High SWR - Cobra 29LX w/ magnetic mount antenna

CHeck this out. Antenna on roof in a relatively open area. Look at the difference in SWR between when I calibrate and do SWR test and when I switch to S/RF. Why is so different?

SWR test after Calibration:


and SWR reading while transmitting:



And its literally the same readings on channels 20, 1 & 40.

 

Oh, ok. But there's clearly something wrong because I have a Cobra handheld CB and when we first got the full sized radio we tested it with my handheld Cobra. It was very clear from down the street. Transmitted and received verrry clear. But now when i talk thru the truck CB, you can barely hear me on the handheld CB. Very verrrry low and muffled. In regards to squelch, yes but I literally have to turn it allllll the way counterclockwise til it can barely go any further and then I get static. And thats usually only if I have the RF Gain turned up. Also, I have used my handheld CB and hear a lot of chatter and then goto my tryck CB and just static and some muffled chatter.

Does the bottom stud of the magnetic mount antenna get its ground from the radio? If the bottom stud has ground regardless of the foil, why the need for the foil and it acting as a capacitor?

 

Yea at this point I just wanna smash the #### thing with a hammer, lol. But I'm definitely going to get another antenna. I'm just trying to decipher which type - another magnetic or a mounted one. I want something pretty low profile. My truck already has a lot of toys on it, so I'm trying not to over-do it with a large tacky antenna. But I don't want to sacrifice performance. Easier said than done I imagine! Is there a lower profile antenna out there that performs just as well, or better? I don't prefer the look on the roof, unless it's much lower. I don't care what it costs. I really like the mounted ones that come off the side of the toolbox or even truck bed rails, but I know that's not quite an optimal location. For now though, I really want to get my current antenna working correctly, even if its temporary. I'm going on a 10 hour road trip in a few days and would love to have it working, at least somewhat, by then. So at this point, Nightstalker said my antenna seems to be working properly. I'm a little weary, only because I'm transmitting horrible quality and not receiving much unless squelch is all the way to the left and RF gain is high. If I'm getting ground at the bottom stud, where does that come from, the radio's lead ground wire? And I thought the foil and stuff is what provided the bottom stud a ground through the capacitor effect. Lastly, am I supposed to have any ground present on the outer part of the mount?