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Antenna problems

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by ramkatral, Apr 11, 2012.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Apr 11, 2012 #1
    ramkatral

    ramkatral Heavy Load Member

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    Dec 27, 2010
    Tryon, NC
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    Ok. First I've never been very cb savvy. I have never understood swr or any of that. Here's my problem.

    I have a cobra 29LX. The one with the digital display. I am using two antennas that were on this truck when I sat down in it. They say firestik on the tips with red end caps.

    Every time I key the mic it pops up "antenna warning". It also says the same when adjusting swr and running the built in self test.

    How can I rectify this?
     
    ramkatral, Apr 11, 2012
    ramkatral, Apr 11, 2012
    #1
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  3. Apr 11, 2012 #2
    rollingradios

    rollingradios Light Load Member

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    Mar 9, 2012
    Richmond, Va
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    test swr on ch 1 and ch 40, what is the reading?
     
    rollingradios, Apr 11, 2012
    rollingradios, Apr 11, 2012
    #2
  4. Apr 11, 2012 #3
    ramkatral

    ramkatral Heavy Load Member

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    Dec 27, 2010
    Tryon, NC
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    Less than 1. Flashes antenna warning the whole time I'm testing swr.
     
    ramkatral, Apr 11, 2012
    ramkatral, Apr 11, 2012
    #3
  5. Apr 11, 2012 #4
    rollingradios

    rollingradios Light Load Member

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    Richmond, Va
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    Not clear. What is your swr reading on ch 1 and ch 40 when you physically use the calibrate and swr function?
     
    rollingradios, Apr 11, 2012
    rollingradios, Apr 11, 2012
    #4
  7. Apr 11, 2012 #5
    ramkatral

    ramkatral Heavy Load Member

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    Dec 27, 2010
    Tryon, NC
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    I told you. It's less than 1
     
    ramkatral, Apr 11, 2012
    ramkatral, Apr 11, 2012
    #5
  8. Apr 11, 2012 #6
    rollingradios

    rollingradios Light Load Member

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    Mar 9, 2012
    Richmond, Va
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    If it's less than 1 on ch 1 and 40, then your internal adjustment for the swr warning is out of adjustment. Before doing anything I would test the swr with some sort of external swr meter to verify.
     
    rollingradios, Apr 11, 2012
    rollingradios, Apr 11, 2012
    #6
  9. Apr 11, 2012 #7
    ramkatral

    ramkatral Heavy Load Member

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    Dec 27, 2010
    Tryon, NC
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    How so? The book said to put it in cal mode, adjust until the meter swings fully to the right. Switch to swr mode and press mic. It said swr meter should read less than 3. Am I misunderstanding?
     
    ramkatral, Apr 11, 2012
    ramkatral, Apr 11, 2012
    #7
  10. Apr 11, 2012 #8
    slowride67

    slowride67 Light Load Member

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    Dec 26, 2010
    Southington,CT
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    Sounds right to me...never trust swr on radio not very accurate. Go buy a cheap one at truckstop for $20.00 or so get a three foot jumper and try again. Should be fwd and ref on meter. Switch in fwd key up and set then switch to ref while keyed and meter should fall to 3 or less if not it's antenna problem. I only use one never like the co-phased setup more to go wrong.
     
    slowride67, Apr 11, 2012
    slowride67, Apr 11, 2012
    #8
  11. Apr 11, 2012 #9
    ramkatral

    ramkatral Heavy Load Member

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    Dec 27, 2010
    Tryon, NC
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    So is swr the likely culprit? Could it be factory wiring being crap? Dunno how good the wire is in a 04 W900.

    This antenna warning just bugs me. After some research, these firestiks that were on here seem like some good ones.

    Damnedest thing is I get great reception and transmit very clearly.
     
    ramkatral, Apr 11, 2012
    ramkatral, Apr 11, 2012
    #9
  12. Apr 11, 2012 #10
    jessejamesdallas

    jessejamesdallas Road Train Member

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    Oct 3, 2008
    Republic of Texas
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    It can't be "Less than One"...The meter on the Cobra 29LX first SWR marking is 1 1/2...."1" would be all the way to the left, and the needle on your meter shouldn't move past where 1 would be or it would be going backwards...

    You should be looking at the markings on the top of the scale of the meter for your SWR reading...The bottom markings is your signal strength...
     
    jessejamesdallas, Apr 11, 2012
    jessejamesdallas, Apr 11, 2012
    #10
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