I know hardly any body uses a cb any more but I put one in for a trip with several other rigs that are traveling together and we can all chat back and forth. I bought a new radio and antenna mounted it in my truck put the antenna on the mirror and drove over to the interstate to see how it would do. Nothing a little static but do not hear any one talking. I have a truck camper so the antenna is not above the camper but I should hear a trucker say something. Does the radio frame have to be grounded, does the antenna need to have a ground? They are both mounted to plastic. I thought the antenna grounded threw the coax and the radio grounded threw the power wire. I have not had a CB since the late 70s so do not have a clue anymore, can some one help. Thanks George

Models would be helpful. Typically there would have to be to a ground of some sort.

The Radio is a Uniden PC78LTD, antenna is 3 foot stick with mount and coax 1000 watt. Mounted to the drivers mirror on a F450 Ford.

Go to a local truck stop and sit around for a bit. Actually, now there is very little conversation between truckers on the CB while out on the road. There is a bit more between then at truckstops. Most OTR truckers are on cell phones with wireless headsets.

The ant needs to be grounded, preferably to a large metal area. It should work if mounted to a metallic, tubular mirror bracket. For transmitting it's important to tune the ant but it should receive ok as-is.I would double check that the base of the ant is connected to the vehicles body/ground. Any chance your mirror bracket is rubber mounted and isolated electrically?

ScottG wrote:The ant needs to be grounded, preferably to a large metal area. It should work if mounted to a metallic, tubular mirror bracket. For transmitting it's important to tune the ant but it should receive ok as-is.I would double check that the base of the ant is connected to the vehicles body/ground. Any chance your mirror bracket is rubber mounted and isolated electrically?It sounds like your antenna is isolated from the vehicle. Find someone with an swr meter.

C B Radio Help | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

Chuck_thehammer
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
the mirror is the poorest location.. but sometimes there is little other choice.

Run a heavy gauge wire to the base of antenna and to a body fender/frame.. NOT THE DOOR...

radio frame/case does NOT need a ground. just the black wire.

also antenna or radio could be defective... should hear something/someone.
wnjj
Explorer II
Jan 03, 2017
Find someone else with a CB to test it out. Most of the time there just isn't anyone talking,
MarkTwain
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
gbsb wrote:
I know hardly any body uses a cb any more but I put one in for a trip with several other rigs that are traveling together and we can all chat back and forth. I bought a new radio and antenna mounted it in my truck put the antenna on the mirror and drove over to the interstate to see how it would do. Nothing a little static but do not hear any one talking. I have a truck camper so the antenna is not above the camper but I should hear a trucker say something. Does the radio frame have to be grounded, does the antenna need to have a ground? They are both mounted to plastic. I thought the antenna grounded threw the coax and the radio grounded threw the power wire. I have not had a CB since the late 70s so do not have a clue anymore, can some one help. Thanks George

Truckers generally only use Channel 17 and 19.
wcjeep
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
ScottG wrote:
The ant needs to be grounded, preferably to a large metal area. It should work if mounted to a metallic, tubular mirror bracket. For transmitting it's important to tune the ant but it should receive ok as-is.
I would double check that the base of the ant is connected to the vehicles body/ground. Any chance your mirror bracket is rubber mounted and isolated electrically?

It sounds like your antenna is isolated from the vehicle. Find someone with an swr meter.
ScottG
Nomad
Jan 03, 2017
The ant needs to be grounded, preferably to a large metal area. It should work if mounted to a metallic, tubular mirror bracket. For transmitting it's important to tune the ant but it should receive ok as-is.
I would double check that the base of the ant is connected to the vehicles body/ground. Any chance your mirror bracket is rubber mounted and isolated electrically?
Johno02
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
Go to a local truck stop and sit around for a bit. Actually, now there is very little conversation between truckers on the CB while out on the road. There is a bit more between then at truckstops. Most OTR truckers are on cell phones with wireless headsets.
gbsb
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
The Radio is a Uniden PC78LTD, antenna is 3 foot stick with mount and coax 1000 watt. Mounted to the drivers mirror on a F450 Ford.
p220sigman
Explorer
Jan 03, 2017
Models would be helpful. Typically there would have to be to a ground of some sort.

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C B Radio Help

18 Replies

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