High SWR - Cobra 29LX w/ magnetic mount antenna

JW, yes you can use ohm for reading. Touch the two meter leads together, it should show around 1, which represents a short. May I suggest forgetting about using the toolbox for your antenna location, it's a bad choice. First it's not a good ground. Second your antenna is too close to the metal cab of your pickup, and third you need at least 2/3 of your antenna above your metal roof. I usually remove the pl 259 connector from the end of the coax to route it into the cab instead of taking antenna apart. Much easier too. Also I was wondering how you are using your external swr meter? Also follow lil's advice about adjusting the whip. That's the easiest way to do it. Adjust it on channel 20, then check channels 1&40 later. You are in good hands with these guys, they will get your radio working I'm sure.

 

Yes the radio covers are metal and it doesn't hurt to ground it somewhere under the dash. I always felt it wasn't nessesary because the black ground power wire does the same thing. If your swr's get better by grounding it, then there's an issue with the antenna.

 

The benefit of a normal antenna is less headaches versus the mag mounts, as you have discovered.. lol. I mounted my antenna on my left front fender of my pickup, and it works fine. I prefer the top of the roof, but that's not an option since I park it in a garage.

 

"Since clearly the toolbox is not an ideal location, if i put it on the roof do i need to do the ground strap thing?"

No antenna ground is necessary. Basically mag mount antennas are for short term use verses a perminant mounted antenna. Also they don't work as good sometimes. But for people who don't want to drill holes in their vehicle, they are better than nothing.