Stupid question?

[Dubkor]

I was recently given a used CB Radio. I'd really like to get in to it properly, but at this point I'm really just a dilettante. Anyhow, my question is this. I've noticed that when my squelch is down, I get quite a bit more background noise on channel fourty than I do on channel one. Is this a symptom of bad SWR? I know how important SWR is, but unfortunately I can't get a SWR meter locally without ordering one in, which takes a fair amount of time in these parts. I asked someone about borrowing SWR meter, but they haven't gotten back to me yet... Anyhow. Nothing seems to be getting hot or anything, and I seem to get fairly good range. I'm not running any kind of amplifier, but on occasion I wind up listening to a couple of fellows who chat on channel twenty one and occasionally jump in with a comment (after asking if it was okay the first time. ). Mind you, all three of them have base stations, but the nearest one is around 30km away (which is around 18 miles, I do believe) and the furthest probably closer to fifty. Which from what I know about CBs (which is very little, though I'm working on it) that's not bad.

Anyhow, what I'm asking is, is the extra noise on channel fourty a symptom of high SWR or is it just due to the difference in frequency? And if it is SWR, would it be advisable to adjust the antenna?

[231]

Not likely a symptom of anything other than added noise...which could be anything from a leaky transformer to simple ground noise. Don't trust that as anything other than just noise.

What are you running for an antenna system (be specific) and where on your rig is it mounted? This info' might help us get a feel for how safe you are for transmit...at least for a bit. Borrow a meter if you can, most certainly order your own with a decent quality jumper. It's not something you'll just use once and be done with it...or rather, likely you'll need it again down the road anyway.

The "range" you talk about is a good sign, but make no mistake about it, just because you don't feel any heat and base stations quite a distance away can hear you doesn't mean your radio's finals are safe. It's a good indication though that it's proably not too bad...but may or may not be acceptable. So keep your key ups very short until you get a meter inline and things tuned.

Good luck

[Dubkor]

To be completely honest with you, I don't know too much about the antenna. The coaxial cable appears to have come attatched to the antenna. It was given to me with the radio. I see no way to disconnect it to replace it, even. Which leads me to believe it's problably pretty cheap. I doubt such vague information is really too helpful, but it's about a three foot antenna, very thin and whippy. It's magnet mounted to the roof of my Caprice Classic. There is around fourteen feet of cable attatched to it.

I also noticed when I went out to just sort of check on things that on channel fourty the signal meter jumps up to just a little below one, where as on channel one it just sits right at the bottom of the scale. I also noticed that when I keyed up (just sort of lacking anything better to do, as I was on a channel I've never heard anyone on) my power meter jumped to below the red, where as I used to notice it would jump to about midway through the red.

I hope I haven't caused some sort of damage already?