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Antenna issues

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by ErieMcDreary, Sep 5, 2020.

Page 6 of 8
  1. Sep 20, 2020 #51
    Night Stalker10

    Night Stalker10 Road Train Member

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    Yes, but the OP said he wanted to improve his range some, after he broke off his original antenna. If he wants to improve his range (even a couple of miles), he needs a longer antenna. But his problem is that he can't tune his longer Wilson antenna. He will need to do some bonding work on his truck to help. Putting another short fibre glass antenna on his truck won't solve his problem.
     
    Night Stalker10, Sep 20, 2020
    Night Stalker10, Sep 20, 2020
    #51
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  3. Sep 20, 2020 #51
    ErieMcDreary

    ErieMcDreary Medium Load Member

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    After reading just about every bit of info I could find, I have come to one conclusion;
    The antenna system is way more complicated than I could ever have thought!

    Based on my research, and what you guys are saying, my best bet is probably to just go through the hassle of putting it back on the mirror.
    But, I think I'm going to try a couple things first. I'm going to get that longer first stage for the Trucker 2000, to get that coil up above the roof line. That should only cost me about $15.
    If that does nothing, I'm going to exchange the 3' Firestick for the longer one. That's free.
    I have no way of figuring resonance, and know of no one near me who can test it. I'm not buying an expensive meter for one job.
    I might build a bracket and mount the antenna right on the support for the stack, but I think the stack would cause interference.
     
    ErieMcDreary, Sep 20, 2020
    ErieMcDreary, Sep 20, 2020
    #51
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  5. Sep 20, 2020 #52
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Yesterday, my dummy load was on a mount and it was acting like an antenna, I talked to some guys on I-94.

    didn’t we have this conversation before?
     
    Ridgeline, Sep 20, 2020
    Ridgeline, Sep 20, 2020
    #52
  6. Sep 20, 2020 #53
    HD_Renegade

    HD_Renegade Road Train Member

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    As I said before, I drive a Volvo. Bird purch driver side with a 4 foot adjustable tip firestick antenna. 18 feet of cable. I have spent the money and this works.

    I run a Stryker 655 and a 447 as a back up radio. My SWR is 1.0 on ch 19. Running across I80 and I40 out west i am always able to talk to base stations over 1000 miles away.

    I would say normal is 6 to 12 mile range. Sometimes a lot more.

    I am no expert, and there are plenty of other people on here a lot smarter about this stuff than I am. I just know what I have works well.
     
    HD_Renegade, Sep 20, 2020
    HD_Renegade, Sep 20, 2020
    #53
    rabbiporkchop Thanks this.
  7. Sep 20, 2020 #54
    jdchet

    jdchet Medium Load Member

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    KISS usually works best for those of us that have less than stellar knowledge and equipment like $300+ antenna analyzers and know what they're telling us!
    Still thinking about getting one though.................maybe if I put up a base antenna at the house........I better stop..........LOL!

    JD
     
    jdchet, Sep 20, 2020
    jdchet, Sep 20, 2020
    #54
  9. Sep 20, 2020 #55
    HD_Renegade

    HD_Renegade Road Train Member

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    I do not have a antenna analyzer. I played some trial and error stuff, read stuff, and asked questions. I depend on my radio, and it has saved me a lot of time with being able to get around things.

    Just trying to be helpful with what works for me.
     
    HD_Renegade, Sep 20, 2020
    HD_Renegade, Sep 20, 2020
    #55
  10. Sep 20, 2020 #56
    rabbiporkchop

    rabbiporkchop Road Train Member

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    You should do a pre trip inspection every day.
    You should keep it away from the stack.
    It's very possible. You acted surprised that a 35 Ω load wouldn't magically present 50 Ω to the transmitter with random cables. Not everybody is running around with a dummy load on a stick.
     
    rabbiporkchop, Sep 20, 2020
    rabbiporkchop, Sep 20, 2020
    #56
  11. Sep 20, 2020 #57
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Well rabbi, some would be better off doing just that,
     
    Ridgeline, Sep 20, 2020
    Ridgeline, Sep 20, 2020
    #57
    rabbiporkchop Thanks this.
  12. Sep 21, 2020 #58
    ErieMcDreary

    ErieMcDreary Medium Load Member

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    Erie PA
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    Yessir, RABBIPORKCHOP, I do a pre trip everyday, as well as a post trip, and several walkarounds.
    I'm hauling motor fuels, and want no problems, but I don't understand what that has to do with not wanting to buy an expensive antenna analyzer just for one use.

    If I build a stack support mount I will move the antenna towards the middle of the truck. I haven't made the measurements yet, but it looks like about 2' away. It looks like it would be fairly simple (like me) to do, and I already have steel, and a welder. Like I said, I don't mind experimenting, just don't like throwing good money after bad.
     
    ErieMcDreary, Sep 21, 2020
    ErieMcDreary, Sep 21, 2020
    #58
    Timin770 Thanks this.
  13. Sep 28, 2020 #59
    craig_sez

    craig_sez Road Train Member

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    novascotia,Canada
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    I tried the kiss method once..Didnt help..Turns out singing "I wanna rock n roll all night" didnt make my radio get out any futher at all......Pissed off alot of people though..lol
     
    craig_sez, Sep 28, 2020
    craig_sez, Sep 28, 2020
    #59
  14. Oct 14, 2020 #60
    ErieMcDreary

    ErieMcDreary Medium Load Member

    455
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    Dec 4, 2016
    Erie PA
    0
    Update; I built a stack support mount for my antenna, making sure I had good metal to metal contact, (I scraped off some paint) and it helped, but swr was still a bit high.
    I never got an answer to my question about trimming the mast shorter, so I thought I'd try that. I cut off about 1.5" and it got better, but still not good, so I tried another 1.5". I now have 1:1 on channel 1, about 1:2 on channel 20, and about 1:3.5 on channel 40. I'm going to go another 1" or so to try to improve 40 but keep some adjustment if it's too much.
     

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    ErieMcDreary, Oct 14, 2020
    ErieMcDreary, Oct 14, 2020
    #60
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