Bargain CB Radio?

[Scorpion]

Just bought a brand new Midland 98 CB radio and mag mount aerial off ebay for £54.00 including delivery.

I know it's hardly top of the range stuff but I thought it was a bit of a bargain at that price.

I take it I need a SWR meter to set it up correctly?

[MattF]

SWR meter, yup. Those Midlands are about £80 quid usually, so you did well at that price.

[hiroler]

there is loads of info on setup etc here!

http://www.4x4cb.com/public/page.cfm?Page=594

[hiroler]

it will work without a swr, but you need one to check your setup is ok and not going to damage the head unit!

[Scorpion]

Okay, thanks for the info lads. Next question, seeing as how I'm going through money like sh!t through a goose at the moment, and I don't want to fork out for an SWR meter unless absolutly necessary, is there anyone going to Weardale in a couple of weeks time that can check my setup with a SWR meter? Everything will be installed its just a matter of the final 'tweeking'!

[da SLUG man]

an SWR meter only costs a tenner!

[Scorpion]

an SWR meter only costs a tenner!

Reply (in best whining tone), 'But I want it for nothing!'

[L3Mm1n6]

I was thinking of getting a one of those midland CB's for my surf, I thought they were just wire in and use much like a casette/CD head unit, what the heck is an SWR meter and where/how would one insert/probe/use such a thing??

[plumb bob]

SWR = Standing Wave Ratio.

It's basically the amount of current that is directed back to the unit when you key the mike, and should in an ideal world be below 1 on the scale, although 1.5 is acceptable, 2 is ok but not great, and 3 will eventually fry your rig.

To adjust it you fit your swr meter between the cb and the ariel and key the mike, take a reading and adjust the length of the ariel to lower the swr.

I think thats about it, although if I'm wrong, somebody will surely corredt me.


Robert........................ ........

[TwoBoard]

Just got myself a bargain Midland 38 CB and aerial on ebay.
Hoping it will turn up today, so I can install it tonight.

Thought it might be a worthy investment for green laning.

[marky]

Get a 25Watt BURNER Boosts your outward bound signal & annoys the neighbours as they cant watch TV.
In my CB days i had a 22ft SILVER ROD with a 50Watt Burneri then moved upto a SIGMA4 Aerial fixed onto 20ft Scaffold pole it was Awesome

[MudSurfer]

SWR = Standing Wave Ratio.

It's basically the amount of current that is directed back to the unit when you key the mike, and should in an ideal world be below 1 on the scale, although 1.5 is acceptable, 2 is ok but not great, and 3 will eventually fry your rig.

To adjust it you fit your swr meter between the cb and the ariel and key the mike, take a reading and adjust the length of the ariel to lower the swr.

I think thats about it, although if I'm wrong, somebody will surely corredt me.


Robert........................ ........

Can you do this with a multimeter??? I put my CB in about a year ago - never thought that I'd need to do an SWR test - seems fine to me.....

[MattF]

Can you do this with a multimeter???

Nope.

[MudSurfer]

Nope.

Can I do it with a multimeter then?

[MattF]

Can I do it with a multimeter then?

I wasn't just being pedantic this time. Honest. Still nope.