C B assistance

[krick3tt]

On my last trip needing my CB, I could receive but not send. The other end could hear my mike click but no voice. It is a one year old Uniden.
I could hear the weather channel and other senders voices. Antenna seems to be good for reception.
Is it just the mike or am I looking at a new unit?


cheers,
Morris

[hrafn]

Morris,

If others can hear a click when you press the PTT, then you are probably
transmitting Ok. Mike cords are notorious for going bad. See if you can
borrow a known working mike to try.

[pinzwheeling]

Morris,

If others can hear a click when you press the PTT, then you are probably
transmitting Ok. Mike cords are notorious for going bad. See if you can
borrow a known working mike to try.

He tried that, same result.

[Profpinz]

Just for interest sake, what do you guys in the US mainly use on trips for inter-vehicle communication:
1/. 27 Meg AM CB's
2/. UHF CB's

I guess you could also include loud shouting as a third option?

[Jim LaGuardia]

I use hand signals(mainly just one finger)

[Profpinz]

I use hand signals(mainly just one finger)

Does it work over long distance?
...Ohh and don't forget to use the other hand / finger if you travel overseas (Aus, UK, Japan etc) otherwise the passenger may give you a black eye

[Kiwibru]

Short circuit in the mic plug receptical?

[Lightningpinz]

A Uniden/Radio Shack CB. According to the local ham radio repair shop the Uniden line sucks. There are daughter boards off the main circuit board. The solder joints crystalize in off oad use and then the solder cracks. They take them apart and resolder every joint. I had one that just quit and they say don't get a Uniden for of road. Mine failed the same way. I could hear and not transmit, then I sometimes could hear, then one trip it was just fine. Now it is great (drop kick into the trash).
BTW it was going to cost more to fix the bad (modern day)Uniden than to replace it. Fortunately Joel Glickman from Texas passed on an Old Uniden. Now just need the time to install. Hope you on the trails can hear me Now or later this summer.

[krick3tt]

I think I got it now. Uniden bad, other CB good.

What is the 'other' CB that you would recommend?
I am not going to put the bucks into fixing, would rather get a unit that will work even when I roll it.

We are now accepting recommendations from the audience.

Cheers,
Morris

[Kiwibru]

I gave up CB radio years ago. Too crowded, not enough range, cheap radios. I finally switched to GMRS which depending upon the radio and terrain gives 5-20 mile range. The hand helds made by Pryme, Motorola and my favorite Kenwood that are made to MIL-SPEC standards and hold up well. I just clip a Kenwood hand held radio to the mesh divider and use a hand held mic for talking to others who use either GMRS or even FRS. You just have to have multiple channel capability. If your buddies have GMRS radios this is a great solution but you do miss out of on the general mayhem of CB chatter.
Just some alternatives that I have found to work really great with no crowding, a simple on line application to the FCC for license and robust hardware.
see: www.popularwireless.com/gmrs.html

[krick3tt]

Seriously though, the groups I go with require CB so anything else is out of the question. Even if it is better. No hand helds or FRS.

Cheers,
Morris

[Kiwibru]

Well then, Midland and Cobra used to be pretty good CB radio builders. I would certainly look for something that had been somewhat "hardened" or built to MIL-SPEC.

[Pinz Enthusiast]

My Uniden has given up the ghost as well, (morris used my mike to test his radio) maybe just give up the CB thing unless anyone has good feedback on the cobra powermic CB, might consider something that is compact like it is.

[pinzwheeling]

I've had a few Realistic (radio shack) CBs, and I've never had one fail. (knocking on wood).

I've had a couple of Cobras with a 50% fatality rate. Never had a Uniden, so I don't have any input for those. I always buy used Realistic CBs; I believe that the older ones seem to have more transmitting power and are very reliable.

[mjnims]

I used a uniden Pro 500 for years with no problems so when I needed one for the Pinz I got the Uniden 520, lasted all of about 10 minutes. I am now running an old realistic I got off ebay for $10. I am going on three years and other than not being able to keep the antenna mounted to the truck all is well (darn branches, rocks .....). I have found with most electronic equipment, if you are looking for durability go with the old stuff. The new crap just does not hold up.