predator 10 k antenna /freightliner cascadia

Okay, so I finally got around to switching all my antenna stuff out for the stainless stuff, and threw the KW7 up there.

Incredibly, with no tuning, it's coming up too short. 1.5 on 1 and 1.1 on 40. 1.2-1.3 on 19. I have never had a cut-to-tune fiberglass antenna come up this way, they've always been too long with no tuning. Really not sure what to do about this, but the numbers are well within the "acceptable" range, so I'm not terribly worried about it.

 

I wouldn't do a thing. A spring would change it or double up on the nut, but I'd leave it alone.

 

Since my new radio has a VFO mode, I went up to "triple nickel" (27.555) and checked SWR there, it was 1:1, so the antenna is way too short. I'll probably put a spring under it once I get a brace similar to yours made up. (Mine won't be as pretty, but whatever.)

 

Any glass shop has Lexan. You can cut it with a jig saw and it won't shatter. Instead of vice grips, I bought a couple of these to try. I lost my first pair of needle nose vise grips that hold the brace in Memphis. Since I put two on there now, no more problems. These may not be strong enough, but it's worth a try.

 

Really all depends on what you got and/or what you want. 1.7 swr probably won't damage your radio if it is a stock, small wattage radio and /or you are not looking for maximum performance from it. For max performance and "fire in the wire" folks, that would be way too high.

 

Well said!!!!

 

This. I don't even want 1.5, though I'll accept it with a grumble. I want 1.0-1.3. I consider 1.7 to be unacceptable, and if I'm getting 2 or higher, I just won't even bother, I shut the radio off.

In my ProStar, when I had SWR problems, I was one of those "no radio MF'ers" for awhile. Pained me, but it was what it was. Then, when I finally got it figured out and got the SWRs down to 1.2, not a week later did the "we're trading in your truck" message come in.

 

Result: 1.0 (NO needle movement) from 1-40, 1.1 on 27.555.

I am a pretty freaking happy camper.

 

Then they are just lazy, or using the wrong antenna for the truck. I now have a 7' Firestik on my Cascadia, see above, and I was able to tune it right down to 1.0 across the band. The right antenna is critical. Top loaded is ideal, long-shaft center-loaded will work okay, medium/short-shaft won't work well at all, and base loaded won't work period.

 

Volvo 244...With all those adapters on there have you check some other #'s other than swr..
I played around with stud mounts a lil bit and noticed a reception difference..
I went from the style you have to the thick chrome stud to the wilson thick stud style mount and my mfj ant tuner showed better reception every time.....

Someone mentioned adding a spring to raise your ant..My thoughts on that is,take $20 bill..p on it..Now go to the can and sit on tje throne and use it when your finished....That spring will rust and mess up swr big time as wind bends the ant back or sideways..Yes i k ow whips do it to but only the elcheapos,my predator flexes but not lime say a 102" whip or a wilson..My suggestion is a machine ship to make you a solid length of shaft from aluminum..

A 1.7 swr is not really that bad,your looseing less that 10% of output but your looseing rec to..Swr again is notthe end all be all either..I would be more worried about resistance and resonance..