Goldwing CB, GL1800

imported post

joycelenz wrote:

Recently installed a Hondaline CB in the Wing (what a job) and now that it is done I'm not sure I'm happy about it. Range appears to be good for only a short distance. Does anyone know if these units can be calibated or something to increase the effectiveness? What CB channel is most used by cyclist and does that change around the country? Ride Hard.

Click to expand...

There are many factors that will determine the performance of your CB unit.

With an assumption that there is no need for a transmitter/receiver alignment procedure (yours, as most, wouldprobablybenefit from one) then the issue fallson coax and antenna to complete the circuit. Properly conducting grounds are essential to performance. Coax type and length will affect performance. Antenna type and placement will affect performance. RG-58 coax using a base-fed, center-loaded 1/4 wave vertical is the most common M/C antenna used. Matching the coax and antenna (each adjusted by length) to a CB unit is accomplished using a (V)SWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio, commonly called SWR) Meter. There is a procedure in its use, but the target Ratiois 1.5 to 1 or less. 1 to 1 is the ideal theoreticalmatch, though rarely achieved, 'specially on a bike. With another assumption that all istuned to a acceptable match then there opens the possibility of circuit enhancements within the unit itself. Alignment procedures and circuit modifications are beyond the capabillities of most riders, and a competent RF Techwould be needed. **No licensed Two-Way Radio shop can modify or alter your unit, and though capable of alignment precedures, they probably won't touch it. Antenna matching is well within the aptitudes of most all of us riders. Inexpensive SWR meters can be found at Radio Shack and via e-Bay (sub $20 range) and elsewhere.

In my experience, your local HAM Radio Club/Operator or CB Aficionado would be more than eager to help you with your bike. I emphasize HAM Radio Operator. Proper set-up during the installation of equipmentis key to performance.

Here is a good step-by-step GL antenna tune procedure:
http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/wingman26/swr.html
Here is a good step-by-step GL CB antenna install:
http://goldwing.eurekaboy.com/cbantenna.htm

All that being said: A good working factory radio with aproperly tuned antenna is quite effective for our needs.



The GWRRA national road frequency is channel 1.

Different Chapters may use different channels though usually stay between 1 and 5.

Group rides have a channel determined by the CD, Road Captain, by vote, or by the guy that swears a given channel is the best for the ride they're doing.

Channel 19 is the most active channel on our highways, and generally monitored by all, and probably your best bet until you know different.

Channel 9 is set aside for Emergency use and is usually monitored by various groups interested in support of that. State Police/Troopers and REACT (Radio Emergency AssociatedCommunications Teams) being the primary ones.

Your Local CB Enthusiasts will have a couple of channels in use. One below channel 23 and one above. Many old-school CB'ers use the vintage 23 channel-only equipment. Others use the sidebands in the channels 36-40 range, generallylower sideband.

Channels 28 & 30 are generally "Family" channels.

Channel 6 is considered the "Big Radios Only" channel.

Channel 14 usually gets "walkie-talkie" activity.

Channels 16 & 26 may have local enthusiast activity for you, and everyone else.


I hope this was helpful.

imported post

Snorebaby wrote:

I remember you used to have to register a call sign (ours was KSK3949). My father's "handle" was Big Dipper, my mother's wasLady Dipper, and I was Little Dipper. We had a base station and a CB ineach vehicle.:waving:

Click to expand...

Snorebaby... With the your childhood comms experience, this may or may not interest you:

General Mobile Radio Service:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mobile_Radio_Service

Your Neighborhood:
http://www.northgeorgiagmrs.com/



Not certain if you fall within their repeater coverage area, but they'll know.



....them cellular phones, they's just fancy-dancy radios....

imported post

On items mentioned above that will really knock-down range is the "skip" factor -- CB is one of the lower frequency bands (on the lower side of HF and VHF) that tends to 'bounce' or 'skip' off of a few layers of the ionosphere...

... not that theory is relevant, but the base radio-noise level for some conditions is so 'loud' that folks trying to listen to ya can't hear over the noise levels.

Properly tuned and in favorable conditions, the bike CB does reasonably well. I often chat with an old friend about 15 miles South of my east-west ride home. However, there are days (weeks on end sometimes) that there's simply too much noise in the CB-band to communicate more than a mile or so.

In my time workign with the OEM CBs on Wings, the #1 issue (after antennas being out of tune or not grounded properly) is that the microphones just don't seem to drive the CB hard enough (low modulation levels) - As CaptMidnight posts -- most often a professional 'tuning' of your transceiver will often set this to rights.


some reading on the propogation stuff: http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html