Adjusting CB Antenna?

[macneill]

I just picked up a Wilson "Lil Wil" magnetic mount.

I don't have an SWR meter, so I wasn't able to guage the thing.

Instructions say that the antenna may be a 1/4" too long.

I just didn't think the reception I got was very good.

Any tips?

Get an SWR meter?

[Pskhaat]

Yeah, borrow or get an SWR meter. It's not the whole store on antenna tuning, but it's the first step HOWEVER, a 1/4" on an 11 meter band shouldn't affect your reception THAT much.

Since it's a mag mount, try testing proper DC continuity between the coax end and antenna.

[cruzer]

when i bought my lil wil the guy mounted it on my truck (GMC) and trimmed it to length for my roof. I use it on multiple rigs and he said it will just work better on the rig with the better ground plain.

Stew

[Colorado Boy-74-FJ40]

If your antenna is mounted in the back (along the body) it will be obstructed for most of the length of the antenna. Tha can affect your trtansmission/receiving ability. If you mount it on top or along the front fender/ hood line you will have less interference. Look at the pic of my chevy truck. the antenna is mounted on font left. It's only obstructed for about 1/4 of it's transmission area. That big handsome bastard is me.

[PKP80]

Throw it on the roof and get/borrow an SWR you can get one off ebay for a few bucks, which is nice since you need to adjust your cb every 6months to a year. Here is an excellent read on how the cb works and how you adjust it: http://www.can4x4.com/articles/comcorner/index2.htm

Best of luck,
Sam

[macneill]

Cool. Thanks for the tips.

[FJ40_owner]

Originally Posted by macneill

Cool. Thanks for the tips.

Another way to understand if your radio is outputting power is to monitor the current it draws. At 11 meters (the CB band) a quarter inch change in antenna lenght will be noticeable.

[swank60]

This might be of some help too, Mac. Check the various links - there's a lot of info about placement, swr readings, etc.: http://firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm

I found an SWR meter on ebay - with shipping it cost $10.

[Kofoed]

The most effective way to check (and then set) the SWR is to get the vehicle set up the way you want (meaning antenna location) then drive out to a big open field or parking lot.

Then hook up the meter, close the doors and then check. Your surroundings will affect the reading, even an open door (to a small extent, but you have the meter and are looking to tune it down to a gnats ass now, right?)

Personally, I wouldn't sweat a CB with 1.5

[dfmorse]

Mac;

Grounding of the rig (transmitter/receiver ) is really important .
Use 1/4 to 1/2 inch braid strap to ground rig. Surprisingly, the FZJ80 is a good platform for RF transmission and reception, low noise. The mag-mounts are always problems; since the RF ground is not always what the transmitter wants to see. Moving the mount across the roof of the cruiser will change what VSWR the rig will see. If u have antenna mounts on the TJM (like the ARB's have), they will work quite well and u won't have to use the mag-mount.

Try RadioSchack for a VSWR meter, they are not to bad for what u are doing. !/4 inch to long for an antenna will not affect reception to much; but will effect efficient xmission on certain channels.

Or u could do this:

http://homepage.mac.com/dfmorse/RigProj/index.html

Let me know if u need more help
k0dar[font=Microsoft Sans Serif]