Topic: CB prob, no squelch?

[Shamb]

I noticed on the last run that my squelch stopped working. Today I replaced the firestick and coax BC connectors but I still hear nothing no matter how high/low I turn it up. The CB turns on but I can not contact anyone nor can they contact me.

Anyone ever run across this?  Is the CB shot?  if it is shot what did I do to screw it up?   I've only had it for about a year or so and its only been used maybe 5-6 times   

This is a Bearcat, I got it from Wally mart for around $80

Thanks,
Shamb

[Caboose]

check the grounding, you might have either a bad ground, or your antenna might me touching something.  If this is the case, you can throw the CB farther than you can talk on it.

[Shamb [OP]]

does the antenna have to be touching something or can I just lay it in the back of the bed w/ the coax connected?

I just read through the manual and checked everything.... still isn't working...

troubleshooting tip's say it might be a bad mic.

[Caboose]

  yes, the antenna has to be ground, it cant just lay in the bad.  you can short out your radio that way.   Easiest way to mount it.  Go to radio shack and tell them you need a mount kit for your CB.  You need to insulate the antenna from the ground.  You drill a hole (or get a mount).  the antenna will screw into the borrom of the hole with an adapter for the antenna.  you use a plastic insulator to seperate teh antenna from the ground.  im trying to find a pic for you right now.

Unless... do you have a magnet mount antenna?  sorry forgot to ask.

[Caboose]

ok here is a pic of the regular non magnetic antenna mounted. 

You cant see it, but there is a plastic insulator that keeps teh antenna signal (+) from connecting with the ground (-).  thats what i mean by grounded.  you cant have the two interfiering with eachother or else you complete the circuit.  the best way i can think to explain it is that picture yourself sending out a + signal.  Someone else has their antenna ground (-) to complete the circuit.  clear?   Im not an expert by any means so any one else feel free to chime in.


here is an example of a magnetic mount antenna.


pretty straight forward on that one...

[Shamb [OP]]

nah its not magnetic, it has the insulated washer inbetween the coax and antenna.  I've got it on that exact same mount in the first pic.. its just not MOUNTED to the truck. ..

I tried another antenna.. nada.. so its gotta be the CB or the MIC.. those are the only two things I havn't replaced yet.

[Tallchevy]

Start by mounting the antenna. Is the speaker is blown? Did you match the antenna to the C.B.? You have to use a meter that hooks in line between the C.B. & the antenna. If you don't match it, you could have fried the C.B. 

[Caboose]

yea, also if it isnt mounted to the truck, like i said.  its not grounded.  and you then might have friend the cb.  hope u aint running a linear too.  i almost friend mine.  my friend thought it was funny to unhook my coax and i was running my linear.  idk what happened but i got this LOUID squeal through my truck audio speakers and my mp3 player which was playing the music at the time shut off.  scared the hell out of me.  thought i fried my mp3 too!

[Shamb [OP]]

I probably did frie the CB. LOL.. oh well.. I can get a cobra cheapy at wally mart.. no biggie.. I don't use it that much anyways. Just nice to have..

not running a linear thank god...  I thought about running a linear but I dont know enough about this stuff to pay $$ for something just to F' it up..

I have a friend that works on towers for the fire dept and PD... I'll have him set one up for me.

[Caboose]

its not that hard.  just follow the directions.  you prob didnt fry it.  I thoght that several times.  And i did a few things that should have fried it.  Just ground it, mount the mount and try it agian.

[dt]

sounds like a mic problem

[skid]

Seen a large number of cb's that loose recieve of speaker audio when the mics unplugged.  So if the mic is bad, or loose wire, it could be the problem.

[DTB]

Seen a large number of cb's that loose recieve of speaker audio when the mics unplugged.  So if the mic is bad, or loose wire, it could be the problem.

x2...ive had 2 handsets go bad myself