CB's a no go!!

[Rayngie]

Hello all, Just bought a Uniden pro 520xl off e-bay, looks in very good nick and aparently came straight out of a ute, not even a scratch on it.Anyway, installed it to the Rangie at the weekend, new GME antenna, it has all power, all lights work etc, power is going to the right places, the antenna is wired up properly, when i click the talk button on the mike i get a click, nothing else, mate in his 4wd with a working cb can't hear me, i can't hear him, no other noises come out of it, re-traced all wiring, it all works.What is it?????, I'm in Sydney, anyone around the northern beaches, north shore that i can take it to?, any idea's??

[4bee]

http://www.austech.info/forumdisplay.php?f=19

May be a help.????

[waynep]

I am pretty sure that's a 27Mhz radio not a UHF - is the mate you are talking to also on 27Mhz ? ( sorry don't mean to offend but it happens )

If it is not that you probaby need to take it into a two-way radio place to get the install tested. They can put an instrument on the antenna line and check forward and reverse power. If its not the aerial, they will need to bench test the radio.

[Rayngie]

yep, it's 27MHZ, not sure exactly if that was what i wanted, but it's what i got, now got to work out how to get it running, i know nothing about these, are they compatible, or can they be upgraded?

[Tusker]

Theres a meter to run between the unit & cable. Checks for feedback?. For the life of me I can't think of what it's called. Only $20 or so too.

Anyway, if the feedback? is too high, it can damage the set. Might have happened in this instal or the last.

Can someone tell me what the damn thing is called?

Regards
Max P

[Tusker]

Its a SWER meter

[disconut]

Standing Wave Ratio (SWR).

http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/Setting_SWR.htm

Trev.

[dobbo]

Might need a replacement microphone

[waynep]

yep, it's 27MHZ, not sure exactly if that was what i wanted, but it's what i got, now got to work out how to get it running, i know nothing about these, are they compatible, or can they be upgraded?


OK.. good news and bad news I think

Bad News : most people these days run UHF ( ie Ultra High Frequency ) which is at 477MHz, and also a different modulation type ( FM vs AM ) ..so.. realistically you can't get it converted to UHF. 27MHz is not much used these days for 4WD activities because UHF FM was found to be much clearer for short range "car to car" communications ( 0 -3km ). There are also UHF "repeater" stations stuck up on hills around Australia which increase your range up to 100km give or take. ( these operate on UHF Channels 1 to 8 UHF in "duplex" mode ).

Good News : 27 MHz AM is still a useful standby radio ( if you have the real estate in your car) . If you are stuck somewhere there is a chance you can contact someone on AM 27MHz somewhere. This is because of ionsophere "skip" at those frequencies that at night will bounce your signal across Australia or even across the world.

Many people run UHF as their primary radio but still have 27MHz in their cars.
Let me know if you want to persist with trying to get it going and we can help further ...

[DEFENDERZOOK]

the thing should be working ok.....you just wont hear it on your mates unit cos its uhf.....

if you are down sutherland way give me a yell...i have one set up in lurch and can tell you if its working....
or if yours has SSB go to ch35 and listen out till someone comes on....
then call a break and ask for a radio check....

if its blown......its usually just a simple transistor that needs to be replaced....and can be found for a few dollars at wagners....(aka: wes components) in ashfield.....
but they dont blow that often.....

[Rayngie]

Thanks for you help on this everyone,Obviously bought the wrong dam thing, however, correct UHF is on the way, at least now it'll be a simple plug in!!Anyone wanna buy a Uniden Pro520 xl on the cheap?

[Gavo]

I put one in a year age and thought it didn't work.
Has it got upper and lower side band I think there is some people who use channel 30 (upper or lower side band try either I can remember)
Have you turned the squelch control to see if you get any interference?
The reason I could not hear anything was that no one was using any everyone is now in UHF and not AM.
This makes it good because you always have a clear channel to use and the emergency channel 9 still is monitored I think.
The other thing they are good for is if you mate or club all have AM 27 meg. sets no one is likely to interfere with your signal.

[waynep]

Thanks for you help on this everyone,Obviously bought the wrong dam thing, however, correct UHF is on the way, at least now it'll be a simple plug in!!Anyone wanna buy a Uniden Pro520 xl on the cheap?

What brand and model did you buy ?

[Rayngie]

Uniden UH089 40CH UHF, seems to be fine so far, but must need a bit of tuning as I followed a mate for a couple of hours last weekend, went perfectly fine, after stopping for an hour or so it would'nt work, hav'nt tried it since..

[Michael2]

you haven't put a UHF aerial on have you?

is it from overseas? if so it may have different frequencies in the 27Meg range.

is it a marine radio?