confussed???

[ryan_m]

Ok I am a newb and have some question. I just got a uniden 520xl pro, I wired it to the battery, red to red, black to black. Then I got about 18' of coax cable (was 20' but I had to cut the pl259 plug off so I could run the cable through my roll cage) Then I have a 3' Firestick anntenna. My problem is I only get maybe a 1/4 mile range before I lose reception.

My question is did I wire everything up right? The new pl259 plug I got from radio shack was a solderless plug so I striped the sold wire, pluged that into the center hole, then striped the black coating back and put the set screw down on the insulator and insolator wires. Is that how you wire up a pl-259 plug?

What else might be wrong with my set up? is my 3' firestick antenna only capable of 1/4 mile range?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Sonwatcher]

First those solderless connectors can be tricky if good contact isn't made or a stray shield wire touches an area it isn't supposed to thus causing a short. Another problem may be the tuning of your antenna. You will need an SWR meter to do this. The instructions for tuning your Firestik antenna can be found at http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/Setting_SWR.htm

 

[park]

Ok I am a newb and have some question. I just got a uniden 520xl pro, I wired it to the battery, red to red, black to black. Then I got about 18' of coax cable (was 20' but I had to cut the pl259 plug off so I could run the cable through my roll cage) Then I have a 3' Firestick anntenna. My problem is I only get maybe a 1/4 mile range before I lose reception.

My question is did I wire everything up right? The new pl259 plug I got from radio shack was a solderless plug so I striped the sold wire, pluged that into the center hole, then striped the black coating back and put the set screw down on the insulator and insolator wires. Is that how you wire up a pl-259 plug?

What else might be wrong with my set up? is my 3' firestick antenna only capable of 1/4 mile range?

Thanks for any help.

After a 1/4 mile what happens? Can you not hear a signal or can someone not hear you? Also, what kind of noise do you have with the schelch turned up (lots of noise) and what "S" meter reading do you have when knowone's talking?

 

[Switch Kit]

a 3 ft firestick ain't much to begin with , do you have a swr meter handy ? this might help you as well , SW is right about those push ons , Welcome to the Forum Ryan , tells us more and keep coming back.

 

[ryan_m]

After a 1/4 mile what happens? Can you not hear a signal or can someone not hear you? Also, what kind of noise do you have with the schelch turned up (lots of noise) and what "S" meter reading do you have when knowone's talking?

after a 1/4 I cant hear anyone and no one can hear me. And tomorrow I will check on the schelch and let you guys know. No I dont have a swr meter handy, I will try and find one locally tomorrow also. Do you guys know of any for like $30?

Thanks for the help. Tomorrow I will get you guys more details and pictures to go with it.

 

[BOOTY MONSTER]

http://www.sparkyscbshack.com/catalog/item/3922747/4410434.htm

 

[Sonwatcher]

I saw one of these today if you want something you can get quick at Radio Shack. They are listed for $49 but in the store today they are $39. It is good for 3-30 mhz. http://www.radioshack.com/sm-cb-high-frequency-ham-power-swr-meter--pi-2036239.html

 

[W5LZ]

ryan_m,
Your set up sounds sort of typical. Here are some things to think about.
No antenna is going to work right out of the box without some 'tuning' (making it 'fit' electrically where it's mounted), unless you happen to have run across a miracle. That means that the antenna has to be adjusted, typically, it's length changed slightly, so that it at least is 'close' to what the rest of the set up wants to see.
Those no-solder connectors are a P.I.T.A. mostly. Lots of room for error there, especially if you've never 'done' a PL-259 connector before. They've caused me more trouble than just soldering a 'real-live' connector on has, but, if you gott'a, then you've gott'a.
Smaller antennas are less usable than larger ones, to some ridiculous point. If it isn't large and ugly, it probably isn't gonna be the 'best' in the world, depending on what you're looking for, sort of.
SWR and other meters. Nice to have, but not absolutely necessary. Know anyone who does have one? Borrow it! Or if 'they' know how to use the thingy, have them check your set up (watch! Then you can do it next time ).
Radios are not 'Plug-n-play' ... 'Plug-n-Pray' is more like it.
It really isn't that hard... enjoy!
- 'Doc

 

[cbradiomagazine.com]

Hi Ryan,

Here's some quick info for you. Also I have a SWR meter I can sell you for $10+$5 shipping....I accept payment via paypal. It's just the basic radioshack SWR meter.

#1) Sounds like you hooked up your radio correctly...going directly to the battery is always the best way to do it.

#2) That little radio is not a bad one....they are a beginner radio, but they can work just fine, but don't except too much out of it. They will allow you to talk and receive but there are many radios that will talk farther and receive better......THE BIGGEST KEY TO TALKING AND HEARING FARTHER IS YOUR ANTENNA.

#3) With the firestick type antennas I would not go with anything shorter than 5'. I've tried 5', 4' and 3' firesticks and I've found that the 5' did fairly well but once I dropped to the 4 and 3 foot models there was a big loss in receive and transmit abilities. A much better choice for an antenna would be a 102" stainless steel whip from radioshack ($19) - yes it's big, but you'll get used to it and it will blow your little antenna away.

#4) Don't cut the coax and try to add a PL-259 connector unless you are a pro at it. Most likely that is where your problem is.....AND if you bought the original coax at radioshack it most likely is pretty crappy as well. What you want to do is go on ebay or someplace and buy 18' of what is often called mini 8 or 8x type coax (belden or astatic is usually pretty good quality) Don't cut it! The people who make coax and solder those connectors on have 100 times more experience than you do. When you cut that thing off and put the new one on, it's my bet you didn't get a good connection.

#5) Antenna grounding - where is your antenna mounted? It needs to be on a steel mount that is mounted to a steel part of the vehicle.

See the pictures below

 

[ryan_m]

Hi Ryan,

Here's some quick info for you. Also I have a SWR meter I can sell you for $10+$5 shipping....I accept payment via paypal. It's just the basic radioshack SWR meter.

#1) Sounds like you hooked up your radio correctly...going directly to the battery is always the best way to do it.

#2) That little radio is not a bad one....they are a beginner radio, but they can work just fine, but don't except too much out of it. They will allow you to talk and receive but there are many radios that will talk farther and receive better......THE BIGGEST KEY TO TALKING AND HEARING FARTHER IS YOUR ANTENNA.

#3) With the firestick type antennas I would not go with anything shorter than 5'. I've tried 5', 4' and 3' firesticks and I've found that the 5' did fairly well but once I dropped to the 4 and 3 foot models there was a big loss in receive and transmit abilities. A much better choice for an antenna would be a 102" stainless steel whip from radioshack ($19) - yes it's big, but you'll get used to it and it will blow your little antenna away.

#4) Don't cut the coax and try to add a PL-259 connector unless you are a pro at it. Most likely that is where your problem is.....AND if you bought the original coax at radioshack it most likely is pretty crappy as well. What you want to do is go on ebay or someplace and buy 18' of what is often called mini 8 or 8x type coax (belden or astatic is usually pretty good quality) Don't cut it! The people who make coax and solder those connectors on have 100 times more experience than you do. When you cut that thing off and put the new one on, it's my bet you didn't get a good connection.

#5) Antenna grounding - where is your antenna mounted? It needs to be on a steel mount that is mounted to a steel part of the vehicle.

See the pictures below

Thanks for all the info, there is way more info here on cbs then I ever thought. I wish I would have met you guys before I bought everything.

As for where my antenna is mounted, I mounted it directly to a steel braket that is attached to my rear bumper, I dont have one of those grounding wires to my antenna, do I need that? And for the coax, it is the radio shack one and I have to cut the plug so I can run the coax through my roll cage.

So I guess the first thing I should do is go and get a longer antenna and see if that helps, after that try a new coax. Any one know of a website or pictures on how to wire up a solderless pl-259 connector?

Thanks guys so much for the help! Tomorrow I will get you guys pictures of my set up, just didnt get time today.

 

[Switch Kit]

yes the ground wire would be a plus , IM trying to picture it in my mind and IM thinking your antenna is way to short. Sounds like you have only just begun , just take your time and things will work out for the better. There's alot of decent help around these parts. Radio Shack coax will work fine , I think that would be the least of your problems, although it is very important that the 259 connector is put on correctly. Looks like your just going to have to take things a step at a time. Good luck to you.

 

[hotrod]

yes check swrs
check ch. 1 then 40
if your swr is higher on ch.1 lenthen antenna adjustment
if swr is higher on 40 shorten adjustment
typically a swr of 1.5 is usabla and ok
if your swr is high on all channel usually means ya got a bad ground at antenna
thats when ya need ground strap
last id mount the antenna on roof this will provide best transmit and reception
this is after ya get a longer firestick as mentioned in post above mine
then goto bobscb.com they sell the belden coax mentioned with the good connectors
solder on already.if ya need further help/questions pm me ill try to help

 

[cbradiomagazine.com]

I'd say your first priority is to get the coax sorted out.....then you can work on upgrading your antenna system.

 

[Switch Kit]

Hows it going Ryan ? Still wait'in on the pics dude.

 

[hotrod]

I'd say your first priority is to get the coax sorted out.....then you can work on upgrading your antenna system.

i agree with that.just curious as to what his current swr is