I never know how to subject a post.. the problem
is I probably made a bad decision on a purchase..
I bought a Cherokee CBS 500 base radio.. I had
read somewhere that these radios use a board that
other high end radios use.. I don't know about
this and it didn't pertain to my purchase decision
also.. I could expand it with the jumper location
but obviously on newer units they've did not
install the jumper terminals.. and linked it the
right way.. and I have not ever heard or read any
thing about removing the black **** that is used
to protect circuts.. aghh damn I got carried away

to teh problem.. radio has poor receive and I don't
know about transmit (I don't have any friends, and
most radio people don't give a **** about someone
who is working on there radio to get a check.. I've
never understood this.. maybe it's just my life
sucks?) only transmit that I know of is one time
and they must have been very close.. and that
my bro that lives bout 4 blocks away from my place
can hear me.. he has my hand held cobra.. he's
transmitting from in his house.. and on all other
prior setups I've had no weak sound and reception
from the same places his and mine.. it was absulutly
clear.. I just have not used a setup for a long
time.. and wanted to jump back into using a radio..

SWR gave me trouble after trouble and when I get it
right and keep up with it througout the night.. go
to use my radio again several hours later or the next
day SWR has totally changed.. if it means anything I
beleive it is usually lower on 1 than it is on 40
more so than the oppisote.. I've redone coax tuned
the antenna I don't know what I haven't done..

I guess I got carried away.. I guess we can just
consider the radio.. I got it.. power it on it
seems to be working fine.. I get everything hooked
up with exelent swr.. then the squelch decides
to quit working.. I took apart the radio just the
cover to access and visually inspect the boards..
I give the board a tap while power up.. that fixed
the problem for the time being.. then it happens
again.. I inspect some areas and have the area known
now.. it's hard to see what it may be I was thinking
the near by trans. that was grounded to frame.. it
was loose.. but I'm not thinking it is that.. but I
did give the trans. a push then tigtened it.. the
problem is still there.. I keep flexing an area around
a transformer and I know it is there but I don't know
what it is.. I don't want to take the board out if it
needs adjustments and no touch ups can be done.. I'll
probably save money by just sending it in for alignment
and repair.. I can check solder joints.. I still
need to know what all could be giving me trouble and
what it is most likely is.. the board is working for now
and has been for some days now.. paying shipping to and
back for a replacement just ****es me off.. these things
are poorly built.. I wouldn't hire who ever done the work
on my unit... they can't solder worth a ****.. they
need to fire this guy from the assembly line.. he's doing
the company no good.. It would just be best to send it
to someone who can align and do otehr things to bring
out total performence.. hassling around getting a
replacement would cost the same most likly.. and take
forever.. cuz I'm not paying out of the ordinary prices
for fast deliveries.. I should have just got a great
nice radio from the local guys.. I didn't know they had
the selection that they do.. I know what to save money
for now.. oh also.. there is bleed through somewhat on
the channels.. I've noticed this in manual tuning.. and
on a scan.. happens all the time.. low or high squelch
rf gain.. I did get my battery out and hooked my texas
star modulator and turned on the rec amp and it did seem
to help.. but I'm think it's no different than volume
adjustments to higher

Thanks.. yeh I did leave out info.. antenna is a patriot
is this a problem..?.. I'm going to go ahead and post this..
but it just came to mind.. that I may have a mobile that
I can test with to compare receive.. since I have the bat
out and stuff..

I appreciate any thoughts on what may be failing

Take the radio out to your car. Run an extension cord for power hook it up
to your cars antennae and check to see if it helps. That will eliminate the
possibility that it's an antennae problem.

Take the radio out to your car. Run an extension cord for power hook it up
to your cars antennae and check to see if it helps. That will eliminate the
possibility that it's an antennae problem.


Yah what he said...

Big Rich Soprano wrote in
:

Take the radio out to your car. Run an extension cord for power hook
it up to your cars antennae and check to see if it helps. That will
eliminate the possibility that it's an antennae problem.


Yah what he said...


Thank you.. these are obviously good ideas..
but I'm no where in life.. therefore I have
no car or license.. so doing that is impossible
... and yah as earlier stated I don't have any
friends.. so that's impossible too.. I had no
idea that a antenna could be so sensitive... yes
I have set up mobiles in my brothers car once
and it was nice and easy.. he's got another car
and I haven't done it nor does he want it.. he
probably just let me do it before as a favor...
the basic problem is next to nothing low SWR and
I had it just right.. it ****ed up shortly after..
then I got it to like 1.7? and 2 at top of band..
but this faded away to 3 and a bit lower towards
the lower of the band.. it's in the best possible
place as far as trees.. no metal objects.. but this
brings a question theres a window/wall unit near
the mast.. and I take it that the metal of the mast
is a major part of ground plane for the antenna?.
the antenna is high and away from metal structures
however as I mentioned the mast is near a wall/window
type air conditioner unit.. that is not and has not
been in use for ages.. I don't even think it was used
at all since I've lived here.. bout a month I'm moving
things are much clear.. but it wouldn't suprise me
if I do have trouble.. so.. would an attempt to ground
the mast to the chasis of the wall unit (a/c) do any
good?.. I did learn a lesson once with a homemade 22
1/2 foot vertical element antenna I made.. which did
better than this has shown so far.. I just simply had
to umm you could say spread the ground radials.. and
it was a whole other day.. yes I shouldn't give up
and things get to me.. but.. working on something that
tells you it's working right.. but then changes it's
mind.. and you try to correct it.. 400 times etc.. for
more than 2 hours.. it will drive you absulutely crazy
.. and I know you know that.. it's not just me. any tips
or helps something that I stupidly over looked.. let me
know.. you can tell me that I'm a dummy for all I care..
not like it will ruin a day for me.. ****ing with a goddamn
antenna will do the same.. and if it really is a antenna
problem.. then I may as well not even worry about setting
the thing up.. cuz I just waisted money on the antenna..
and they don't take **** back.. nor do they give a receipt.
TIA