CB Communications System Questions for the experts out there...

[Questions]

2012 Spyder RT Limited. We've had the CB Communications System(s) installed, by a Northern California Dealer, and have a few issues we're trying to work out. For example: What's the range on the CB supposed to be? We can't seem to communicate with our riding partners much past 50 yards or so, which seems like a pretty short distance. We tried changing the channel from 4 to 40; this helped with the clarity, however, it didn't help with distance. Also, there are times when the reception works and sometimes it doesn't. Meaning, one minute a partner can hear what I'm transmitting, and the next minute he can't (with no difference in distance between us). Are there settings on the system we need to sync bike to bike?

If there's anyone out there with experience with the system and settings, I'd love to hear from you.

 

[Arr MiHardies]

Sounds like the antenna may have a bad ground to me. Pretty common I understand.

 

[d.o.spyder-rts]

My understanding is the cb communication isn't that teriffic to start with. I agree with Arr. Do you know if they checked the antenna calibration with an SWR meter? Dale

 

[NancysToy]

Sounds like the antenna may have a bad ground to me. Pretty common I understand.

:agree: It could be caused by something as simple as too much Loctite on the antenna. Time to revisit the dealer.

 

[viperryder]

2012 Spyder RT Limited. We've had the CB Communications System(s) installed, by a Northern California Dealer, and have a few issues we're trying to work out. For example: What's the range on the CB supposed to be? We can't seem to communicate with our riding partners much past 50 yards or so, which seems like a pretty short distance. We tried changing the channel from 4 to 40; this helped with the clarity, however, it didn't help with distance. Also, there are times when the reception works and sometimes it doesn't. Meaning, one minute a partner can hear what I'm transmitting, and the next minute he can't (with no difference in distance between us). Are there settings on the system we need to sync bike to bike?

If there's anyone out there with experience with the system and settings, I'd love to hear from you.

Had the very same problems on our 2011 RT SE5. At first they thought is was the radio. After many tries to fix, they found the harness was bad. The CB has a setting to local and long distance in ther setup. Maybe check that also. Hope this helps.

 

[Mr. White]

As you know, I have a CB on my Gold Wing and RT-S. My Spyder CB is tuned properly (SWR) and has a distance of 1/2 mile on level ground on it's best day. My Wing CB, made by Clarion for Honda, is propably 3/4 miles or more. It is much clearer, transmit or receive, than my RT. I ride with the same folks and many times sweep with my HD friend leading....he tells me the differece between the two is great.

The CB frequencies are in the 11 meter band...a poor band, given to CBers on purpose by the gov't so we could not mess up the airways to much. It works.

Properly tuned, all connections checked, SWR @ 1.2 or close, you might be able to transmit and receive 1/2 mile. The BRP CB is made by a U.S. company and is of lesser quality than Honda or Harley Davidson. Some will tell you they get 2-3 miles trans/rec on their CBs....it ain't so.

The "local and long distance" setting on the BRP CB is an atinuator which puts a filter in the receive circuit, which on ham radios reduces weak signals so the stronger come in. On a CB, it is a usless gadget, for show with no go. Put it on long distance to take the filter out of your system....

Our CBs are limited to 4 watts into the final transmit circuit....if your CB is peaked, most are not. You will hear "skip" on your CB, folks are running illegal power amplifiers....you can hear them, they can not hear you. I have not checked, but doubt if the BRP puts out the 4 watts into the final.

Your dealer may have the knowledge to properly tune your CB, most don't and say "that's normal".

Ask your dealer what the SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) on your antenna is, 1.2-1.4 is good. If they say "Oh, it is pre set on the antenna, It is okay, or DUH....then you know....he doesn't.

George Lewis, WB5WFW
(USAF radio operator school, 1952)

 

[Questions]

Thanks, we'll check into this.

Sounds like the antenna may have a bad ground to me. Pretty common I understand.

 

[Questions]

Thanks...I'll check with the dealer who installed the units

My understanding is the cb communication isn't that teriffic to start with. I agree with Arr. Do you know if they checked the antenna calibration with an SWR meter? Dale

 

[Questions]

Thanks, we'll check on this also.

:agree: It could be caused by something as simple as too much Loctite on the antenna. Time to revisit the dealer.

 

[Questions]

Thank you, everyone, for your comments. This is the first time we've had a communications system, so we're learning as we go along. I and my partners will check everything out that you've suggested, and cross your fingers we get a little more out of this. ray: (After all, it wasn't an inexpensive investment by any means! :sour

 

[Questions]

Hey Big Red, Thank you very much for all this great information. We're going to check into all this, as well.

As you know, I have a CB on my Gold Wing and RT-S. My Spyder CB is tuned properly (SWR) and has a distance of 1/2 mile on level ground on it's best day. My Wing CB, made by Clarion for Honda, is propably 3/4 miles or more. It is much clearer, transmit or receive, than my RT. I ride with the same folks and many times sweep with my HD friend leading....he tells me the differece between the two is great.

The CB frequencies are in the 11 meter band...a poor band, given to CBers on purpose by the gov't so we could not mess up the airways to much. It works.

Properly tuned, all connections checked, SWR @ 1.2 or close, you might be able to transmit and receive 1/2 mile. The BRP CB is made by a U.S. company and is of lesser quality than Honda or Harley Davidson. Some will tell you they get 2-3 miles trans/rec on their CBs....it ain't so.

The "local and long distance" setting on the BRP CB is an atinuator which puts a filter in the receive circuit, which on ham radios reduces weak signals so the stronger come in. On a CB, it is a usless gadget, for show with no go. Put it on long distance to take the filter out of your system....

Our CBs are limited to 4 watts into the final transmit circuit....if your CB is peaked, most are not. You will hear "skip" on your CB, folks are running illegal power amplifiers....you can hear them, they can not hear you. I have not checked, but doubt if the BRP puts out the 4 watts into the final.

Your dealer may have the knowledge to properly tune your CB, most don't and say "that's normal".

Ask your dealer what the SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) on your antenna is, 1.2-1.4 is good. If they say "Oh, it is pre set on the antenna, It is okay, or DUH....then you know....he doesn't.

George Lewis, WB5WFW
(USAF radio operator school, 1952)

 

[pickelhead]

There's a thing called a linear (probably spelled wrong) that can boost your power to over 100 watts, or so I've heard

Sent from my AT100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[clueless]

start with your squelch setting. my guess is its too high.