Knowing that most of a CB radios range is determined by range when using no amp, far there any gurus at tuning an antenna? I've got a K40 with an adjustable top element. Just not getting the range I used to. In fact, seems like I have to nearly turn the squelch completely off before I can hear anyone and even then, it's very garbled. Anyone got an idea of where to start?

 

Do you have a SWR meter to tune your antenna? If you haven't adjusted your antenna before, that is where to start to get better reception and clarity.

 

why not use a uhf style radio instead?

 

this actually gave me a great idea for mounting my cb radio, so thank you!

 

I'd check it with an SWR as Slackattack wrote... It sounds like your coax might be grounding somewhere or something if it's that bad. Either way, an SWR meter should identify that right away. Slackattack is right and antenna tuning is very important, if it's off significantly you'll get terrible reception. If you were transmitting high power you'd also possibly burn out your radio (but this won't likely happen with 4 watts). It doesn't sound like it was ever tuned?

 

Yeah, it could also be a bad ground or coax. I bought a cheap coax from a truck stop and I didn't get very good reception with it and the antennas that came with it broke in a month. I upgraded to dual firestik antennas and a firering coax from them. After tuning I get pretty good reception.