SWR Question

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by Roteck, Jul 25, 2018.

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  1. Jul 25, 2018 #1
    Roteck

    Roteck Light Load Member

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    First off I'm lazy and didn't look very hard for answer before posting this...

    I just had my CB tuned up a little. Cobra 29LTD Classic. He said it was putting out 25W and he tuned it up to 28W. Don't know how much of a difference that makes or if anymore can be done without an amplifier cause I don't know anything about these radios. I also bought new antennas with the coils on them and tested the SWR like so: SWR knob to CAL. Key mic, adjust swr knob until needle is on arrow right side of the display. Switch SWR knob to SWR, key mic, SWR moved like a nanometer if at all. Is this normal? Does that mean I've got a great SWR setup or does it mean I did something wrong?
     
    Roteck, Jul 25, 2018
    Roteck, Jul 25, 2018
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  3. Jul 25, 2018 #2
    Tensleep440

    Tensleep440 Light Load Member

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    Sounds like the in radio meter is telling you the SWR is good. It gets you in the ball park, but I would still have the system checked with an external meter or an antenna analyzer.

    25w to 28w will never be heard except likely more splatter on adjacent channels. If someone was paid for 3 “watts”, I feel he likely took the money. Any tech I’d ever seen that was honest wouldn’t do a thing for such a small increase.

    As far as more power? It won’t happen out of a 29LTD, and the mosfet “upgrade” isn’t worth the $ either as long as the original driver and final are working fine. Save the money and buy a small amp, or buy a more powerful radio.
     
    Tensleep440, Jul 25, 2018
    Tensleep440, Jul 25, 2018
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  4. Jul 25, 2018 #3
    Roteck

    Roteck Light Load Member

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    I kind of figured 28W was worthless. He did it for free anyway. I have a Galaxy DX959 sitting on a shelf at home, used the 29LTD cause the Galaxy didn't really fit in my trucks mount. He said that my Galaxy only puts out 30W or so and wouldn't be much of a difference. My priority is getting reception not output. I don't talk much on the CB except when someone directly contacts me. I'm just sick of hearing someone having a conversation and only being able to hear one side of it. Not to mention if I am having a conversation with someone heading the opposite direction, I can only talk with them for a few seconds before they're out of range.
     
    Roteck, Jul 25, 2018
    Roteck, Jul 25, 2018
    #3
  5. Jul 25, 2018 #4
    craig_sez

    craig_sez Road Train Member

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    Reception is on partly the radio set up but the biggest part is the antenna....Just because your only hearing one side doesnt mean its your radio either...The major # of all the radios out there have either a hack tune or poor antenna set up or both..
    I dorget what it is but for future reference re power..To make a noticeable difference on the other end of conversation your wattage had to either double or quadruple...

    Assumeing its clean power goin from 4 to 25 is a nice noticeable jump but the 3 watts means nothin to anyone..
     
    craig_sez, Jul 25, 2018
    craig_sez, Jul 25, 2018
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    Roteck Thanks this.
  7. Jul 25, 2018 #5
    craig_sez

    craig_sez Road Train Member

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    Oh and just cause your galaxy does 30 watts,doesnt mean it dont have better ears than the cobra either..
     
    craig_sez, Jul 25, 2018
    craig_sez, Jul 25, 2018
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    Roteck Thanks this.
  8. Jul 25, 2018 #6
    Roteck

    Roteck Light Load Member

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    That's what I always thought but how can a truck I'm parked next to pick up the other guy and I can't. Last night a guy parked next to me was having a conversation with someone and i couldn't even hear a crackle from the other guys mic with squelch all the way down and RF gain all the way up. Of course last night i had high swr and a 4W radio with firesticks. Now I've got better antennas and my SWR is apparently very very low, and my radio is outputting 28W so a lot of changes overnight. I'll have to test it out on the road tomorrow and see if it has imrpoved. If not it looks like I'll have to do some rewiring.
     
    Roteck, Jul 25, 2018
    Roteck, Jul 25, 2018
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  9. Jul 25, 2018 #7
    craig_sez

    craig_sez Road Train Member

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    He can have a better antenna set up(not always what you see either)and his radio may have better ears....
    Your radios tune could be #### to..Hard to say
     
    craig_sez, Jul 25, 2018
    craig_sez, Jul 25, 2018
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    rabbiporkchop Thanks this.
  10. Jul 25, 2018 #8
    craig_sez

    craig_sez Road Train Member

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    Might have been on a different band or channel/freq or mode to..
     
    craig_sez, Jul 25, 2018
    craig_sez, Jul 25, 2018
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  11. Jul 25, 2018 #9
    Roteck

    Roteck Light Load Member

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    All the guy did was, from what it looked like, adjusted a few screws while testing the mic on some sort of meter.
     
    Roteck, Jul 25, 2018
    Roteck, Jul 25, 2018
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  12. Jul 25, 2018 #10
    craig_sez

    craig_sez Road Train Member

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    Im not a tech so i cant say but sounds like some things were turned up..There is antenna differences in set up/quality..The coax used and ends on the coax...Just to many differences than can make or break what you can hear and how far you get out..
     
    craig_sez, Jul 25, 2018
    craig_sez, Jul 25, 2018
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    Roteck Thanks this.
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