Weird CB Problem

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by xFreeWord420x, Mar 10, 2012.

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  1. Mar 11, 2012 #21
    xFreeWord420x

    xFreeWord420x Light Load Member

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    Eh, just another guys trying to show his knowledge. Either way, tomorrow I will try and switch around that washer, and check my SWR rating, and see if it is suitable to run the radio.
     
    xFreeWord420x, Mar 11, 2012
    xFreeWord420x, Mar 11, 2012
    #21
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  3. Mar 11, 2012 #22
    rollingradios

    rollingradios Light Load Member

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    xFree, hopefully my suggestions help you.
    25 years in the biz and I can tell you even to this day, some times installs go like clock work and sometimes they're hair pullers.
     
    rollingradios, Mar 11, 2012
    rollingradios, Mar 11, 2012
    #22
    xFreeWord420x and Treefork Thank this.
  4. Mar 12, 2012 #23
    Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    Just because its mounted on bar thats bolted to the door...DOES NOT mean it is sufficiently grounded...nothing could be further from the truth.

    Its not just about grounding the antenna itself...its about ground plane...something plastic trucks have a very real problem with.

    Every steel antenna I've ever used needed a ground wire from the antenna mount to the top of the door hinge (piano hinge), then another wire from the bottom of the hinge to the chassis.

    One single length of wire won't work...it has to be in sections (long story to explain...but its true and any CB tech worth 2 cents will agree)

    I'm no expert, but I have been messing around with mobile and base CB's for a while....put a "big" radio in a plastic truck with a steel antenna....you need it GROUNDED in every way.

    And yes...some installs are easy...and others are enough to make a preacher cuss.

    Worth noting...my SWR in my plastic truck is well below 1, and this ain't my first plastic truck.
     
    Ridgerunner665, Mar 12, 2012
    Ridgerunner665, Mar 12, 2012
    #23
    xFreeWord420x and Loner Thank this.
  5. Mar 12, 2012 #24
    Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    One more thing...in my opinion....skip the fuse panel altogether....hook to the terminals that power the fuse panel and use an inline fuse.
     
    Ridgerunner665, Mar 12, 2012
    Ridgerunner665, Mar 12, 2012
    #24
    Loner Thanks this.
  7. Mar 12, 2012 #25
    xFreeWord420x

    xFreeWord420x Light Load Member

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    Leetonia, Ohio
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    It isn't mounted on the mirror bars. It is mounted on the bar behind the cab, goes from one side of the truck, to the other. The truck isn't plastic, it's tin or whatever. If that helps?.. Can't think of the bars name.. the one you use to run a bungie cord to hold up your air lines, and hydro line.

    But, I spent all day waiting for a moment when I had time to check everything out. I tried calibrating the radio, started at channel 1, and calibrated it, then when I tried 40 and 20, they were lower, and I couldn't get all 3 channels to line up. I also checked the SWR, and it was in the red, say a cm past 3. I then removed that washer between the antenna and top of the bracket, still couldn't calibrate properly, but the SWR went back down to green, between 2 and 3.. probably about 2.5.

    As I was driving down the Rt. 11, I heard the guy from the CB Shop @ the Petro @ the 226 on 80.. so I decided to jump up to channel 29 and talk to the guy.. He heard me loud and clear, and I could hear him loud and clear.. So I checked it on the GPS, and I was getting out atleast 3 1/2 miles. He said I need to get a new bracket probably, since the one I am using is rusted up and old?

    Also, someone told me to get a ferroda(?) thing for the cords out of the back of the radio.. Not exactly sure what it is, but he pointed to the round cylinder thingy around the cord on his PC monitor?

    So if my SWR is in the Green @ 2.5... Should I worry about anything, if Im getting out that far?.. I am definitely going to buy a new bracket for sure.. They are only $10 @ the Pilot, and then everything is brand new..
     
    xFreeWord420x, Mar 12, 2012
    xFreeWord420x, Mar 12, 2012
    #25
  8. Mar 12, 2012 #26
    Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    I'd have to look at that bar and see how its all connected to say anything useful about whether its good enough or not.

    The new mount may well help you enough...try it and see.
     
    Ridgerunner665, Mar 12, 2012
    Ridgerunner665, Mar 12, 2012
    #26
  9. Mar 12, 2012 #27
    Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    WAIT A MINUTE...

    How much of the antenna is sticking up above the truck?

    You may just have too much metal too close to the antenna...that will wreak havoc with SWR.
     
    Ridgerunner665, Mar 12, 2012
    Ridgerunner665, Mar 12, 2012
    #27
  10. Mar 12, 2012 #28
    xFreeWord420x

    xFreeWord420x Light Load Member

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    I would say atleast 2/3s of it are above the cab.. that is what I was told to do. BUT, I do have it kind of angled towards the front, so parts of the antenna are within an inch or two of the roof of the cab.
     
    xFreeWord420x, Mar 12, 2012
    xFreeWord420x, Mar 12, 2012
    #28
  11. Mar 12, 2012 #29
    Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    That very well may be your problem...or at least a large part of it.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2012
    Ridgerunner665, Mar 12, 2012
    Ridgerunner665, Mar 12, 2012
    #29
  12. Mar 12, 2012 #30
    xFreeWord420x

    xFreeWord420x Light Load Member

    243
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    Mar 10, 2012
    Leetonia, Ohio
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    Going to fix it tomorrow when I go into work, and see what it does.. and buy a bracket this weekend.
     
    xFreeWord420x, Mar 12, 2012
    xFreeWord420x, Mar 12, 2012
    #30
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