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How to Repair a CB Radio

There are millions of Citizen Band (CB) radio users in America, and the CB radio has become a common automobile accessory. CB radios are built to last but occasionally a CB radio may require repair....

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How to Use A SSB CB Radio Properly

What is a SSB CB radio? It is a higher power type of CB that can transmit farther. Here is how to use one.

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How CB Radios Work

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How to Wire Electric Brakes on a Trailer

If you plan to use a vehicle to haul a trailer, it is important that you connect your electric trailer brakes.

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How to Tune a CB Radio Antenna

If you have a CB radio and an antenna, you have to take precautions with the SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) so that you do not damage the CB radio itself. The standing wave ratio pertains to the channel...

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How to Hook Up a CB Linear Amp

Learning how to hook up a CB linear amp (kicker box) is easy. You do want to be careful not to hook up one that is too powerful, or you could have problems with the FCC. The CB comes with 4 watts of...

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How to Match a CB Antenna

If you have a CB radio, you need to know how to match the CB antenna so that you do not damage the radio. If the antenna standing wave ratio is not set correctly, not only can you damage the radio, but...

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How to Tune Antennas With a Cobra 29

Knowing how to tune antennas with a Cobra 29 is important so that you have a good standing wave ratio when transmitting. When you install the radio, you do not want to use it until you make sure that...

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CB Radio Etiquette

CB radios are a useful tool to use when traveling and can also serve as an excellent diversion when on long trips. CB radios are primarily used by truck drivers for updates on traffic conditions and...

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How to Peak & Tune a Cobra 29 Ltd CB Radio

Tuning your Cobra CB, or any other CB, will increase the accuracy with which it delivers and receives signals. A correctly tuned CB radio will have clear reception and the most powerful possible output...

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How to Increase Power Output on Cobra CB Radios

The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) limits the maximum power a CB radio can transmit at 4 watts. You legally can't boost the radio's power. However, power from the Cobra radio isn't the only...

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CB Radio Vs. 10 Meter Radio

The radio hobby enthusiast enjoys operating two-way radios. The most common radio is the low-power Citizen's Band (CB) radio because it can be operated by the general public at any age. The 10-meter...

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How to Set Up CB Radio Antennas

The key to setting up a Citizen Band (CB) antenna is to match the length of the whip to the output requirements of the radio—called tuning the antenna. The efficiency of the antenna and cabling can be...

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How to Use a Mobile CB Radio Antenna for a Base Antenna

Mobile Citizens Band (CB) radio antennas are designed for maximum efficiency when used on the metal surface of a vehicle. All antennas require either a metal surface or wires buried in the ground to...

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How to Tune a Galaxy 959 CB Radio

The Galaxy DX 959 CB radio, produced by the Galaxy Radio company, is a mobile citizen's band radio suitable for use at home or in your vehicle. Due to their reliability and ability to operate during...

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Proper Two-Way Radio Etiquette

Proper conduct on a two-way radio not only displays good manners, but may save someone's life. Enunciating poorly may confuse a listener providing help, and clogging the airwaves with banter may...

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How to Program the Radio on a Kenwood TM-271A

The Kenwood TM-271A is a 60-watt mobile radio transceiver with features including multiple scan functions and NOAA Weather Band and emergency alerts. The TM-271A also offers up to 200 programmable...

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Instructions for a Cobra CB Radio

Cobra has been manufacturing CB (Citizen Band) radios for more than 40 years and has introduced many different models. Most of these operate along the same general guidelines. The 29 LTD Classic and...

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How to Calibrate a Radio Shack SWR Meter

The Radio Shack standing wave ratio meter (SWR) is used to check the standing wave of a CB radio or a ham radio. The meter measures the SWR during transmission. If the standing wave is too high, the...

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CB Vs. VHF Radio

Citizen's Band radio and the newer VHF Multi-Use Radio Service or MURS, allow consumers to transmit over short distances at low power without a license; although only CBs can interface with a...

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Beldon RG-8/U Coax Specifications

Belden RG-8/U coax cable carries radio signals from a radio to an antenna. Used with signal levels over 25 watts and lengths of cable over 25 feet, RG-8/U carries signals in the high frequency, VHF and...

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Uniden CB Tips & Tricks

From its most basic to its most advanced models, Uniden CBs are equipped with built-in functions that will help your equipment work at its optimal performance. The same basic principles of adjusting...

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How to Reset the Microprocessor on an RCI-2950

The RCI-2950 is a citizens' band radio (CB) from RangerUSA. The RCI series consists of CBs with 10 and 12 meter bands, variable output power control, noise blanker and 10 programmable frequencies. The...

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How to Modify a Cobra CB Radio

It is illegal to modify the Cobra CB (Citizen Band) radio's circuitry to boost the radio's output. However, you can modify the Cobra CB radio antenna. Modifying a CB radio legally by altering the...

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How to Boost CB Power

Citizens band radios normally operate at around 5 watts of broadcast strength. However, those that need to use a CB radio for other emergency uses may need to boost that signal. Use of linear...

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How to Adjust a Cobra CB

Starting out as a small TV repair business in 1948, Cobra Electronics Corporation continues to design and produce electronics products for consumers worldwide. Some Cobra products include radar...

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Instructions for How to Tune the SWR on a CB Firestik Antenna

SWR, or standing wave ratio, is an electrical measurement that assesses a CB radio system's resonance with the 11-meter, Citizen's Band frequencies. When the radio and antenna achieve matching...

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How to Set the SWR on a Wilson 5000 Antenna

Before you begin using your CB radio, it is important to adjust your Wilson 5000 antenna to a working SWR level. The SWR, or standing wave ratio, measures the impedance mismatch between the antenna and...

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How to Adjust the SWR on a Uniden CB

SWR, or standing wave ratio, measures impedance difference between your CB antenna and radio. When the antenna's impedance, or resistance to electrical current, is balanced with that of the radio, your...

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How to Unlock a Uniden

Uniden manufactures a range of CB radios, radio scanners, marine radios and other wireless communication devices. Many of the company's electronics feature a control lock that prevents accidental input...

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How to Make Cobra 29 LTD Hear and Receive Better

Cobra's LTD 29 model Citizen's Band radio features the full 40 channels allowed and a heavy-duty microphone. The radio provides 4 watts of AM radio frequency output with a switchable automatic noise...

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How to Stop Noise Coming Through a CB Antenna

External noise can be a distraction when using your CB and can cause your CB to be at times unusable. There are two ways noise can come through your CB radio: through the power supply or through the...

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How to Build a 5/8 Wave Dipole Antenna for 11 Meter

A 5/8 wave dipole antenna consists of two equal lengths of wire, connected to a transmission line in the center. Each of the wires is equal to 5/8 the length of the frequency's wavelength, which for 11...

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How to Calibrate a CB Radio Antenna

Calibrating the antenna to your Citizen Band radio is needed to get the maximum performance out of your CB. To calibrate your antenna you will need to use an Standing Wave Radio to get a read on your...

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How to Wire an Astatic D-104 Mic

You can modify the connection on your vintage Astatic D-104 microphone to interface with a CB or Ham radio. The metal microphone from the 1930s has a classic design and sought-after quality, but the...

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Typical CB Radio Range

If radio communications interest you, try Citizen’s Band radio. While the range of these radios with the proper antenna is generally on the order of a few miles, in the right conditions you can reach...

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How to Carry on a Conversation on a CB Radio

CB radio was a very popular method of communicating while on the road before the cell phone took over as the mobile communication method of choice. While its popularity since the heydays of the 1970s...

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What Is the ANL Button on a CB Radio?

The Automatic Noise Limiter button on your CB radio reduces the amount of noise and audio interference coming from your automobile's engine and transmitted through your CB's speaker. The feature also...

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How to Talk Long Distance on a CB Radio

While Citizen’s Band radios are intended for communications over short distances, from time to time, the band will “open." Instead of talking with a fellow CB’er over a few miles, communications over a...

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How to Increase the Receiving Range on a CB Radio

CB radios are used by hobbyists and professionals the world over to communicate with other nearby CB users. A CB has a maximum legal broadcast strength of around four miles, though the signal is...

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What Happens If You Don't Tune a CB Radio Antenna?

FCC regulations allow CB radio users to broadcast with a power of 4 watts or less. This makes tuning your antenna essential in order to make sure that maximum power is being transmitted by your...

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What Does the Delta Tune Knob on a CB Radio Do?

Your Citizens Band radio includes an array of controls for receiving, adjusting and listening to audio from other CB radio users. The radio's delta tune knob, also known as the clarifier control,...

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Dangers of CB Radio Radiation

When mounting a CB antenna to a car or house, few people stop to think about what effect those radio waves may have on the people around them. According to the FCC, a CB radio doesn't generate a strong...

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CB Radio Wattage Restrictions

CB radio power output is limited by federal law, and CB radios come from the factory already adjusted for maximum allowed output. However, while thoughts of shrugging off the law might be tempting,...

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How Did Radios Help US Troops Communicate During WWII?

From the earliest days of its development, radio has been an important asset in war. World War I saw the first large-scale deployment of radio communication technology, although the equipment was...

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How to Program a Channel Frequency on a Uniden Radio

Uniden's line of scanners includes two versions of an AM/FM clock radio with weather broadcast capabilities in addition to programmable channel frequencies. Programming the frequencies that you listen...

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FCC Rules on Appropriate Language on a Two Way Radio

A two-way radio really goes beyond the realm of walkie-talkies, CB radios and amateur radio – although those are more well-known. The Federal Communications Commission oversees other two-way radio...

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How to Connect a CB Radio to a Battery

Whether you are planning to install your CB radio in your car or want to be able to use it when the power is out during an emergency, connecting it directly to a battery is the way to go. You can use a...

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The CHP Use of a Citizen's Band Radio

The California Highway Patrol doesn't let the fact that the citizen's band radio service -- also known as CB radio and dating back to the 1940s -- affect its decision to use it for CHP enforcement....

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How to Check the Outgoing Wattage on CB Radios

CB radio output wattage can vary if there are problems with the transmitter output in the radio and with other factors. Measuring the radio's output power with a wattmeter and "dummy load" checks the...

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