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Improving CB Reception?

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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 08:30 PM
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Default Improving CB Reception?

Any way to improve the CB reception on the HK? At best, I currently can communicate 1/4 mile.
 
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 08:36 PM
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I don't know what the reception range is suppose to be on our Harley's but you can't expect to much out of them because of the height and length of the antenna, the low power of the receiver. The CB's are designed primarily to talk to other bikes while group riding.

All of my Goldwings CB radios would out perform 5 times over what the Harley setup will. I have at times been able to talk and received up to 5 miles with my '06 GL1800 which was my last Goldwing. They have metal antenna's and they are tuned a bit better than the CB's on Harley's.
 
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 08:42 PM
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I have a J&M CB and a K20 antenna and i can talk 1-2 miles depending on the terrain...Your antenna is the culprit i would say and your SWR settings
 
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 08:43 PM
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Must I buy a Goldwing?
 
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by bobros
Must I buy a Goldwing?
LOL. You should be able to get your antenna tuned and get much more distance than you are now.
 
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 08:54 PM
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get the older style whips and take it to the truck stop the local cb guy should be able to tune in the swr. i can usally go about a mile-1 1/4 on a good day.
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 05:44 AM
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Originally Posted by bobros
Must I buy a Goldwing?
Now that's some funny **** there...I don't care who you are....
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 06:01 AM
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Originally Posted by bobros
Must I buy a Goldwing?
Originally Posted by Notgrownup
Now that's some funny **** there...I don't care who you are....
I'm hip!
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 06:06 AM
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I've tuned one antenna on an Ultra. I put the meter on it, after buying some adapters and ended up cutting about 6 inches off the whip. Only problem, the guy never let me know if it helped.

Oh, the CB was putting out right at 4 watts on a Bird meter.
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 09:13 AM
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As others have mentioned, the CB antenna should be tuned with an SWR meter. A problem with riding into a radio shop/truck stop for tuning is that HD's CB module and CB antenna connection use non-standard fittings, so adapters must be used to connect the CB module and antenna to the SWR meter.

Carl
 
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