More SWR problems

[KliersLC]

Hi folks,

I have searched around a good bit, but can't find an answer for this one. I am somewhat familiar with tuning CB antennas, but this one has me stumped.

I have a cut to tune antenna mounted on my ARB, I found it in the woods a few years ago......

So, I checked it out to try to tune it and the following progression resulted.

Ch 40 1.6 Ch 1 3.0

Needed some length, so I added a quick disconnect.

Ch 40 1.5 Ch 1 2.9

Needed some more length so I added a spring.

Ch 40 1.3 Ch 1 2.8


I can't keep adding length to try to get the stupid thing to even out. Should I just run it? Replace it? Use it as a trail spare? FWIW, it is a fiberglass, top loaded antenna, the same one the truck stops sell as the generic brand.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Dan

 

[cruiser88]

SWR help - QRZ Forums

 

[1911]

Replace it? Use it as a trail spare?

That's what I would do. Buy a new one with an extendable metal tip for tuning, they're only about $40 or so.

 

[KliersLC]

SWR help - QRZ Forums

I'll look around that site...

Thanks!

 

[Bill McC]

SWR problems

Have you tried moving the antenna?

 

[KliersLC]

I don't really have another spot to put it....

 

[Monty231]

I just finished up my CB install with a 4' Firestik antenna mounted on the ARB.

One thing to look out for is that your mount needs to make good contact with the bumper. Mine was not, so I scuffed the underside of the mounting hole and it solved my initial problem of a 3.0 swr across all channels. From there I tuned it with the screw on top. It's .4 on CH 1 and 0 on CH 40. The Firestik antenna's are cheap at $23.

A quality well tuned antenna will really make your radio perform at it's peek. A cheap radio with a quality antenna will perform better than an expensive radio with a crappy antenna.

 

[brew8]

Tuning SWR sometimes only gets so good, you may not be able to get to 1-1 with your antenna and location, double the length of the cable and see if it looks better to the redio. Puts the high return loss farther out might just help the radio to look at more 50 ohm cable.

 

[shotgun12321]

I have a cut to tune antenna mounted on my ARB, I found it in the woods a few years ago......

Well I would try to move it higher than your ARB bumper (i used a door jamb mount and it works really well, just put it on the right side of the hatch) and also you found it in the woods....there might be something wrong with it electrically.

I don't know the height of the antenna you are using now but id try to get at least like half of it above the roof of the car.

HTH,
Matt

 

[KliersLC]

Thanks for the tips folks! I am not going to dump more money into it for more mounts and more cables. I'll just pick up a new tunable antenna here after a bit.