I just purchased a Cobra 19 DX III and a 36" base loaded magnet mount
antenna. So far I'm picking up pretty good, and transmitting well
also. I don't think I'm getting out there as far as i can. Most likely
this Friday I will be purchasing a Wilson 1000 Magnet Mount to replace
the antenna I have now. Is that going to get me out there a little
more (the wilson 1000) No modifications have been made to this radio
and have not been able to find any either. I purchased it brand new at
a Pilot Truckstop, and am sure it is only putting out 4 watts (fcc
required). Will the Wilson make me receive further or transmit further
or both, or neither? I'm new and feel it all has to do with how much
your getting out ( 4 watts doesn't seem to good )

Maybe I don't need a new radio, maybe the wilson 1000 will do what I
want it to do. I get so sick of losing communication once I'm not
close to truckers anymore. What do I need to do? I want to make sure i
am getting out as far as possible.

My other dilemma:

I've been looking here http://www.wilsonantennas.com/cobracb.shtml at
some of the radios and the three that have caught my eye a

Cobra 29 LTD Night Watch Classic

Cobra 25 LTD Classic

Cobra 148 GTL Classic

The site also offers two tuning options before shipping. Which one
should I go for? Seems like the Mega Tune. One more question below as
well. The tuning options a

The Mega Tune 29.99

Our Mega Tune is designed to provide you with loud booming audio while
still maintaining a clean and clear signal. If you looking to sound
raspy or bleed over many channels this defiantly isn't the
modification for you. Our techs have worked very hard to perfect this
modification. The mega tune will not void any factory warranties, it
will not damage your radio and it will not make your radio run warmer
than normal. We also do not remove or disable any part of the AMC or
ALC circuit. We do upgrade various parts of the audio circuit with
higher wattage or better quality parts. We also do a few other
modifications that make the radios wave form, when viewed on an
oscilloscope more linear. This means of course you will sound as loud
as possible while still maintaining maximum clarity. If you are
looking for maximum performance from your radio we recommend you have
us perform this modification. We also completely warranty all work
performed by our service department. The mega tune will also increase
your peak power. Dual final radios after being mega tuned typically
put out over 40 watts and single final radios typically put out over
30 watts.

The True Tune 10.00

Our True Tune is like a basic peak and tune. When you receive your
radio that have been True Tuned by Premiere Electronics you can rest
assured that your radio is operating at it's maximum efficiency. We go
through your radio and re-align the transmitter section. The reason
this is necessary is because from the factory most radios just aren't
working at their best. The factories don't have the time to sit down
with every radio and precisely tune it. They generally get it in the
ball park, but if you are interested in performance, you need the true
tune. Every modification we perform is backed up with our unbeatable
warranty! Like always, none of our work will void any factory
warranties.

Last question: The one that bugs me.

I purchased a SWR Meter from Radio shack. It was the cheapest one they
had and I am on a budget here, because some they had were way to
expensive. The one I got was
http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...ct%5Fid=21-534
I took it back because nothing seemed to make much difference, or I
wasn't operating it right, seemed to always fall in the red. The
antenna I have the only way to adjust is to move antenna up and down.
Maybe I wasn't in a good location. I finally got it to 2.3, and just
left it. My question is was I operating it right to finally get a 2.3
or is that just a cheap ass SWR Meter?

I really hope someone has the time to answer and help out a newbie as
I am very interested in Cb's since i finally broke down and got me
one. I just want to be able to transmit and receive as far as possible
without breaking the law to bad. Not ready for a amplifier or anything
like that.

I seem to like the site I am planning on purchasing from unless
someone out here tells me there is no need for another radio because
the Wilson 1000 will do what i want. I guess the reason i also like
them is that they will tune and get everything running just right
before they ship it. I know that wasn't done to the one I have now.

If you want to email me feel free.

On Mon, 04 Oct 2004 08:02:55 -0400, Alex
wrote:

I just purchased a Cobra 19 DX III and a 36" base loaded magnet mount
antenna. So far I'm picking up pretty good, and transmitting well
also. I don't think I'm getting out there as far as i can. Most likely
this Friday I will be purchasing a Wilson 1000 Magnet Mount to replace
the antenna I have now. Is that going to get me out there a little
more (the wilson 1000) No modifications have been made to this radio
and have not been able to find any either. I purchased it brand new at
a Pilot Truckstop, and am sure it is only putting out 4 watts (fcc
required). Will the Wilson make me receive further or transmit further
or both, or neither? I'm new and feel it all has to do with how much
your getting out ( 4 watts doesn't seem to good )

All domestic CB radios are rated at 4 watts. Unless you are running an
amplifier, no one radio will significantly "put out" any better than
another. What you use for an antenna, though, is a different story.
The antenna will make a much bigger difference in signal than the
radio. Generally speaking, the longer the antenna, the better it
performs. The largest CB mobile antenna, is a 9' whip. If mounted in
the center of a the vehicle, there isn't much that can touch it.


Maybe I don't need a new radio, maybe the wilson 1000 will do what I
want it to do. I get so sick of losing communication once I'm not
close to truckers anymore. What do I need to do? I want to make sure i
am getting out as far as possible.


My other dilemma:

I've been looking here http://www.wilsonantennas.com/cobracb.shtml at
some of the radios and the three that have caught my eye a

Cobra 29 LTD Night Watch Classic

Cobra 25 LTD Classic

Cobra 148 GTL Classic

These are fairly nice radios, although there are continual rumors of
diminished quality due to their place of manufacture. A better
alternative would be the Uniden line of radios. My favorite is the
Grant.



The site also offers two tuning options before shipping. Which one
should I go for? Seems like the Mega Tune. One more question below as
well. The tuning options a

The Mega Tune 29.99

Our Mega Tune is designed to provide you with loud booming audio while
still maintaining a clean and clear signal. If you looking to sound
raspy or bleed over many channels this defiantly isn't the
modification for you. Our techs have worked very hard to perfect this
modification. The mega tune will not void any factory warranties, it
will not damage your radio and it will not make your radio run warmer
than normal. We also do not remove or disable any part of the AMC or
ALC circuit. We do upgrade various parts of the audio circuit with
higher wattage or better quality parts. We also do a few other
modifications that make the radios wave form, when viewed on an
oscilloscope more linear. This means of course you will sound as loud
as possible while still maintaining maximum clarity. If you are
looking for maximum performance from your radio we recommend you have
us perform this modification. We also completely warranty all work
performed by our service department. The mega tune will also increase
your peak power. Dual final radios after being mega tuned typically
put out over 40 watts and single final radios typically put out over
30 watts.

The True Tune 10.00

Our True Tune is like a basic peak and tune. When you receive your
radio that have been True Tuned by Premiere Electronics you can rest
assured that your radio is operating at it's maximum efficiency. We go
through your radio and re-align the transmitter section. The reason
this is necessary is because from the factory most radios just aren't
working at their best. The factories don't have the time to sit down
with every radio and precisely tune it. They generally get it in the
ball park, but if you are interested in performance, you need the true
tune. Every modification we perform is backed up with our unbeatable
warranty! Like always, none of our work will void any factory
warranties.

Run, don't walk away from peak jobs. They do nothing more than remove
your hard earned money and put it into someone else's hands. All that
is usually involved is peaking the power output for maximum, and
removing or reducing the affects of the modulation limiter. I won't go
into the math here but in order to see even 1 "S" (signal) unit
increase on another guy's meter, your radio would have to put out 4
times as much power as it did stock. It is VERY difficult to get 16
watts of dead key power from a 4 watt CB. It cannot be done by
alignment alone. By the time someone "redesigns" the transmitter and
replaces the parts necessary to get up to 16 watts, you are left with
a radio that may very well be less reliable, or may have a dirty or
unstable transmitter.

If you truly want to get a boost in output power, you are better off
with an amplifier. Yes, an amplifier is illegal as heck, but so is a
peak job.




Last question: The one that bugs me.

I purchased a SWR Meter from Radio shack. It was the cheapest one they
had and I am on a budget here, because some they had were way to
expensive. The one I got was
http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...ct%5Fid=21-534
I took it back because nothing seemed to make much difference, or I
wasn't operating it right, seemed to always fall in the red. The
antenna I have the only way to adjust is to move antenna up and down.
Maybe I wasn't in a good location. I finally got it to 2.3, and just
left it. My question is was I operating it right to finally get a 2.3
or is that just a cheap ass SWR Meter?

That meter should do the job. How were you using it? To check SWR, you
need to set it to the "CAL" position. Key the mike on your radio and
adjust the calibrate knob on the meter to the red cal line at the
right of the scale. Then switch to SWR and read the reflected power on
the SWR scale. A good performing antenna will have an SWR less than
2:1 (1.5:1 preferable)

Hope that helps...

Dave
"Sandbagger"
http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj

N3CVJ wrote:
Run, don't walk away from peak jobs.



A most certainly biased opinion. Just because YOU hacked up radios as an
"independant (sic) contractor" and couldn't peak them properly doesn't
mean the rest of the world should discount all the other techs.


They do

nothing more than remove your hard earned

money and put it into someone else's hands.


No wonder you couldn't make it as a tech. There are many reasons to
"peak" radios. In fact, what *you* term "peak" encompasses virtually any
mods or work to a radio, such as removing the cover and aligning or
tuning.




All that is usually involved is peaking the

power output for maximum, and removing or

reducing the affects of the modulation limiter.



Ahhh,,,well, there you have it, mistakenly believing that all techs
"usually" look at peaking a radio in the same incompetent manner as
yourself.


I won't go into the math here but in order to

see even 1 "S" (signal) unit increase on

another guy's meter, your radio would have to

put out 4 times as much power as it did stock.


You would be best served putting your voodoo radio bull**** to rest.
Assuming a peak and tune job is somehow related to increased "S" units
is imbecilic.


It is VERY difficult to get 16 watts of dead key
power from a 4 watt CB.



If one was getting a 16 watt dead key from a cb, it would be just
that,,a 16 watt cb and no longer a 4 watt cb.


It cannot be done by

alignment alone. By the time someone

"redesigns" the transmitter and replaces the

parts necessary to get up to 16 watts, you are

left with a radio that may very well be less

reliable, or may have a dirty or unstable

transmitter.



And you may be left with a radio that works quite well and exhibits none
of the unfavorable qualities (read: glass half empty) of which you
choose to focus.


If you truly want to get a boost in output

power,

you are better off with an amplifier. Yes, an

amplifier is illegal as heck, but so is a peak

job.



A tune isn't necessarily illegal, yet you have maintained "peak" and
"tune" are synonyms by your past posts regarding the opening of radios.

Twistedhed wrote:
You would be best served putting your voodoo radio bull**** to rest.
Assuming a peak and tune job is somehow related to increased "S" units
is imbecilic.

Twist:

Actually, there is a correlation. If two radios are set up in a
"fixed" location, each, and one transmits a carrier, there will be a
reading on the "s" meter of the receiving radio. Assuming the two
radios are far enough apart so that the transmitted signal does not
register above, say, s5 on the receiver, it is possible to get a
relative power reading from the transmitting radio. Now if the
transmitting radio increases power fourfold, say from 4 watts to 16
watts, the receiving radio should now show s6 on its meter.

This of course assumes that the receiving radio's ALC is tuned
properly and that the s-meter is calibrated properly. In a properly
calibrated receiver, a 3db increase in received signal strength should
show about 1/2 of an S unit. Doubling the power output is the
equivalent a 3db increase.

It's a moot point, but output power does indeed have something to do
with "s" units, to the receiving radio. There isn't a direct
correlation, and most CB receivers probably aren't calibrated
properly, but there is a correlation, nonetheless.

To the original poster: as for the antenna advice, a Wilson 1000 is a
decent antenna, and will do fine. You will notice increased receive
and transmit range while still remaining legal.

Hope this helps.

-SSB

From: (sideband)
Twistedhed wrote:
You would be best served putting your voodoo radio bull**** to rest.
Assuming a peak and tune job is somehow related to increased "S" units
is imbecilic.
_
Twist:

Actually, there is a correlation. If two radios

are set up in a "fixed" location, each, and one

transmits a carrier, there will be a reading on

the "s" meter of the receiving radio. Assuming

the two radios are far enough apart so that the
transmitted signal does not register above,

say, s5 on the receiver, it is possible to get a

relative power reading from the transmitting

radio. Now if the transmitting radio increases

power fourfold, say from 4 watts to 16 watts,

the receiving radio should now show s6 on its

meter.

This of course assumes that the receiving

radio's ALC is tuned properly and that the

s-meter is calibrated properly. In a properly

calibrated receiver, a 3db increase in received
signal strength should show about 1/2 of an S

unit. Doubling the power output is the

equivalent a 3db increase.




Whooa...you sure?


It's a moot point, but output power does

indeed have something to do with "s" units, to

the receiving radio. There isn't a direct

correlation, and most CB receivers probably

aren't calibrated properly, but there is a

correlation, nonetheless.




Yes, thanks for the reminder. I am aware output has much to do with the
S units on the receiving end.
What was being discussed was a peak and tune of a four watt radio. No
amount of tuning or peaking is going to render a difference in S units
from 4 watts.




To the original poster: as for the antenna

advice, a Wilson 1000 is a decent antenna,

and will do fine. You will notice increased

receive and transmit range while still

remaining legal.

Hope this helps.

-SSB



SSB,,Im taking another road trip to the Carolinas real soon,,probably
Myrtle Beach. In addition to seeing if Dwight wants to hang out awhile
(I may have to drive to Surfside Beach, for that) you have to send me an
email letting me know your times and freqs of operation. I'll try and
hollah at ya' from the road.

Twist:

1. I don't have your email... Haven't for a couple of years. Mine's
easy to find, if you know where to look. I've even been posting hints
as to how to find it for years.... every time I post.
2. I mostly operate on the Amateur bands now, though I do run 19 to
find out why I'm sitting in traffic, or to tell Swift he's a moron
(like he doesn't know already, but it's still fun to yell at the guy
who doesn't know how to keep it in his lane).
3. It wasn't voodoo.. Voodoo is expecting pushing over 100% modulation
to make the radio "louder" on the receiving radio.... I've said it
before, and I'll say it again.. 4 watts on one channel is alot louder
than 40 watts on all 40.

-SSB

Twistedhed wrote:
From: (sideband)
Twistedhed wrote:
You would be best served putting your voodoo radio bull**** to rest.
Assuming a peak and tune job is somehow related to increased "S" units
is imbecilic.
_

Twist:


Actually, there is a correlation. If two radios


are set up in a "fixed" location, each, and one


transmits a carrier, there will be a reading on


the "s" meter of the receiving radio. Assuming


the two radios are far enough apart so that the
transmitted signal does not register above,


say, s5 on the receiver, it is possible to get a


relative power reading from the transmitting


radio. Now if the transmitting radio increases


power fourfold, say from 4 watts to 16 watts,


the receiving radio should now show s6 on its


meter.


This of course assumes that the receiving


radio's ALC is tuned properly and that the


s-meter is calibrated properly. In a properly


calibrated receiver, a 3db increase in received
signal strength should show about 1/2 of an S


unit. Doubling the power output is the


equivalent a 3db increase.





Whooa...you sure?



It's a moot point, but output power does


indeed have something to do with "s" units, to


the receiving radio. There isn't a direct


correlation, and most CB receivers probably


aren't calibrated properly, but there is a


correlation, nonetheless.





Yes, thanks for the reminder. I am aware output has much to do with the
S units on the receiving end.
What was being discussed was a peak and tune of a four watt radio. No
amount of tuning or peaking is going to render a difference in S units
from 4 watts.





To the original poster: as for the antenna


advice, a Wilson 1000 is a decent antenna,


and will do fine. You will notice increased


receive and transmit range while still


remaining legal.


Hope this helps.


-SSB




SSB,,Im taking another road trip to the Carolinas real soon,,probably
Myrtle Beach. In addition to seeing if Dwight wants to hang out awhile
(I may have to drive to Surfside Beach, for that) you have to send me an
email letting me know your times and freqs of operation. I'll try and
hollah at ya' from the road.

On Mon, 04 Oct 2004 18:34:23 GMT, sideband wrote:



Twistedhed wrote:
You would be best served putting your voodoo radio bull**** to rest.
Assuming a peak and tune job is somehow related to increased "S" units
is imbecilic.

Twist:

Actually, there is a correlation. If two radios are set up in a
"fixed" location, each, and one transmits a carrier, there will be a
reading on the "s" meter of the receiving radio. Assuming the two
radios are far enough apart so that the transmitted signal does not
register above, say, s5 on the receiver, it is possible to get a
relative power reading from the transmitting radio. Now if the
transmitting radio increases power fourfold, say from 4 watts to 16
watts, the receiving radio should now show s6 on its meter.

This of course assumes that the receiving radio's ALC is tuned
properly and that the s-meter is calibrated properly. In a properly
calibrated receiver, a 3db increase in received signal strength should
show about 1/2 of an S unit. Doubling the power output is the
equivalent a 3db increase.

True, and 3 db is just barely noticable at the receive end

Makes peaking a radio to get 1 more watt out of it more detrimental
than beneficial.

On Mon, 04 Oct 2004 18:34:23 GMT, sideband wrote:



Twistedhed wrote:
You would be best served putting your voodoo radio bull**** to rest.
Assuming a peak and tune job is somehow related to increased "S" units
is imbecilic.

Twist:

Actually, there is a correlation.

He knows that. He just likes to insult me. But he's way out of his
element and way too far into mine if he wants to talk about radio
theory.

Dave
"Sandbagger"
http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj

From: (Dave=A0Hall)
On Mon, 04 Oct 2004 18:34:23 GMT, sideband wrote:
Twistedhed wrote:
You would be best served putting your voodoo radio bull**** to rest.
Assuming a peak and tune job is somehow related to increased "S" units
is imbecilic.
Twist:
Actually, there is a correlation.

He knows that. He just likes to insult me.

Nothing was insultive was said to you in the above post.
Has nothing to with insult and if you weren't so insultive all the time
with your own posts you wouldn't be paranoid and misinterpret others
posts thinking they are all about you.

But

he's way out of his element and way too far

into mine if he wants to talk about radio

theory.


Hehe,,,,that's the davie we're all used to, the one that needs to blow
his own horn. It ilustrates your blown self-esteem. I guess if I was as
ignorant as your remarks about FCC law that hold roger beeps illegal and
dxing as a felony, I would hurry up and start tooting my own horn about
another area of which I have slightly more knowledge than that of the
law which governs "your" element.
Nevertheless, tuning a 4 watt radio will not affect any "S" unit on the
receiving end. You go on and believe it will and continue to sling your
voodoo bull**** that is found in your posts from your claim of making a
Davemade "spectrally pure" (something which you are unable to define,
but claim you did) to your bull**** about increased S units from a 4
watt radio.


Dave

"Sandbagger"

http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj

On Mon, 04 Oct 2004 18:34:23 GMT, sideband wrote:



Twistedhed wrote:
You would be best served putting your voodoo radio bull**** to rest.
Assuming a peak and tune job is somehow related to increased "S" units
is imbecilic.

Twist:

Actually, there is a correlation. If two radios are set up in a
"fixed" location, each, and one transmits a carrier, there will be a
reading on the "s" meter of the receiving radio. Assuming the two
radios are far enough apart so that the transmitted signal does not
register above, say, s5 on the receiver, it is possible to get a
relative power reading from the transmitting radio. Now if the
transmitting radio increases power fourfold, say from 4 watts to 16
watts, the receiving radio should now show s6 on its meter.

This of course assumes that the receiving radio's ALC is tuned
properly and that the s-meter is calibrated properly. In a properly
calibrated receiver, a 3db increase in received signal strength should
show about 1/2 of an S unit. Doubling the power output is the
equivalent a 3db increase.

It's a moot point, but output power does indeed have something to do
with "s" units, to the receiving radio. There isn't a direct
correlation, and most CB receivers probably aren't calibrated
properly, but there is a correlation, nonetheless.

To the original poster: as for the antenna advice, a Wilson 1000 is a
decent antenna, and will do fine. You will notice increased receive
and transmit range while still remaining legal.

Hope this helps.

-SSB


Thanks so much. With all the trolls in here I wasn't sure I would get
a decent reply. thanks again.