Volvo stock antenna's and SWR adjustment

[humpywheeler1]

Recently got assigned a Volvo tractor and I'm struggling to get a decent cb setup. I know the basic squelch and RF gain adjustments but SWR is a whole new ball game to me. I'm using a Cobra 29 something or other(if the letters are important I can get them). I can hear other people fine but I'm having a hard time being heard(getting out). Got a new mic, nothing changed. Took it to the local shop and they opened it up and adjusted something. The guy who had the truck before me said he thought it needed new antennaes. I picked up 2 HighGear A400's with adjustable tips. Put them on and adjusted the SWR to where I thought it should be. I can get out now but everyone says I sound really quite.

I'm kinda fed up with the local cb shop. The guy doesn't seem to want to help much. Perhaps cuz I'm just a youngin and haven't spent more then 30 bucks there. Any advice or words of wisdom would be very much appreciated.

So here in lies my questions:

1. I know Volvo's are notorious for the mirrors not being grounded. The guy at the cb shop is trying to sell me a piece to screw into one of the mirror screws. Right now the truck has an eyelet on the bottom of the antennae with a wire running to one of those mirror screws. Is this sufficent? Should I start over? Ditch the stock mounts and cables and get one of these "Volvo Mounts" and run another cable? I can hear a very wide range now(not even sure how far i just put them on today but couldn't bring the truck home to play cuz it had to go in for maintenance). Just would like to be able to talk to people beyond a 1000 feet.

2. I've found and made copies of the proper way to adjust the SWR on a Cobra radio(according to Cobra's website). I'm a bit unsure of how to read the dial correctly. I know where the calibrate mark is up in the red all the way to the right of the dial. I'm assuming the 1 to 3 marks in the center of the dial are where you would like to have the dial once you switch it back from cal? I understand that you don't want to use the radio at all if it is higher then 3. Again, I'm looking for some wisdom or words of advice here.


Not looking to start a huge argument here. Just looking to have a cb that works decently, and I can talk on while riding around in this crazy Northeast

Thanks for your time

[thetez]

wierd that you arnt being heard, my cobra 29 was loud... and very clear, so i was told often. It probably does have something to with swr, and the swr could have to do with grounding...

you want your SWR to be as close to 1 as possible, just try to get it lower than 2.... once you do that just TRY to get it as close to 1.0 as possible,

i don't know where your are mounting it, but what you can do is take some wire, and run it from the wire coming off the antenna to something you KNOW is grounded, some kind of bolt or something. once you get your SWR as low as you can then see how people say you sound. [also try adjusting the SWR on channels 1 and 40, get them the same]

if it doesnt help you become louder, try getting a power mic.

[humpywheeler1]

Right now I'm using the stock mounts and stock wiring that the truck comes with. Dual mounts on both mirrors. When i get the truck back on monday I think I'm gonna try hooking up a magnetic antennae just to see what it does.

Thanks again for your time

[thetez]

worth a shot....

[wallbanger]

Dude, my last company truck was a volvo; I was running a 'tweaked' Uniden 78, with a wilson fiberglass whip, and had the same problem. I bought the screw in mount, ran some good coax in and: VOILA!! Problem solved; I could get out nice and loud, and pickup the people I was trying to talk to.
If you want to try your fix, go for it; it's worth a shot. If it doesn't work, then go for the screw in post. If you do get it, buy some Blue Locktite, and coat the threads well, and use a Vise Grip or a strap wrench and get that perch nice and snug. And the blue locktite will keep it from rattling loose.

[Westhardt Corp]

(a little late to this game...sorry 'bout that)

What you might not know is that the newer Volvos use a multiband antenna system, made by RAMI (google it), which is designed to accomodate CB/FM/AM/Cellular on the same whip9s0. There is a "box" under the dash where all the leads converge, and the antenna leads eminate from. (FYI, that box is rated at 250 watts max) Replacing the factory whip(s) is actually going to make your problem worse. How I solved it??

I started with a stainless stud (into the mirror bracket on the door) and a K40 with good coax (which should be RG56, black jacket, 95% shield--grey jacket is 80% shielded, and there is a difference...it should be 18' and do not cut it shorter--ever). Worked nice, but was very 270°--didn't work well 360°. So, I tested my trusty Wilson 5000 magnetic mount, and *voila!*...perfection. I decided to make it permanent, and installed an actual roof mount for the Wilson 5000, although I was required to tie the whip back to maintain 13' 6" height, but it works very, very well with a minmal loss rearward. A little involved, but I am on my radio, um....rather often, and I run a *very* strong 4 watts in my truck.

HTH!

trent...