HD cb junk ?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,475
Likes: 1
From: Knoxville TN
HD cb junk ?
Are all the c b radios on the Ultras junk??????????? Bout all I hear on mine is electronic engine noise when recieving transmistions. It is on the 2010 Ultra. Do they all suck or is it just mine ???????????????????? 
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Middle GA
I have an 09 Ultra SE -- CB is junk. Have yet for someone to acknowledge my attempts, even riding beside big trucks. Just doesn't work properly. Can adjust squelch and volume and using HD headset for half helmet. I now use the CB as much as I do the navigator...not at all.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 331
Likes: 2
From: New Mexico
I have an 08, and mine works fine given the ground plane of a bike or lack there of.
I ride with a buddy that also has an 08 and an 05 before that, both seemed to work well. We talk to truckers but only have a range of about a mile.
Now, if you talk to any good CB shop they can tell you about properly tuning your antenna using an SWR meter and that you can improve the range a bit by using a 1" wide ground strap attached to the metal plate in the tour pak and the bike frame. I only tried the SWR tuning. Talk to the experts, not the dealer
I ride with a buddy that also has an 08 and an 05 before that, both seemed to work well. We talk to truckers but only have a range of about a mile.
Now, if you talk to any good CB shop they can tell you about properly tuning your antenna using an SWR meter and that you can improve the range a bit by using a 1" wide ground strap attached to the metal plate in the tour pak and the bike frame. I only tried the SWR tuning. Talk to the experts, not the dealer
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,011
Likes: 143
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
Great for group rides. Whenever we have a chapter ride all of us on Ultras share stories on our CBs.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 1
From: Brookfield,Il.
I do know that the SWR reading place a big factor in how well the cb will work. You can by one at radio shack and check it for yourself. If I remember correctly you want it as close to a 1:1 ratio on low channel, mid channel and high. That's done by a adjustment to the antenna usually
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,711
Likes: 9,212
From: Snow Hill, NC
I ride with 3 Goldwingers and one with a 08 ultra and i have a 07 with a J&M ...HD sounds a bit canny ...GW's very clear...they say i sound a bit scratchy...Oh yeah..SWr'S vERY IMPORTANT ...have it checked by a CB shop... mine was way off and i put a K20 antenna...i use it a lot.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 969
Likes: 2
From: Canmore, AB
Ours works fine on our '09 Ultra. Because we tour alone, its not a big deal but for 2 years running we have been involved in a long weekend rally and it was very helpful to have the communication to co-ordinate large groups of bikes.