The latest episode of the Two Way Radio Show podcast is online. We discuss the most common mistakes new two way radio users make, why they happen, and how to fix them for better performance and clearer communication.
TWRS-211 - The Biggest Mistakes New Radio Users Make
Show Notes: TWRS-211 - The Biggest Mistakes New Radio Users Make
New to cb is size of antenna. Most think a Rubber Duck works great and long range. I just tell them rule of thumb is each foot of antenna is one miles range.
Back in 1960’s and 1970’s all radio stores new this rule. The for the vehicle is 102 inch antenna.
I have ½ wave portable antenna and 50 inch for walking around
Dave
Thanks for another good podcast. I think most of the mistakes you mentioned come from a lack of information and a lot of that is from a lack of reading the paperwork that usually accompanies new radios. And then there are the people who use radios for work. They are told to just take a radio and use it. They are given no training or information and then that carries over to their recently purchased bubble pack radios. There aren’t that many radio sellers out there that have websites full of informational blogs and videos and podcast all in one spot like yours. And even if there were not that many people would care enough to take advantage of all the information. I found this one crazy website that has a video of some guy dropping perfectly good radios off a ladder onto concrete! There is the HAM community that will help folks learn about using radios if that is the way some people want to do it. For those not interested in that route it is a little more difficult to find resources. I help when and where I can by telling people not to drop perfectly good radios off of ladders. Thanks for the entertainment and educational resources.
Sean
I have CB’S since the 1960’s
In 1970s I found a lot buying a CB for emergency. My neighbor found a brand new in box cb from 1978 Rat Shack for car or home 
. From what have read most buy CB’S for this purposes.
This has a nice antenna about 30 inches about 2½ miles. Today they have rubber duck about 10 inches luck to get a miles range.
Dave
For those who prefer to watch, we have the video version of the podcast.
When I was first starting out, I made the mistake of trying to test two radios that were both using a repeater right next to each other. I went crazy checking and double checking every part of the configuration. When I finally learned about how a radio can be desensitized by a nearby strong signal, I tested with the radios about 30 ft apart and everything worked. It was a painful lesson but I never forgot it!
Andru
Nice podcast.
The point notice was correct antenna
The other trying to get watt war like 1920’s where the per FCC had put limits on wattage. Everyone thinks just poor more wattage first the range when the antenna is problem. This part was not covered well. Most my experience is in 11-meter where you can get the max legal distance on 3½ watts back in 1960’s.
Need to talk more getting range by the correct antenna.
Dave
Forgive me, but even though I am in the UK, I know the FCC has NEVER set a legal distance for CB radio, then or now. Their focus is entirely power. They don’t care about anything else.
I stand totally corrected! I’ve never seen that rule at all. How on earth would anyone answering a call in your huge country know it’s skip, not ground wave? Somebody calls, you answer, and break a law because unless they say where they are, you couldn’t possibly know? Have people actually been prosecuted in court for blissful ignorance? I guess if they are speaking a British English, Australia, South African, or other foreign languages, you’d guess, but presumably Americans who say “y’all” don’t just live in the southern states do they?
I read the rule and live with the rules aways.
This about the only thing you do is adjust your antenna. They mention about other parts basically Monopole, J-Pole , Ground plane and Yagi Antennas are OK
The Transmitter you can not touch.
Dave
From FCC
In field real world test on my set of antennas in center of California. It only basic test I do not know what the other person was using. In real life you never know
❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋ ❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋
Today because all manufacturers use 4 watts (11-meter) it is the antenna that makes the difference.
I did test on the antenna I had on handed.
treesDave