Do you both have meters on your CBs? I've never looked at a CB on a bike before so not sure what features they have. But if it has the meter showing signal strength, does that needle move even when you can't hear him? or wait...is it He can't hear You? Whatever...if the meter moves then the signal is being captured by the CB and not making it to the speaker/headphone. If the meter is not moving or moving very little then it could be a standing wave ratio or antenna plane issue. I would try replacing the coax between the antenna and the radio and then I'd try replacing the antenna as starters. Measuring the Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) can be complicated because you need the meter, but a CB Shop near the local truck stop might be able to get that reading for you. Some radios have SWR meters built in, BUT I doubt a Harley installed radio would have that unless you ordered custom...and if you did, you'd probably already know how to fix this issue. A trick I have used in the past when I did not have access to my SWR meter was I'd loosen the set screw that holds the antenna into the base and move the antenna out (to lengthen it) just a hair (1/16th inch or less) and tighten the set screw and try transmitting. If the problem gets worse then you loosen that set screw and push the antenna into the base twice as far as you moved it outwards the first time. Try transmitting again...see if it improves. That's a hit or miss way of setting the SWR and is in no way a replacement for using a SWR meter...but at least tells you if that's part of the problem.

One other issue could be the mic controls. If you have a loose connection it could affect the db output to the radio. If that's the case the receiving radio strength meter would look normal with the needle pegging to the right side. CBs use Amplitude Modulation (unless you get into side bands) so whatever is sent into the radio is what gets transmitted. GIGO... So if the db from the mic is low, the CB is going to transmit a low db. For that I'm looking for bad grounds...loose connections, bad wiring. But yours is Bluetooth so where do you look for that? I dunno.

on edit: I just re-read the post. This is a receive issue, not a transmit issue? Everyone else in your group can hear you fine when your dad cannot hear you? Right? So the ideas I present have to be flipped.

Here's a good resource to get started. https://www.wearecb.com/troubleshooting-cb-radios.html

 

I actually had a similar experience. I had the dealer hook up to their diagnostic computer to find the program setting was accidentally set to FM transmission & not AM. They reset the parameter & it works great. Came from the factory programmed wrong. Have your dealer check it.

 

I am not helping here at all, but if you have headsets why even bother with annoying CB radios. I have never turned mine on with the last two bikes. Range sucks, static, talking over each other, No one really using them anymore. My Cardo Pack Talk Bold has a better range, crystal clear and meshes with others easily. Just my opinion. Good luck with your CB’s.

 

Excellent idea. I will have them check. When yours was like that could you hear others that were right next to you? His works if we are sitting side by side, once we add distance it goes away.

Thank you

 

We ride in a large group that uses CB's. If it were just two or three of us switching over wouldn't be a big deal. We have found the CB to be a very efficient way to communicate while traveling in larger groups. We also aren't trying to have full conversations, more just a heads up for something or quick directions to the back of the pack.
I'm sure new technology similar to what you are using works better but getting 30 plus people to make the switch won't be easy.

 

When he is right next to you and you hear him it's probably bleed over. If it is the FM vs AM setting it stands to reason that the frequency is close enough that it allows bleed over into the lower band frequency. Same issue when my neighbor hears me talking crap on my CB over his telephone or TV. Yet the guy two doors down doesn't hear my BS.

 

This sounds like the most logical thing for it to be then. Hopefully that is the fix.

 

You were correct. Thank you He just left the dealer and his was in FM. Now that they switched it everything is working as it should.
Harley warrantied a new CB module over what was just the flip of a switch, Sounds like they need to issue a Tech Bulletin.

 

Thanks for sharing this great information

 

Interesting. To my knowledge FCC has not finalized the FM allowance on CB radios yet. They approved it but have not yet issued the guidance regs. Cobra and President both sent letters asking for that change and it was granted. I would have never thought that a Harley branded CB would be ready for this change in the states...but then again, they do sell bikes overseas where FM has been allowed for a while.

I wonder if your group would have been better off asking Harley techs to switch them all over to FM. The sound would improve but the distance would not. But you're not looking for long distance so it might have worked for your group.