is there a way to test a cb antenna

if you want to see if the antenna it self is any good, before you try and check swr and blow something up. Use a ohm meter. check the tip to the threads, if you have solid continuity you are good to go. THEN and only then try to adjust swr if you feel it is bad.

good luck

 

That only works (using a ohm meter) if you have a shunt feed antenna.

Leon
(kc0iv)

 

If you can find someone with an antenna analyzer, it will probably tell you about anything you want to know about your antenna.

 

being that there is a 99.8% chance that antenna is going on a truck, an ohm meter is all that is needed, to check both the antenna and coax. of course this is prior to putting the antenna into use.

we arent talking capacitors, gammas, and other base type items where the ohm meter wont work

 

You might also look at your radio to make sure your RF gain.is turned up if yours had one, i've seen guys that figured it better to turn the gain down to block out noise, but it only reduces ypur hearing distance, you only turn down the RF gain if your so close to the guy your trying to hear that he is grabbled form to much power, then you will have to remember to crank iy back up after, its a common misstake, also if your new to cbs get online to find out what features yours has, and figure how to adjust all the knobs,.for new cbers I recamend rhe uniden 520 its small with only the basic controls, then make su rre you have a.good antenna, since the antenna is what makes or breaks any cb, and yes if the cb and antenna are new to each other you need to check the match with a swr meter( single wave ratio meter) you will also need to learn how.to adjust the antenna to the radio since theres many differsnt types.of antennas, I set my radios on channel 20 then cgeck them on 1 and 40 to get a good balance, if you never plan on leaving 19 then you could set them to that channel, but most drivers.float around to talk on less crowded channels so you need to decide, if your high on 40 ypu need to lower the tip, if your hi on 1 you need to rasise the tip, I run a galexy 99 with a wilson mirrior mpunt with a almost flat curve, 1.1 on 20 and 1.2 on 1and 40 , to read the swr meter you place.the selcetor swicth in the set postion key the mic and turn the knob til itsointing at the set mark in the window,.then un key and change the switch to the readostion ( many times.called rev) then.re key the mic to see whete the needle is pointing, if all your readings are off the scale.you have a bad coax or antenna, oh also its important to un key between tests for thetes a split second when you filp the switch that you open the radio to no connection, which can hurt the finals in any radio even more so if you have a high powered radio, and never check swrs with a amp turned on. Hope this helps some,.forgive the typos, yeah I can.t spell and I have fat fingers on a tiny cell phone. B104 10-4

 

You might also look at your radio to make sure your RF gain.is turned up if yours had one, i've seen guys that figured it better to turn the gain down to block out noise, but it only reduces ypur hearing distance, you only turn down the RF gain if your so close to the guy your trying to hear that he is grabbled form to much power, then you will have to remember to crank iy back up after, its a common misstake, also if your new to cbs get online to find out what features yours has, and figure how to adjust all the knobs,.for new cbers I recamend rhe uniden 520 its small with only the basic controls, then make su rre you have a.good antenna, since the antenna is what makes or breaks any cb, and yes if the cb and antenna are new to each other you need to check the match with a swr meter( single wave ratio meter) you will also need to learn how.to adjust the antenna to the radio since theres many differsnt types.of antennas, I set my radios on channel 20 then cgeck them on 1 and 40 to get a good balance, if you never plan on leaving 19 then you could set them to that channel, but most drivers.float around to talk on less crowded channels so you need to decide, if your high on 40 ypu need to lower the tip, if your hi on 1 you need to rasise the tip, I run a galexy 99 with a wilson mirrior mpunt with a almost flat curve, 1.1 on 20 and 1.2 on 1and 40 , to read the swr meter you place.the selcetor swicth in the set postion key the mic and turn the knob til itsointing at the set mark in the window,.then un key and change the switch to the readostion ( many times.called rev) then.re key the mic to see whete the needle is pointing, if all your readings are off the scale.you have a bad coax or antenna, oh also its important to un key between tests for thetes a split second when you filp the switch that you open the radio to no connection, which can hurt the finals in any radio even more so if you have a high powered radio, and never check swrs with a amp turned on. Hope this helps some,.forgive the typos, yeah I can.t spell and I have fat fingers on a tiny cell phone. B104 10-4

 

Find Ham who has an antenna analyzer. A lot of us have a MFJ antenna analyzer, When I was on the road I had mine packed away. And we can tell you what is up with the antenna or the feed line. I have a friend that had problems with an high dollar antenna, we checked it and it was bad just out of the box. Also some CB shops have
antenna analyzers but you have to pay for their services.