A question in two parts...

First, I'm about to change companies and move from KW 700s and 680s to a Freightliner Coronado '15 or '16 model, not sure which yet. I'm aware that the Cascadia has a lot of issues with where and how to mount the antennas and was wondering if this crosses over to the Coronado as well.

Second, I bought a Bearcat 880 from a driver giving up the job for $40. In his truck the SWR was around 1.2 (internal meter) but when I put it in mine it jumped to 2.1. We were running identical antenna setups but he was in a '16 T680 and I was in a '13 T700. I figure that the problem was older coax that may not have been in the best shape so I didn't worry much about it as I could still get out a couple miles and knew that I couldn't do anything about the cable, company wouldn't let me.

Heading to a newer truck I think cable condition will be less of an issue and was wondering if an 880 was really worth tuning and if it was could I get a tuning "recipe" from you more knowledgeable users than me. I know how to turn it on and talk but that's about it.

 

That was sort of the point of the first part of the post...whether or not the Coronado had the same issues with the antenna as the Cascadia. With this truck, I'll be free to do whatever I want with the cable/antenna equation and I'm not adverse to spending the money required to get the best of both.

With respect to tuning, I was really just curious if a starter radio like the 880 was even worth it or whether it might be time to think of buying a next step up radio. Maybe a Cobra 29 or the like.

I'm not interested in having some massive wattage setup to talk to Mars with but it'd be nice to get out a little further than I am right now.

 

Yes, I know.