Help, unable to contact friend 1.5 miles away?

[neckarb]

Hey Everyone,

I've just bought the adventure pack (Alan DS 42 and Full size orbiter), my first CB radio and I'm unable to contact my friend with the same set up 1.5 miles away, any tips or suggestions are welcome.

We are trying to use the radios from our homes as I don't own a car. I should add, we are in an urban area.

Thanks in advance,

Neckarb.

[andy@thunderpole.co.uk]

Hi there,

The Orbitor antenna is a mobile antenna, so will not work well without a good groundplane. (see here... https://www.thunderpole.co.uk/cb-radio- ... plane.html)

As it would normally be mounted on a vehicle, this would provide the groundplane. If you are using it from your house you will need to provide a sufficient groundplane.

To find out if your groundplane is sufficient, you would need to use an SWR meter to check your reading... https://www.thunderpole.co.uk/cb-radio-guide-swr.html

Hope that helps.
Andy.

[stampman]

you need a Firestick base with coax and 8ft 6 inch of bell wire for a start conect the bell wire to the lead side of the firestick base and useing an swrr meter trim the length of bell wire till you get a reading of about 1.5 to 2 then you should be able to reach your mate

[Hair Bear]

If your home has central heating, a mag mount on an upstairs radiator can work well, but you would still need to check the swr an adjust accordingly. You don't say what type of mount you have.
Having just read your other thread, I'm thinking that the Alan 42 doesn't produce full power if running on batteries and via the bnc antenna.
So, as you already have most of the kit, I think I would proceed as follows...
While out for daily exercise, get within shouting distance of your contact.
Switch on, using the battery pack and the original bnc antenna supplied with the radio.
Make sure you are both on the same channel and the same band eg ch20 UKfm.
Turn the squelch fully anticlockwise.
You should at this point be able to talk to each other and confirm the radios are operating correctly.

Return home...
Give the Orbiter antenna a good ground.
Remove the battery pack and fit the mobile adaptor.
Connect the Orbiter antenna to the mobile adaptor - not the bnc.
Use a dedicated 13.8v dc power supply to feed the 12v plug on the mobile adaptor.
Switch on, again making sure you are both on the same channel and the same band eg ch20 UKfm.
Squelch fully anticlockwise again.
You should be good to go.
Sorry if you've already tried all this, please let us know what happens.

[porky.69]

could try a silver rod maybe if you have the room to do so