CB RADIO NO SWR READING. PLEASE HELP

Lol had that happen a cpl times.....I live in novascotia and talked to florida in my cascadia with a stryker 955 barefoot and either my predator 10k or my 7 ft skip shooter..Dont remember which..

All the bo ding in the world aint gonna help these plastic trcks enuf to get a normal 60 mi mobile to mobile..I tap out at 30ish give or take..

 

Ridgeline said:

First off the metal doesn't matter. Your tool box isn't a real problem,

I disagree, aluminum makes a horrible ground plane compared to metal.

 

I agree, but the OP didn’t seem interested in a roof mount antenna.

 

If Vinny had a metal tool box, mounting the antenna in the middle of the box (like you did), and doing the bonding and grounding would have worked I’m sure. But since he’s new to cb radio, I was trying to help him get his antenna working as quick and easy as possible, and not overwhelm him with a lot of the technical info.

 

Dont take this wrong but it seems the proof is on my side. I won't get into it, but the tool box is not the problem. I get where you are coming from but it has more to do with the rf ground and the possibility of a common mode conditions within the feedline than it has with the type of metal used on or in the truck. A lot of misconceptions are created without understanding the nature of the rf beast.

I agree with not trying to confuse the guy, we are all trying to help but like I said the aluminum isn't the issue, grounding is as you said.

 

Oh no, that’s fine, I’m not taking it wrong I basically agree with what you are saying. Unfortunately the RF ground and common mode current are a pain to work with. But that is just the nature of the beast I guess you could say.

 

Vinny, For bonding purposes you don’t want to use stranded wire. You need to use braided wire that’s about 1/2 to 3/4 inch wide.
Also you don’t want the braided wire to be too long maybe around a foot or so. Ground plane is a term used for the metal mass under an antenna, not beside it like the back of your pickup cab.
It’s great that you want to learn more about CB radio and antennas, here’s a link you can go to and read. it has tons of information that might help you.

Bonding

 

DONT ise awag for bonding....Always use wide braded stuff...
Yes gp is the metal surface underneath the ant..
Gotta admit yer goin at it with big hopes in getting it right the 1st time..
This antenna magic boggles my brain cause everytime i think i got a handle on it,lol nope i dont..

 

The link from Night Stalker in the above post BONDING is the site I was talking about.

GREAT info that can be used by everyone.