cobra 29ltd classic

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cobra 29ltd classic #1004527 07/29/10 09:47 AM

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 4

ireland

sarahjames124 Offline

Need a Spot

Can someone out there help me out?? Im trying to make my radio a bit more powerful and I was wondering what I would need to do?? Basically I have a Cobra 29LTD Classic straight out of the box running with just the basic power and 5 ft Firestik antenna with no mods currently done to it please let me know what I can do to get more range and more power to my radio... thanks I am a full on Novice with this but I am looking forward to learning.

Re: cobra 29ltd classic [Re: sarahjames124] #1004528 07/29/10 03:25 PM

Joined: Feb 2000

Posts: 6,247

Bel Buckle, TN

4x4Wire

Trail Leader

Out of the box, CB radios are power limited by law. As such, many people are shifting to amateur radio for communications. Note, a license is required to use the amateur radio bands.

The "best" option for improving communications with CB is using a full-wave antenna (102" if I recall correctly).

Or, use a 5/8 wave antenna. Your 5 ft Firestik is a 5/8 wave antenna.

And, you need a good ground plane. The antenna mount should be bolted direct to sheet metal with as much of the antenna above the vehicle body as possible.

John Stewart
Editor - 4x4Wire.com
Editor - 4x4Voice
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Re: cobra 29ltd classic [Re: sarahjames124] #1004529 07/29/10 06:15 PM

Joined: Nov 2001

Posts: 3,272

Pebble Beach, CA

Oyaji_Jon

Roll Me Over

Your location says Ireland, so your rules may be different, but here is a link to the FCC webpage that highlights the law for CB use in the US. There is also a link to the actual verbage of the law on that page.

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=operations&id=cb

As John said, your only legal way to make your radio function more efficiently is to work on your antenna and connectors. Find an SWR meter and tune your antenna and conductor while ensuring the maximum ground and antenna exposure.

73
-Jon
KJ6GVM

As seen on Expedition with TX plates: VEGETARIAN - An old Indian word for poor hunter

Grampa's Trooper
1974 FJ40
1987 FJ60

Re: cobra 29ltd classic [Re: Oyaji_Jon] #1004530 08/01/10 03:40 PM

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 6,332

In the beer cooler

52degrees

Trail Leader

Or buy a linear amplifier <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

1990 Montero RS (In pieces... for now)

KG6VNX

Re: cobra 29ltd classic [Re: 52degrees] #1004531 08/01/10 06:02 PM

Joined: Feb 2000

Posts: 6,247

Bel Buckle, TN

4x4Wire

Trail Leader

I was on a run several years ago. One of the participants had a linear he was touting as the answer to CB communications. He could talk to someone over 400 miles away. But, he couldn't talk to someone 100 yards away.

And, by the time everyone adjusted squelch to compensate for the close proximity to the high power, we had better verbal communication than radio communications between vehicles.

John Stewart
Editor - 4x4Wire.com
Editor - 4x4Voice
Editor - MUIRNet-News
President - BlueRibbon Coalition

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