CB Radio Set Up Advice

Did you run the ground from the radio? or from the antenna mount? Is your vehicle out in the open, away from buildings, fences etc? I have a Silver Load on a trunk mount that I had to add a spring to to get the swr down. It appears from the pic that the antenna is high enough above the cab though. Is the swr higher on 1 or 40?

 

Good quality coax CAN really make a difference ! I use the RG8x for mobiles . Preferably S.I.W. (brand name) or Belden , the difference is in the shielding !
Also on the Wilson Silverload ( a good antenna BTW) it has a short wire lead to ground , if the ground is less than good. Remember, if you use the wire lead you must set the SWR with it connected. And , if you have already set the SWR without the lead when you connect it you will have to:smt041 reset it.

 

IS this the dead key wattage? ( in other words , is the 2.5 read on your meter without a voice modulating the carrier signal of your radio)? If so .....two things could be going on here.
# 1) Your dead key wattage could be adjusted low & swings forward when the signal is modulated . which is not necessarily a bad thing if tuned properly.
or, # 2) The dead key wattage could be too low. To check this , we would need to use a modulation meter or an oscilloscope. A peak reading watt meter also should show if the radio is modulating ; using your voice (on a quiet channel or a "dummy load" ) key the mic, read the scale, then with an "aaaaaaahhhhhh" sound see if the meter swings forward . If it does & after you get a radio check from a trustworthy indidvidual and both these come back positive ; I would think you are "ROAD READY "
B-S out !!