1st gen CB squelch problem, splitter/duplexer

[Gearhead]

Hi, I'm posting this in 1st gen tech and also the Audio forum. Sorry for the repeat, but I wasn't sure which would be best.

 

My CB was working OK. I had dual short antennas. I recently switched to a single 3' Wilson Flex fiberglass antenna and a Firestik splitter, which should work better. I got it all hooked up and now the CB is stuck in receive mode whenever it is on. I disconnected the antenna and splitter and it stays in RX mode even with no antenna. It's like the squelch is turned to max sensitivity, but adjusting the squelch doesn't change anything (it used to function normally). It did work, now it doesn't. Timing is conincident with antenna change, but problem is independent of the antenna being connected. What could have happened?

 

Second, I've read that the Firestik splitter/duplexer is very efficient for signal transfer. The CB, while stuck in RX mode, is successfully receiving signals. But they are stronger (voices sound louder) when the antenna is connected directly to the CB, compared to when wired thru the splitter? What gives? Does the "Matching" pot affect receive strength or just transmit?

 

Thanks,

Jeremy

[BOO]

While not knowing to much about the firestick switches etc and not knowing how you had the antenna's hooked up, I'm taking quite a guess here.

It sounds like you have done what is called "overloading the front end" and the receiver in your CB. I'm not sure how this could have happen because if the duplexer was not working properly the overloading would happen to the am/fm radio.

I may be way off base here but I'm sure someone can correct me.

If you have a splitter in the antenna circuit, that's a problem, it has to be a duplexer.

Good luck,

Jerry

[Gearhead]

Thanks Jerry. I'm not an electronics guy. I've seen these things referred to as a duplexer and as a matching box. To me, it "splits" the signal to the CB and radio. It's a Firestik box designed for that purpose, about the same size as the factory stock "splitter".

 

Is overloading the front end permanent, and how does it happen? Remember, now it is stuck in RX mode even with no antenna (or box) connected. I know it's bad to transmit with no antenna connected, but turning it on shouldn't be a problem, should it?

 

Jeremy