<Help needed> Albrecht AE 6890 & SWR

[cbco]

Hi,

First of all, I am a complete newb to the CB radio set-up, so please excuse my ignorance!

I recently purchased a Albrecht AE 6890 CB Radio with Detachable Remote Face (as seen here) and fitted it to my Taxi along with a Road Talker Modulater Antenna, specifications: 1.67m, 26-30MHz frequency, 500 watts, 1/4 wave reduced. However, I am having no luck in finding channels where I know fellow cabbies are actively talking. I've only managed to pick one channel up only the reception was incredibly poor. Embarassingly enough I have just this minute learnt that I may have to tune my antenna with the CB by using a SWR tool; is this correct, and if so, is this why I am struggling to effectively use my CB?

If a kind soul could please take the time, in simple terms (I'm a newb remember ) explain where I am going wrong and which direction to go?

Many thanks.

[needle bender]

Hi..you say you cant hear your fellow cabbies...well the first thing to do is to check that you are on the right band!!!...i take it the others are using the uk 40 and not the eu 40???...you should be able to hear them even with your swr out...should that be the problem you will then need to swr the antenna to get the optimum performance from your transciever and prevent damage to the output finals...you may also have connection problems between antenna and transciever!!!...what sort of antenna mount are you using??...its not that difficult to sort the probs so dont dispair...the gang on here will give you all the help ya need...

[Guzzy]

Which channels are your taxi buddies using, the UK40 or EU40?

Are they using FM or AM?

Regarding the SWR: You will need an SWR meter. It only takes a few minutes to check your SWR, it's no big deal.

Look here for a guide to SWR: http://www.thunderpole.co.uk/cb_radio_guide_swr.html

Any problems, just ask. We've all been there.

[cbco]

Hi,

Many thanks for the replies.

Yes, they are using U40 on channel 34 FM from what I can remember. I can regularly hear a group of people talking on U19, but going off of that the reception is unbearable.

I purchased a SWR meter of eBay, and I got a reading of 1.9, touching 2.

As for the antenna equipment. I am using this mount (the cable looks slightly torn on mine for some reason), with the aforementioned antenna.

I'm completely lost on where to turn

Many thanks.

[Andy Nazel]

Hello CBCO! I may be trying to teach you to suck eggs...but....does the radio have a local/DX button as this will affect the receive.Its just a thought and it's the simple answers that sometimes come back to slap you in the face later!

[Guzzy]

the cable looks slightly torn on mine for some reason

Care to show us a piccy?

[porky.69]

the cable looks slightly torn on mine for some reason

Care to show us a piccy?

water may have have got into the coax ???

[needle bender]

Hi,yeah its starting to sound like antenna probs...its hard to say without seeing your antenna and coax cable,,,you say its torn???...its sounds as if you are using an old antenna and coax...at this stage i can only suggest a new magmount and antenna...buying used gear isn't a good idea unless you know what to look out for...as guzzy says some pics of your antenna and the damaged coax would help.....but if you can afford a new magmount thats the best option,at least it eliminates that prob...as an afterthought are you using your transciever with the squelch control open...{radio hissing} or turned fully clockwise..{silent}...sorry if i am asking you stuff you already know...but you will in effect cancell out all but the strongest signals with to much squelch....