I need some help - Antenna Warning on SWR Check

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by HD_Renegade, Jun 15, 2011.

  1. Hardlyevr

    Hardlyevr Road Train Member

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    I'd say it's time to find somebody and swap radios, put your radio in their truck and see what happens with their antenna, cables and power.
     
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  3. Big_m

    Big_m Heavy Load Member

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    What is your SWR? The light could be off if your SWR is ok. Then a slight adjustment can fix it. I know it was VR-6 in the older 29 LTD Classic. I think that it's still the same board.
     
  4. WA4GCH

    WA4GCH Road Train Member

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    Put a 50 ohm load on the radio and see if the light goes out
     
    handlebar Thanks this.
  5. Rat

    Rat Road Train Member

    A few of us have asked and I am again asking, WHAT IS THE SWR ON CHANNEL 1, CHANNEL 20 AND CHANNEL 40?!?!

    Hard to help if we don't know this.

    If it is high on all three (3 or more) then the issue is either the mount, ground, or coax.

    If it is only high on one or two channels then you just need to adjust the antenna. Meaning if you have 1.5 on channel 1 and 2 or more on channel 20 and channel 40 then your antenna is too long and needs to be trimmed or shortend. If it is low on 40 and high on 20 or 1 then your antenna is too short and needs to be lengthened.

    This will cause a fail on the automatic SWR check feature in this radio.

    A little higher then 2 and the light will start to glow when you key up and try to talk into the mic.

    Or drive down to the nearest truckstop and see if there is a CB shop nearby. Have them look at the antenna setup and check the SWR for you.
     
  6. WA4GCH

    WA4GCH Road Train Member

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    I AGREE !

    My test was to see if the light might be shorted .... but the final question is what you asked WHAT IS THE SWR ?????
     
  7. HD_Renegade

    HD_Renegade Road Train Member

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    My SWR is 2.3, 2.3 and 2.6 and no matter what I do, I get the "Antenna Warning"

    I have checked the ground many times. I have tried 2 different coax cables, 2 different sets of ends for how the Coax connects to the Antenna.

    I am looking for some help local too. I will update with what I find as this goes.

    I thank any and all iput to help here.
     
  8. HD_Renegade

    HD_Renegade Road Train Member

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    I am really not sure how I can do this??
     
  9. WA4GCH

    WA4GCH Road Train Member

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    Seminole Florida
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    It's called a dummy load you put it on the output of the radio and it gives the radi0 a very good swr to transmit into.IF the light still was on when you transmitted it would be defective but looking at your 2.1 or higher I think you have a antenna problem and the light is tring to tell you that ...
     
  10. Rat

    Rat Road Train Member

    I really don't trust the test light idea of checking the ground. I use my digital fluke multi meter. Is this a New antenna or a used one? Do you have another antenna to try???? Reason being is you could have an issue with the antenna itself. Like maybe the windings inside the load (plastic bubble).

    I see it is lower on the lower channels then it is on the higher channels. Pull the whip out and cut 1/2 inch off the bottom of it and reinstall and check the SWR again and see if anything changes.

    Did you try running a wire from the bracket to the nearest clean unpainted metal surface, then finding a spot on that surface that is close to the frame and cleaning of any paint and the spot on the frame of any paint and running a wire between them two points? You don't want to just run a wire fromt he bracket to the frame. You want to incoperate the metal into the ground path.

    Also what are you using for a power source for the radio. Not that it will make a difference but it is just a thought. I like to run 10 guage wire straight to the battery both power and ground. Also like to run a fuse in the wire close to the battery as an extra insurance. Some like to run an added ground from the radio chassis to a chassis ground inside the cab such as a seat bolt etc. I have treid that but it never seemed to make any kind of a difference in how the radio works.

    Right now I am also playing with an elevated SWR in the big truck. I get a perfect flat 1.5 across the band when the truck is off but the minute I start the truck it jumps to 2.0 across the board. My thoughts on my issue is that I have somethign electrical in the truck that is causing the problem. Just need more time to chase it down since it is hard to do when the truck is rolling down the road 11 hours of my day.
     
  11. HD_Renegade

    HD_Renegade Road Train Member

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    It is a brand new antenna, Wilson 2000. I cut 1/2 inch off, and SWR Ch-1 is 2.3, Ch-20 is 1, and Ch-40 is 1 ???

    I checked and re checked the ground and even ran a wire direct from the battery to the antenna mount no change in Warning.

    I called Cobra, they told me that what I was seeing is a false positive, and I could either send it back to them to adjust it, or they can send me instructions on how to do it my self. I just got the instructions and I will take a look at it.

    Question - Did I make a mistake by cutting the 1/2 inch off the antenna???

    Thank you
     
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