pass.

Here's a picture of how it's mounted.

Any suggestions because I just have no idea... :idontknow:

 

[trailless]

BTW I have the Cobra 29 LX with the built in SWR meter.

 

[JK12]

I have the same issue. Same cb also I haven't tried it but people were saying ground the tailgate to the frame or tub. There is my thread somewhere on here that has ideas

 

[trailless]

I have the same issue. Same cb also I haven't tried it but people were saying ground the tailgate to the frame or tub. There is my thread somewhere on here that has ideas

Cool, thanks!

I think I'm going to go try and find a local CB shop.

 

[Beyrgut]

Have you tried adjusting the the tuning screw on the Firestick II? What is the SWR at 20, 40 and 0? Your getting the antenna warning because your SWR is to high. This also a highly recommended read by others here, Firestick Tech-Docs.

 

[JK12]

Cool, thanks!

I think I'm going to go try and find a local CB shop.

Let me know what they say. I'd like to fix it also

 

[sean.m.adams33]

I'm no expert and have had the worst experiences with CB. But they are all resolved now. Had the same issue and for me it was the ground. You definitely need a better ground then the one you have.

 

[trailless]

Have you tried adjusting the the tuning screw on the Firestick II? What is the SWR at 20, 40 and 0? Your getting the antenna warning because your SWR is to high. This also a highly recommended read by others here, Firestick Tech-Docs.

I couldn't even get to that step... I realized that the CB was telling me that there was no Antenna attached or there wasn't a good connection.

I'm using this connector/nut and I realized it was too short. It wasn't making a good connection with the antenna.

So I took off all the extra pieces. I only hooked up the antenna, plastic insulation, the connector/nut above, and the coax cable. I leaned it against my Jeep and the antenna test passed! I can now get weather alerts as well! I'm going to go on a hunt for a longer connector.

Let me know what they say. I'd like to fix it also

If the longer connector doesn't help then I'm going to go on a hunt for a local CB shop. I'll report back with what they say.

I'm no expert and have had the worst experiences with CB. But they are all resolved now. Had the same issue and for me it was the ground. You definitely need a better ground then the one you have.

Where dod you ground the antenna?

 

[cozdude]

Depending upon the carrier or mount you are using you might need to grunt some of the powder coat off. On my or-fab carrier I wasn't getting a good enough ground. I was getting a "cb antenna warning" while trying to tune it. I followed the Wayalife write up for the install and I ground off some of the powder coat and It worked perfectly.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[sean.m.adams33]

I grounded mine to my evo rear armor. But it took me a while to figure out I has to ground it better. The whole I drilled the first time didn't let it properly ground. So I drilled a bigger one.

 

[Bullwinckle]

Check your antenna wire as well it might of got pinched somewhere. That happened to me when I was getting high reading and I couldn't reach a guy a mile from me, now I can talk to people 4 miles away!


Ray

 

[trailless]

So I couldn't take it anymore. I called around and found a local truck stop with a CB shop. He came out and took a look at it. He said that I don't need an extra ground wire as I don't have a insulated washer on the bottom of the bracket. The bracket was acting as a ground using the tailgate mount and the tailgate itself. He removed the ground wire and tuned the radio. Got the SWR to 1.35:1 and now I can transmit!

He also mentioned the manufacturers set the antenna warning to a very sensitive setting. So he said I'll get the warning every now and then but silt shouldn't be a problem.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using WAYALIFE mobile app

 

[Canvas JK]

The stock tire carrier is made of magnesium so it does not conduct very well. The steel bolts should though. One question though, how much higher does your antenna stick up above the top of your roll cage? You should have about 12-18 inches above to get good reception. This is what my cb guy is telling me. He has been working with radio's for the past 30+ years.

R/
Will


Sent from my fRuit product using WAL

 

[trailless]

He mentioned that I might want to get a 5'. I have a 4' and its right around 12" above the roll cage. I still need to understand all the dials I have to tune ....

Sent from my SCH-I545 using WAYALIFE mobile app

 

[72blubyu]

It looks like if you flip your mount and put the where the antenna mounts up you will gain 6"-8" in height.

 

[trailless]

It looks like if you flip your mount and put the where the antenna mounts up you will gain 6"-8" in height.

I know but I didn't want it that high as I frequently travel to Atlanta and have to park in parking garages...

The CB is mainly for talking while on the trails and keeping it tight.

The CB shop did say that they could add some equipment and make it to where I can transmit between multiple states. :yup:

 

[noroad]

So i just installed my Cobra 29 ltd nw classic with new cable, 90 degree turn. At this moment in time there is zero sound coming out of the cb. The antenna light is not on and the green light is on next to that(it turns red when the mic is clicked on (RX/TX)). What am i missing, i have not tunned the antenna but that should not stop it from having any sound??

 

[branman]

So i just installed my Cobra 26 with new cable, 90 degree turn. At this moment in time there is zero sound coming out of the cb. The antenna light is not on and the green light is on next to that(it turns red when the mic is clicked on (RX/TX)). What am i missing, i have not tunned the antenna but that should not stop it from having any sound??

I hate to ask the obvious -

Assume you have a 29 not a 26?
CB Mode not PA?
RF Gain all the way to the right?
Squelch all the way to the Left?
Mic plugged all the way in?
Noise Limiter OFF?

 

[noroad]

I hate to ask the obvious -

Assume you have a 29 not a 26?
CB Mode not PA?
RF Gain all the way to the right?
Squelch all the way to the Left?
Mic plugged all the way in?
Noise Limiter OFF?

Yes sorry just fixed that, never had a 29 before and just found a manual! I am going to check in sec about all the things you just said, but as far as i remember yes.

 

[branman]

Yes sorry just fixed o have never had a 29 before and have been and just found a manual! I am going to check in sec about all the things you just said, but as far as i remember yes.

When the Mic is not plugged in or has a fault you will not hear any sound... just another place to look, maybe try another mic if you have one.