Okay I have searched Google and here for a similar issue to no avail.


I bought a 3 ft firestik antenna today. Mounted as you see in the attached pic. The swr reading is huge... like 4. However when I switch the antenna to the 102" whip the swr is about 1.5 on both channel 1 and 40.

I wanted a smaller antenna because I was getting tired of tying down the whip I have. Everything I read says it is a problem with the mount or cable. I have checked both things and since I am getting good operation from the 102" whip I would assume the mount and cable is fine.


Any ideas?

 

Forgot to attach pic...

 

I run a 4" firestik and I had to tune mine a lot to get it to the right point. It was way off at first and I had to slowly unscrew the screw till I got the perfect SWA. It took forever. I would say check to make sure the ground is good but that wouldn't make any sense if the longer antenna works fine.

 

From what i've been told the whip is the best all others try to duplicate what they can put out.....I didnt listen..Went with a 4' firestick...but i mounted mine on top..I dont know for sure but you may be limited being mounted on the side? Try a top mount and see what she puts out..I take it you whip crowns over your top?

 

Very much so.... hence the reason for the shorter antenna. I wanted something I didn't have to tie down or take down every day for the parking garage, drive through and such.

 

I run my Whip atop my roof rack and let it just glide along the parking garage roof (yes it makes a a racket) and thru drive thru's, no problems on the trail either. and mind you i JUST fit in parking garages as it is. But with a 1:1 - 1:1 on channels 1 - 40 I love my whip

as far as your shorter antenna you need 2/3's sticking above the roof for it to even start to get a good SWR reading. and you need to tune it. Fire sticks have that screw under the rubber cap for tunning.

 

What do you guys think of the antenna being mounted on the hood

 

Yep, you need 2/3 above the truck like was said. The fiberglass antennas try to accomplish this by wrapping the coil of the antenna mostly at the top but there is just too much reflected signal on our Jeeps.

People make mounts that go in between your hood and the fender, kinda like a factory radio antenna. This would probably result in a reasonable SWR as the antenna can use the hood for a base and it's not right up against the truck like it is on the back.

 

Okay I tried mounting it 3/4 above the roof and got to about 3.5 swr.

If I have to mount it higher there is no point because it will be too tall to fit in the garage.

Is there something I'm missing?

 

you need to tune it, IE make it shorter or longer via what you are getting on channel 1 in relation to channel 40

 

Actually I'm getting about 3.5 on channel 1 and 40.

I've decided to make a tether for my whip that allows me to key up tethered until I can find out why the fiberglass one is giving me so much trouble.

Untethered the swr is 1.5 on channel 1 and 40. Tethered it's 2 on 1 and 1.5 on 40.

 

The only antennas I have ever had really good luck with is a 102" SS or a 5 1/2' Francis Fiberglass. I have never had good luck with any whip with the wire wrapped around it.

 

Yeah I have the 102" stainless whip right now.

 

Do you guys recommend a fiberglass one or stainless whip

 

Stainless, the fiberglass is way to stiff and is not really flexible.