Help with Uniden PRO 510 xl CB

Genericusername · 09-02-2008, 03:31 PM

ok im sorry if im not doing this right but im still a noob so please take it easy on me. My buddy picked up a Uniden PRO 510 xl from his teacher for 20 bucks. it has a window mount antenna which aren't the best and its like 3 feet long. i was wondering if any one has knowledge on this type of cb. it has these bars that go vertical 1234 in that order and they light up when he talks into it and sometimes it just lights up. it also when he talks lights up in the S/RF bar and TX bar , what are these and what do i do with them? i know he doesnt have a meter to tune it so is there a way i can rig it until he gets one? can anyone give me any tips to this cb sorry if i screwed up as far as posting http://www.radioshack.com/product/popup.jsp?productId=2367684 heres a link to the pic

**USAntigoon** · 09-02-2008, 04:12 PM

If you read the manual (see HERE) you will see that the TX will light up once you transmit.. The 1234 bars is the S/RF meter, relative strength of the received signal or the RF output once transmitting.. Hope this helps..
You do need an SWR meter to tune the antenna.
Enjoy..

Genericusername · 09-02-2008, 04:19 PM

so once its tuned do i still need the meter? and if i put the cb in a different vehicle do i have to retune? thanks for your help

**USAntigoon** · 09-02-2008, 04:43 PM

Once it's tuned you should be OK.. But depending the set-up I recommend to check once in a while.. Moving to another vehicle, you need to retune..

Genericusername · 09-02-2008, 04:58 PM

and so its best to keep the meter wired in. wheres a good place for a cheap meter less than 50.... oh and the s rf meter has lit up to 2 but we didnt hear anything . signal strength or tuning a reason?

**USAntigoon** · 09-02-2008, 05:19 PM

Seems you need to do some reading about SWR and CB Radio's.. I suggest you read up some more HERE

p.s do a search on the web and you find several websites selling SWR meters... Radio Shack does sell one as well..

**Scrambler82** · 09-02-2008, 06:38 PM

Genericusername,

Usually you have to re-tune the antenna system with each vehicle.

If you check the SWR reading and you get less than 1.5 to 1 it will work but with less efficiency; the SWR should be as close to 1 to 1 as possible.

TJ-n-Oregon · 09-03-2008, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrambler82

Genericusername,

Usually you have to re-tune the antenna system with each vehicle.

If you check the SWR reading and you get less than 1.5 to 1 it will work but with less efficiency; the SWR should be as close to 1 to 1 as possible.

Just tune it for minimum SWR. With a window mount antenna you aren't going to be very efficient anyhow (assuming you intend on using it).

But yes, the tuning is for the antenna not the radio. Check out the cheapy Paradynamic meter & Jumper at Walcott. They work okay...and reasonably priced.