cb radio. no distance

Tell us about the vehicle you have that magnet stuck on, and where is it placed on the vehicle?

Did the tech explain what he did to the radio and how he improved the performance over stock?

 

Is the antenna wire pinched where it comes into the vehicle?

 

Did you have the cb shop match your antenna to your radio? If this is a new install, you need an SWR meter to check out your antenna system. I’m not sure if you already know about this, or if you are new to using a cb radio.

 

Okay, that probably leaves the radio or the antenna. Unfortunately I’ve never owned a Wilson 1000 mag mount antenna, but I would think it should talk farther than 3 miles. Some guys on this forum own the Wilson 5000 antenna and seem to get 10 miles.
Now if a radio isn’t aligned correctly, it won’t talk very far either. You should be able to talk at least 5 miles or more with a Cobra 29 set at 4 watts for transmit power, with a good antenna and coax. Also your surrounding environment can effect your distance too.

 

That’s interesting. It makes me think there’s something going on with your antenna. About the easiest way to check, would be having someone ride along with an antenna analyzer. Just to see if the impedance and SWR drastically increases while driving down the highway. If you haven’t already done this, you may need to make sure your antenna is tight on the magnet mount. Of course I realize not everyone knows someone, or has an antenna analyzer, but they sure are a handy tool when needed.

 

Want to get out farther than 2 or 3 miles? Get a amplifier and see 15-20 miles range just about anytime you turn on the radio...

I have a President McKinley radio in my Tacoma, and a 1x2 amplifier and regularly can talk 20+ miles with the set-up... President McKinley is just a basic 4w CB Radio similar to the Cobra 29 as for as power go's, but when paired with my 1x2 amp, that 4w's turns into closer to 400w's...So if I can hear a station, I usually have no problem getting back to them...

Your antenna is just as important for distance as the power your running, if not more-so! So first off, I'm not a big fan of base loaded, and magnet mounted antenna's... The 102" whip antenna is going to be about the best you can get, but the problem is, it needs to be mounted on the roof to work to it's full potential...(which is the biggest problem since most can't drive around town with a 9' antenna sticking up off the top of the roof.)

I run a single-coil Predator 10K which is a center loaded antenna and get great results locally and with DX contacts... I can talk from the west side of Dallas to some friends over east of the Mesquite/Garland area 20+ miles away...With a Wilson 5000 magnet mounted antenna I couldn't even hear those guys at that distance...much less them hear me.

Just this afternoon on the way home I was in the Oak Cliff area west of Dallas and talked to a guy that was crossing over Lake Ray Hubbard East of Dallas...As the crow-fly's, that was over 25 miles during rush-hour.