Hi everyone,

I just installed my Cobra 75 cb radio and I'm only getting static. I installed it and the antenna on Friday night. I don't have a swr meter so I haven't been able to tune it properly. Is the static common without tuning?

 

Yes static is a good thing. There is a squelch knob or dial you can adjust to make the static go away.

Don't transmit with your radio until you can tune the radio. Receiving is fine.

Try channels 6 and 19

 

Cool thanks. I tried 6 it works fine 19 comes and goes

 

So is there anyone in the socal area that has a swr meter that could help me tune my cb?

 

You can find cheap little SWR meters w/ a jumper coax for around $20. You may also try a CB shop (or trucker shop) if you have one in the area. Another option is if you have a local amateur radio club, they likely have antenna analyzers that are much more accurate that you may be able to borrow.

 

Cool thanks. I'll check into it.

 

I'm having the same issue. I just installed everything this week and I can hear talking with the gain up. I haven't tuned the antenna yet because I don't have access to a meter, and I haven't had a chance to check the ground. But I have used the mic and called out "radio check" a few times and got a reply. My issue is that the CB is transmitting the RPMs of the engine as I accelerate. With the squeelch on I don't hear it, but with it all the way off I can. I've been told that my CB ground may not be grounded well enough. Does anyone have any thoughts?

 

Volsjeep: where did you hook into for power? You generally get less noise when hooked directly to the battery.

 

I hooked the power to the battery and grounded to the frame bolt to the left of the passenger speaker.

 

If you have a section of wire hook the radio ground to it the hook it to the battery. Just run it through the window with the hood up. It is just to see if the noise goes away. If it does then you know to find a better ground or run it to the battery as well. Another option is a noise filter but generally correcting the problem at the source is the better option.