Tune It or Lose It!

Tuning a CB Radio

Did you know that failing to tune your CB radio is associated not only with fuzzy audio, but also with fried CBs?  That’s right, refrain from tuning and risk watching your CB go up in smoke.  Although this sounds a little crazy at first, it’s no different than a ruined video or cassette tape ruining your VCR or boom box.  What makes your CB radio transmit sound is power, power that is captured from radio wavelengths that travel the air.  CB radios that are not tuned properly do not pick up those signals properly.  As such, they do not convert them properly, meaning that the power could potentially destroy the base unit, similar to the way lightening can cause electrical failure or “fried appliances.”

Because of this, and because driving with a CB antenna that has yet to be tuned is just not that appealing, tuning your antenna is important, and it’s relatively easy.  There are many online resources devoted to just this subject.  With a quick Google search, you’ll turn up hundreds, many that will give you step-by-step instructions.

But before you get to tuning, first you have to understand what tuning is.  Similar to tuning a radio, tuning a CB antenna means finding the place to put that antenna where it does the most good, gets you the greatest number of clear signals.  You may think that this is ridiculous because CB antennas will shift as you drive, but it is actually very important to have your antenna in the correct location on your car.

When you first buy an antenna, you need to be sure that it is tuned.  After that, you only really need to tune when you notice bad service.  When it’s time to tune, do so in an open area away from buildings, and with the doors and windows of the truck closed.  If you try to tune in a garage or too near to other buildings, you will get inaccurate readings on your SWR meter, and the attempt will have been futile. 

You use the SWR meter, or standing wave radiometer, which measures the degree to which the radio is transmitting the signals that have been broadcast into the air.  Low ratios means the antenna is broadcasting well and no tuning is needed.  High ratios mean poor broadcasting, and tuning is required.  Tuning the antenna requires moving the screw at the top or making it lower or shorter.  Though partly trial and error, tuning is the result of copious amounts of adjustments, attempting to get the SWR meter to read a lower ratio.

Although you may be able to commission professional tuning from a CB radio shop owner or other experienced person, this is generally not necessary, as tuning is a relatively easy process and can often be done by most anyone.  However, if you find the process frustrating, hiring someone can be a good option.  Regardless, make sure to keep your antenna tuned to have the best performing gear possible.