My Radio Lab

  • Home
  • CB Radios
    • AnyTone Smart CB Radio Review
    • Best Stryker CB Radios -Pro and Amateur CB Users should Read
    • Cobra 29 LTD CB Radio Review
    • Cobra 29 LX CB Radio Review
    • Galaxy DX-959 CB Radio Review
    • Midland 1001LWX CB Radio Review
    • Cobra 75 WXST CB Radio Review
    • Midland 75 822 CB Radio Review
    • Midland 75-785 CB Radio Review
    • President McKinley CB Radio Review
    • Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB Review
    • Uniden PRO401HH Handheld CB Radio Review
    • Uniden UM380 Marine CB Radio Review
    • Uniden PRO505XL CB Radio Review
  • CB Accessories
    • Best CB Amplifier Reviews
    • Best CB Coax Cable Review – Connect to CB World!
    • Best CB Mic On The Market – Microphone Reviews & Buying Guide
    • Best CB Radio Antenna Reviews in 2022 (Updated)
    • Best CB External Speaker Reviews
  • CB Radio Blog
    • CB Radio Ultimate Buying Guide
    • CB Radio Code – List of CB slang & Complete List of CB 10 codes
    • CB Radio Frequency Chart, Range & Freebanding
    • Best free CB radio apps for Android
    • Difference Between a CB Radio and a Walkie-Talkie
    • All Details About CB Microphone Wiring
    • How to Build a CB Base Antenna
    • How to Hook Up a CB Linear Amp
    • How to Install & Tune a CB Radio like a pro
    • How to Operate a CB Radio – Contact Your Friends with CB Radio
    • How to Use a Car Antenna for a CB Radio
    • How to Use a Mobile CB in Your Home
    • What is Radio Communication? All about Radio.
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Resource / What is RF Gain and What Does RF Gain Do on a CB Radio?

What is RF Gain and What Does RF Gain Do on a CB Radio?

March 2, 2019 By Joe Talbert Leave a Comment

What is RF Gain and What Does RF Gain Do on a CB Radio?

What is RF Gain on a CB Radio?

RF is used as a synonym for “radio,” in this case a CB radio. It describes the wireless communication of signals through the air rather than through wires like a plug-in home phone. Sound interferes with signals and it comes from the environment, other nearby channels that overlap slightly, and environmental surroundings. To counteract noise, RF gain acts as an irritability filter. It reduces noise in the receiver without decreasing reception power as a CB radio squelch does.

What Does RF Gain Do On a CB Radio?

Without getting technical, CB RF gain can be thought of as another way to “squelch” noise without using the CB squelch, or in conjunction with the squelch. When you crank up the squelch, you’ll hear only the signals closest to you – the ones that are the strongest. That means you’ll hear less “noise” – usually the most distant signals will disappear.

So, if you need to hear a transmission from faraway, keep the gain almost wide open. If you want to focus on the transmissions closest to you, turn the CB radio RF gain clockwise until only the strongest (closest) signals remain.

Some truckers turn the squelch on a CB radio all the way off, turn the RF gain on a CB radio all the way on, then dial back the RF gain control until around all the noise disappears. That eliminates the choppy signals that a squelched radio produces, but it still allows the distant signals to come in. As vehicles drive closer to you, the signals will get stronger and louder due to their proximity. To maintain a conversation with someone whose signal is fading, you can turn the squelch down and also turn the gain up to give you a somewhat longer range to finish your conversation.

What’s The Difference Between RF Gain and Microphone Gain?

Microphone gain can be thought of as a volume control for your microphone. If your voice is loud, you won’t need much, if any, gain. However, if your voice is soft and people are having trouble understanding your transmissions, increasing gain should help. On the flip side, too much mic gain could distort your transmissions and include too much background noise from your vehicle environment. A good compromise might be to set the mic gain at a 12 o’clock to 3 o’clock dial position. Where you should set the mic gain also depends on how far your mouth is from the mic. If you “chew on” the mic, you probably won’t need mic gain. If you are about 6″ from the mic, then the middle to 3/4 setting should be fine, depending on how heavy your voice is. Often, helpful listeners will let you know that you should replace your mic gain setting by asking you to turn it up or down.

CB Radios That Have RF Gain

Base CB Radios With RF Gain

Usually base CB radios (typically used in homes or commercial businesses) include RF-gain capabilities. That’s true of the Galaxy DX 2547, one of the last base station CB radios being made now.

In addition to RF gain, this full 40-channel base Galaxy has mic gain, can be powered by AC or DC and features a number of convenient extras. The roger beep lets the listener know – with an audible beep – when you’ve finished transmitting and have “unkeyed” the microphone. Saying “over” is so yesterday with this technology. Talk back is another feature of the Galaxy. You can turn this feature on/off with a switch. It allows you to hear how you sound when you transmit.

Mobile CB Radios With RF Gain

Cobra 75 WXST

The Cobra 75 WXST is an all-in-the handset CB radio. It doesn’t have an RF gain per se, but it does have SoundTracker technology that automatically reconfigures the transmission signal. The signals are expedited through the multitude of signals out there in the air at any given time. Simultaneously, SoundTracker alters the way signals and noise/static relate, thus effectively reducing the static on incoming signals. So, SoundTracker works both on the reception and the transmission of signals.

Uniden BC 980

This Uniden SSB Bearcat 980, in addition to having RF gain, is the only current model from Uniden that has the single side band (SSB) capability. Without going into detail, SSB is simply another way of transmitting a signal wirelessly that is used in amateur radios and for other purposes. The drawback of SSB is that both the sender and the receiver need to have a SSB enabled radio to communicate, which is limiting.

Cobra 19 DXIV

A little mobile radio that includes gain is the reasonable price Cobra 19 DXIV, 40-channel compact CB radio. It’s a basic 40 channel radio with limited features, but to its credit, one of those is RF gain.

In addition, there is an S/RF meter, which measures the incoming signal strength as well as the power that the RF is putting out. There’s also a CB/PA switch, which allows you to use your radio as a public address system with the installation of an additional horn under the hood

Where Can I Locate Good Deals on CB Radios With RF Gain?

Search CB World for the radio that fits your needs – select the type that you want: mobile, handheld, base or kits. If you want a mobile CB, for instance, you can further refine your search by marking the brand and feature(s). This will set a filter to only show the radios that fit the criteria that you selected. Our products are listed with specifications, pictures, product videos when available and downloadable PDFs of owners manuals.

In addition, the blog section of the website has a wealth of information.

Filed Under: Resource

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Post You May Like!

  • list of cb radio codes and cb slangs

    CB Radio Code – List of CB slang & Complete List of CB 10 codes

    CB Radios have a long history. Earlier in the last century before the time of email, and mobile phones, the… Read more…

Don’t Miss Those!

  • Top Popular 50 CB Slang

    CB 50 Slang

  • Stryker CB Radio Mods

    Stryker CB Radio Mods

  • What is Antenna Ground Plane?

    what is ground plane

  • How to Ground a CB Antenna

    How to Ground a CB Antenna

  • How to Listen to a CB Radio on the Internet

    How to Listen to a CB Radio on the Internet

  • What is SWR and How to use SWR Meter?

  • What is the Range of a CB Radio System?

    What is the Range of a CB Radio System

  • How to Hook Up a CB Linear Amp

    how to hook up a cb linear amplifier

  • Best free CB radio apps for Android- that’s you are looking for!

    best cb radio apps for android

  • CB Radio Ultimate Buying Guide

    CB Radios buying guide to choose the best

  • All Details About CB Microphone Wiring

    galaxy mic wiring Diagram

  • What is Radio Communication? All about Radio.

    Radio Communication Details

  • How to Operate a CB Radio – Contact Your Friends with CB Radio

    operate cb radio for first time

  • How to Build a CB Base Antenna

    how to build cb antenna at home

  • How to Install & Tune a CB Radio like a pro

    How to install a CB radio & how to tune cb

  • How to Use a Car Antenna for a CB Radio

    Use a Car Antenna for a CB Radio

  • CB Radio Frequency Chart, Range & Freebanding

    CB Radio Frequency Chart and channels

  • How to Use a Mobile CB in Your Home

    how to use mobile cb radio in home

  • Difference Between a CB Radio and a Walkie-Talkie

    What Is the Difference Between a CB a Walkie Talkie

  • CB Radio Code – List of CB slang & Complete List of CB 10 codes

    list of cb radio codes and cb slangs

My Radio Lab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Content on this site may contain affiliate links. These links take you to third-party sites, such as Amazon.com. If you make a purchase, My radio lab may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. We thank you for your support!




About Us  |  Affiliate Disclosure  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us
copyright© 2023  -  My Radio Lab  -  All rights reserved