UHF newbie (when it starts working)

[dad]

hey blokes,
i bought my first proper radio today, it a uniden uh09sx. got it pretty cheap, superceded model, without an aerial (hoping to use one i had lying around from an ancient radio a mate gave me, that i never got to work)

wired it into the zook, above mentioned aerial of unknown type plugged straight in),

cant seem to get anyone, going to have a better try when a mate gets here with his cb.


i cant seem to find any info about ariels but i want to know if i've used an AM ariel will it not pickup anything? or , whats the deal with aerials in general??

thanks in advance...
nic

[stool]

If you cannot pick up anything in sydney you have a big problem

as almost all channels are full of heros

Mabe you have mixed UHF with CB antennas

[mkpatrol]

Yep. get a UHF antenna, a 27mHtz one will not work.

[Bad_Zook]

you need a 477mhz.. if your on the cheap dick smith ahve pretty good ones at the right price..

[mkpatrol]

you need a 477mhz.. if your on the cheap dick smith ahve pretty good ones at the right price..

Toughest on I have found is the 2 foot metal one with the coil in the middle, not the best range but its still there after 5 years

[Skegbudley]

Hi Nic,
Checkout Prestige Communication. Good prices and fast delivery.
http://www.prestigecom.net.au
Ive got the RFI Explorist 3 & 6.5db GI 4WD Antenna Package. The 3db tip is near unbreakable. (Total write off the forby type impact excepted. )
I mainly run the 6.5db and find it great.
http://www.prestigecom.net.au/index.php ... ucts_id=56

[festy]

In Sydney, you should be able to pick up the garbage on the repeaters with a wet bit of string, so I think you might have a short in your antenna/coax/plug.
An easy way to tell is to turn the squelch down to where you can hear static, then unplug your antenna from the back of the CB. If the static gets louder, you have a short.

[pongo]

CHeck to see if you have done the arial lead and plugs right

Use a multimeter and see if the middle part of the coax has continuity with earth ( makes a circuit). IF so then you have a short somewhere.

Where are ya in syd, might be close enough for one of us on here to give ya a holla

Good luck

[marin]

Make sure you DO NOT TRANSMIT if you don't have the right antenna. You can really stuff things in your amp. Go and buy an antenna to suit, on a spring base, and you will be all good.

A UHF radio is only as good as the antenna it is attached to. Too many people go and buy some whiz bang radio and think they can just bolt any old antenna on, but the antenna is equally as important as the radio.

marin