How to tell if it is a bad mic, or a bad radio.

[rathmel30]

Hi guys new here. I have been stumped. I am not a hardcore talker yet, and dont have a real fancy radio setup (wife and kids eat my money) but I am trying. I have a Cobra 19Plus, and a Wilson Lil Wil Ant. The radio has worked as I have used it, but I wanted a better ant, so I picked the affordable wilson, and immediately I noticed the clarity and the power of the people talking in radio-land improved 200%. I adjusted my SWR, and got it somewhere between 1.5-2.5 somewhere in the middle across the board. BUT I cant get anyone to talk back. I have spent hours on a road trip, with no response. SO I am thinking something it wrong with my radio. I even tried to old ant...no avail. I guess the question is:

When I have the SWR/PWR meter plugged in and I set it to power, everytime I key my mic, the needle goes to around 4 or so. Everytime.... Does this mean I am sending from my radio, and I just have a bad mic or can the radio do this and still be defective? If all I need is a mic, I think I will get a bit better than stock...ANy help would be great.

Also, I have an extra Connex/Ranger MIC. I dont know if it actually works, but the guy that gave it to me said it did. It is a 4 pin though, and my Cobra is a 5 pin. Can I make the 4 pic work on my 5 (mainly asking out of curiosity).
Thanks again..
Rathmel

[rathmel30]

Thanks for the reply Thumper. Does that mean my Radio is in fact sending a signal to the ant with no voice on it cause I have a broken mic? Basically, if that PWR meter DIDNT move then I wasnt sending a signal at all right?.
Rathmel.


By changin the ends I can just match the wire location send to send, audio to audio and so on...?

I dont think my radio has been tuned.

I hope this isnt a real dumb question. I just dont want to buy a new radio if it is just a bad mic...thanks..

[231]

What happens when you talk or wistle in the mic with your power meter? Do you see it move? If not, you might simply have a bad solder connection at the mic plug. The easiest way to check that is simply pull the plug off and examine the solder joints.

Welcome to the forum by the way. :Peace!:

[rathmel30]

I took the radio apart, and checked the connections there, and they were fine. To answer your other question, when I talk the meter does not jump or swing at all. Do you mean I should check the solder connections at the plug on the end of the mic itself?

Also, I am going to attempt to rewire a 4 pin into a 5 pin. My suspect mic is a cobra 19plus orignal mic. The one I want to use has connex on the front, but the numbers on the back of the mic say it is a texas ranger, and I cant find the wiring diagram for it. I would think it is the same mic that came with the connex 3300 (model #?).

Thanks for your reply
Rathmel

[rathmel30]

I reawired the 4 pin mike to the 5pin plug, and the radio is now on the air and transmitting.. thanks guys.. the needle is sweeping, and people are hearing me now...
Rathmel

[231]

Yea, good job! It's always nice to hear it was something simple as Thumper said.

[rathmel30]

A guy I work with says that it is fairly easy to Peak a radio. I am not lost in this area, but not on the path either ya know. I would like to try it.. is it something doable on a Cobra 19Plus..?
Rathmel

[Phaze91460]

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