my cb is a 4 watt radio - wen i put watt meter on it - it says it puts out 7 watts?

Question

- i have FIRESTIK -no ground plane anntenna - 4 foot

Answer 1

You'll find that your SWR is high, possibly because you don't have a groundplane for the antenna and it isn't ground-independent, or a cable fault, etc.

Using an SWR meter on a power setting (depending on the quality of meter) can combine the forward and reflected power and give a false higher reading. Your SWR is likely to be about 3:1 or greater.

Reflected power is known as Standing Waves, are generated along the coax and the greater the amount of reflected power, the higher the SWR - Standing Wave Ratio, ...
SWR in rough terms, is a measure of power going forward from the radio and off the antenna out into the eather, compared to what is reflected back down the coax line back into the radio due to any mismatch in the antenna system. The result is shorter communications range and a hotter radio. If the output transistor(s) become too hot, it may damage them.

I'd fix the antenna fault before it does any damage.

If a Firestick 4ft is a mobile helical type antenna, mount it on a gutter or anything with a metal surface under it to act as a groundplane.

If the SWR is higher on Ch40 than it is on Ch1, you can trim the antenna.
If it's higher on Ch1 than Ch40, you need to lengthen it or increase your groundplane.

Answer 2

4 watt is max. output by FCC reg. many radios put out more than what was printed on the box.your antenna has nothing to do with the output of the radio it will only effect the db gain which is loudness not wattage output. don't give that slight increase in output a second thought. the FCC has more important things to do than chase down radios putting out 3 watts over the legal limit.

Answer 3

I do cb sales and service, The 4 watts is usually the non modulated carrier, when you speak it produces peak envelope power or P.E.P. Thats probably what your seeing on the 7 watts, some cbs can be modified to swing 20 or more watts p.e.p.. some watt meters only measure rms or average power and wont show peak or swing power.

Answer 4

i have same thing. i believe it's got something to do with FCC rules.

anything over 4 watts you used to have to be licensed.

i don't think the FCC is worried about you or me or our 7 watt oh i mean 4 watt CB radios.

Answer 5

Poptarts are intended for the toaster but I find it too time consuming. No one I know eats them toasted. It's perfectly fine to eat them "raw" lol.

Answer 6

your antenna is generating some gain. check its specs.