CB Radio Troubleshooting Guide: Mobile, Handheld & Base

The following steps can help solve or diagnose problems with your base, mobile, or handheld Citizen's Band radio. Keep in mind that this troubleshooting guide is designed for all types of CB radios, as well as both experts and beginners, so some steps may not apply to you.

1. Check to see that all power, microphone, and antenna cables are properly connected. Verify that the squelch control is correctly adjusted.

2. If your CB is powered with AC or DC power, use a different power source if possible, to determine if it is a problem with the power source. If it functions properly using a different power source, you might need to contact an electrician (for base units) or auto repair service (for mobile CBs) to have the outlet fixed. If the adapter has a voltage control, make sure it hasn't been accidentally set to the wrong voltage level (the correct voltage should be indicated on the radio near the power jack).

3. If the CB is a handheld unit which runs on batteries, make sure they are inserted correctly, test them in a battery tester if possible, and replace them if necessary. If rechargeable batteries are being used, look to see if the unit has a "Ni-Cd/Ni-Mh" switch and make sure it is set for the correct type of battery. It is also possible that the radio's built-in charger has failed or the rechargeable batteries have worn out.

4. Try using a different channel. If the CB radio is a crystal-based model, it may lack the appropriate crystal for the channel you are trying to receive or transmit on. Crystal-based CB radios include some older base and mobile units, as well as a few relatively-new Radio Shack handheld models. CB crystals are available at eBay.com, usually for under $10 each.

5. If your CB radio has an SSB control, set it to "AM" if you need to communicate on the regular non-SSB channels. According to advancedspecialties.net, reception will be "garbled or distorted" if you attempt listening to SSB channels without setting the clarifier or voice-lock control properly. It also indicates that a "feedback squeel" can be caused by turning a CB radio's "talkback" feature up too high.