crawler487

So I installed my CB radio and antenna but I cannot for the life of me get my SWR reading below 3.5+! I am using a real SWR meter to calibrate it not the one built into the radio. As for my antenna, I have 3 foot Firestik antenna mounted on a custom mount(will post pictures below). So I'm just interested as to what is wrong. Any help is much appreciated!!

toasterknight

I had this problem when I first installed mine. I would make sure your antenna is not short circuited. Mine was grounding out on the mount. You will also have an issue if there is no ground at all.

crabmushrooms5

Also everything I've read says not to loop the coax. Keep it straight and not wound up no more than 90* bends. 18' coax is said to be the best bet since it relates best to the wavelength. Below is a link to some reading material.

https://www.rightchannelradios.com/b...earning-center

crawler487

Thanks Crabmushroom for the link. What do you recommend I do with the extra cable if I can't coil it, because I have probably 3 or 4 feet of slack. Could I just cut the cable to size and put a new end on it? One other question, what do you mean by not grounding it but having a ground?

nicksan

Its been a while but IIRC the last firestik I installed had a little adjustement thingy on the end, Or maybe that was something else..........

Check out this link, Might help.

http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/Setting_SWR.htm

Ianf406

Don't worry about the 18' thing... it is a myth. Heres some reading for ya- http://www.stu-offroad.com/misc/myth-1.htm to back me up.

Do you have a Firestick (cut the tip) of a Firestick 2 (tuneable tip) ?

SeriousOffroad

Looks like you're missing the nylon washer.
http://www.off-road.com/trails-event...ons-53469.html

Ianf406

Good catch!

crabmushrooms5

Also there's a debate, on here, about connecting your cb ground wire to the negative on the battery. I wouldn't, never done it for anything else.

Bugout4x4

First I have to say that FredNOAZZ would be the resident expert on here about Radios. That being said, there are a couple points about this I might help with.


First... Is that a new spring? These have a wire that runs up through the middle to make the proper length connection from one end to the other bypassing the spring. This wire tends to get broken after time and will change your SWR because it is then making the connection through the spring instead, and depending on how dirty the spring coils are can change the SWR greatly.


Also, although it may not improve things much, pulling the interior trim loose again and winding your extra cable into a "Choke" back there won't hurt anything either. I always take my extra and wind it into a choke around some PVC to make it a little more "Solid state" so that it doesn't vibrate and chafe the cable housing, I have indeed had better performance keeping it at the full 18 ft:
http://www.k3dav.com/rfchokecoil.htm


Firestick website about trimming:
http://www.firestik.com/Meas-SWR.htm

crawler487

Yes it's a tunable tip. Seriousoffroad awesome catch.... I'll go buy one at home depot today and test it out.

And buggout, it's a brand new spring and aslo I'll make sure to coil it like that also.

Bugout4x4

The Element has to be insulated from the Ground, I agree! good catch!

Fred/N0AZZ

No this statement is BS as the 18" of coax is required on some types of CB antennas in order to make a 1/4 wave length antenna mine is one of them some are just clueless. I run the 108" SS whip and can tell you it will not preform properly without the 18" of coax period and that guy picks a bit from the books here and there to try and prove his point. The theory will not prove itself out in testing or the math, I looked for his call sign but didn't see it hum? All I see is date sexy African Women link instead.


I am an Amateur Extra Class operator and give exams for FCC Amateur Radio License's and teach class's for them.


Frank may have made a good call here, but go back through all your connections and double check all of them. Make sure you have a solid ground to a body panel (bare metal) then some paint over it after tightened.


I have had some VSWR issues with that type of antennas mounted on the side of SUV's and trucks with reflections off the metal being to close to the coils on the antenna as the wire goes all the way to the bottom of the antenna. This happens at times not always the best way is to have the loading coil if it has one at or just above the roof not possible here. I have used with success a fender/hood mount where the hood is the ground plane for that type of antenna if all else fails with that install. But I think you can do better than a 3.5-1 in the center channel of the CB not the top or bottom of the bands.

Bugout4x4

It has been a common practice for many many years in the U.S. to trim the SWR on Citizens Band Radios on channel 19 because it is in the center of the Band and most popular channel frequency used. Depending on quality of Radio, it can be hard to expect the SWR to stay as low on frequencies farther above or lower of the Frequency you trim it to as optimal.

crawler487

Thanks! I will make sure when I get home tonight to check everything. By the way Fred/NOAZZ I have an 18' coax cable so all is good there. I will let you all know either tonight or tomorrow on what I find out!