Radio transmits at close distance only. - Cobra Boating

I don't know what this radio is, but perhaps I can help. First of all, 6 watts is output power and has nothing to do with receiving. With such a short transmit distance, my first suspicion is something very wrong with the antenna. Has the SWR on the antenna been checked? Let's start from there.

The antenna warning is the key, the swr on the antenna/feedline is very high. check antenna connections, coax and connectors for damage

If you're close enough to hear the receive on one radio while transmitting on the other, it's good old-fashioned feedback. Turn the volume down on the receiving radio.

Just to clarify something, you say that your hand-held VHF can receive a clear transmission from the Uniden, now which of the radios are buzzing, the Uniden or the HH?. If it's the hand-held buzzing try transmitting on the low watt on the Uniden, get some distance from the radio, because if the hand-held are to close to the on the Uniden on high watt you will get a buzzing, the signal are overpowering the receiver of the hand-held, try getting the minimum of 30 feet away. Good luck.

set the antenna and SWR to match that should give you better distance

bobengelman,

Typically and unmodified handheld CB will have a decent talk distance of 1-2 miles with both being a handheld. Further distances can be had if one of the radios was a mobile or base station with distances of more than five miles with weak signals. In some cases the antenna can be changed to a better longer antenna. Extention type antennas typically transmit about a mile per watt. Conditions such as terrain will have an impact on signal specifically mountains or buildings. Better results may also be had by purchasing a mobile magnet mount with a PL-259 to BNC to fit the radio. A magnet mount placed on a air conditioning unit or large cookiesheet as high as possible will make decent gains for distance if the radios are intended to be stationary.

JT Radiojunkie

The reason for this is due to various possible conditions. The first being obstacles in the operation range of the unit. IE> hills buildings trees ect. This can greatly reduce the actual distance the unit will work in. The 18mile max is probably a rating that would apply in the best opt. scenario. You would have to be on a flat terrain with no hills or valleys,no trees or buildings for the unit to reach the max distance. In dense areas of trees,buildings or uneven terrian you wont even come close to these distances. Second: any unit RF unit that is held in your hand or close to your body does cause the antenna to detune to various degrees the amount that it does depends on how well the unit has been designed. The more it detunes the less resonated frequence is recieved and amplified making for a weaker signal. In conclusion for the best long range reception be clear of as much surronding interference as possible and as high a possible above any elevated terrian

A delay may be caused by interference from other radio sources. I heard of one case where a woman's cell phone call overpowered the transmit power of her baby monitor.

Other things that can cause interference or other receiver problems:
1. monitor in contact or close proximity to running appliances or their cords. (induced electromagnetic field)
2. neighbor with baby monitor on same channel ('cross-talk')
3. distance between transmitter and receiver too far (the strength of a radio signal fall dramatically over larger distances. think of how often you lose cell phone coverage)
4. reduced power: low battery strength or cooked power supply
5. transmitter or receiver insulated from signal (if your monitor was transmitting/receiving through any metal obstruction)

take your radios to a w/shop and let them check the final rfpower

First check your batteries. Try the battery pack from a known good radio. If you do not have a battery problem, your issue is probably non-reversible. Sorry. This style radio is non-repairable. The repairable Talkabout units include the Distance, Distance DPS, the TA-7400 and TA-7200.