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New Antenna is too long, what to do?

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by Sodman, Mar 30, 2013.

Page 1 of 5
  1. Mar 30, 2013 #1
    Sodman

    Sodman Bobtail Member

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    Sep 12, 2009
    South, LA
    0
    Okay, I knew it would probably be too long, but wanted to try it to find out for sure.

    I put a Wilson 5000 on the roof of my truck, and it just hits way too many limbs and even an occasional wire.

    It has a 62.5" whip.

    I see some of the other Wilsons have 36", 47" and 54" whips.

    Do you think I'd do my radio harm to cut it to one of those lengths? I'd try the 54" first, of course.

    Radio is a General Lee, no outside power.
     
    Sodman, Mar 30, 2013
    Sodman, Mar 30, 2013
    #1
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  3. Mar 30, 2013 #2
    Logan76

    Logan76 Crusty In Training

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    kittanning, PA
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    You need to keep your swr low while trimming that whip.
     
    Logan76, Mar 30, 2013
    Logan76, Mar 30, 2013
    #2
  4. Mar 30, 2013 #3
    vintech

    vintech Light Load Member

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    May 30, 2010
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    That must be a magnetic wilson 5000. But no you can't cut that much off of it just becuase it has to be 62.5 for that type wilson "if it's a mag mount" you may find cutting an inch or so for the sake of tuning ok but not 8 inches..
     
    vintech, Mar 30, 2013
    vintech, Mar 30, 2013
    #3
  5. Mar 30, 2013 #4
    EZ Money

    EZ Money Road Train Member

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    Oct 27, 2010
    The East Side Gang,Charlotte,NC.
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    EZ Money, Mar 30, 2013
    EZ Money, Mar 30, 2013
    #4
  7. Mar 30, 2013 #5
    vintech

    vintech Light Load Member

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    May 30, 2010
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    This will work but it defeats the purpose of having an antenna with a 62 inch whip. But it will at least allow you to adjust the antenna for a good match.. I will also reduce the performance to an antenna with a 36 in. radiating element, But it will at least be a quality 36in antenna..
     
    vintech, Mar 30, 2013
    vintech, Mar 30, 2013
    #5
    EZ Money Thanks this.
  8. Mar 30, 2013 #6
    EZ Money

    EZ Money Road Train Member

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    Oct 27, 2010
    The East Side Gang,Charlotte,NC.
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    Yep,I was thinking that too. It is a give and take situation. At least the SWR could be set.
    If you cut a bunch off the 62 inch it will never tune.

    I know i run the Wilson Mag mount 62 inch on my Tahoe and it talks very well.
    It took about 2 inches at most to cut for setting SWR.
    Those whips are tough though,mine has survived tree hits and drive throughs....lol!
     
    EZ Money, Mar 30, 2013
    EZ Money, Mar 30, 2013
    #6
  9. Mar 30, 2013 #7
    Saddletramp1200

    Saddletramp1200 Road Train Member

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    Sep 4, 2011
    Houston Texas,USA
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    You will kill the antenna. Sell it and buy another.
     
    Saddletramp1200, Mar 30, 2013
    Saddletramp1200, Mar 30, 2013
    #7
  10. Mar 30, 2013 #8
    Sodman

    Sodman Bobtail Member

    28
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    Sep 12, 2009
    South, LA
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    Well, just for kicks, before I started cutting on the whip I checked the SWR just to see if I was in the ball park... it was about 1.8.

    I cut it down to 54", and the SWR jumped up to 9. So I decided this obviously is not going to work, so I went and bought a Firestick (36" if I'm correct.)

    Now I can't get the SWR below 4. I'm guessing 4 isn't going to be acceptable to my radio for too long. Would you say this is an antenna grounding issue?

    I've the antenna directly mounted to my steel headboard, which is a part of my steel flatbed that is welded to the truck frame in several places. (Its a straightruck with a 17' steel flatbed). I also took a 12 gauge stranded wire and soldered around the part where you screw the coax connection to. EDIT: I have this ground running straight a Negative on one of my batteries.
     
    Sodman, Mar 30, 2013
    Sodman, Mar 30, 2013
    #8
  11. Mar 30, 2013 #9
    jessejamesdallas

    jessejamesdallas Road Train Member

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    Oct 3, 2008
    Republic of Texas
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    Wooooooe! Slow down a minute!

    Your saying you have your ground from the antenna hooked to the battery? You can ground your radio to the battery, but if your wanting a better ground for the antenna, run your ground strap to the frame somewhere....NOT the battery... Running it directly to the battery is just asking for more static and noise in your receive...
     
    jessejamesdallas, Mar 30, 2013
    jessejamesdallas, Mar 30, 2013
    #9
  12. Mar 30, 2013 #10
    Sodman

    Sodman Bobtail Member

    28
    0
    Sep 12, 2009
    South, LA
    0
    Yes, the battery seemed a simple connect, but easy enough to move.

    I took my grinder and took some paint off my steel bed where the antenna is mounted, and my swr (which was at 4), is now at 10.

    Could my battery connection be the cause of this? (my truck is now at my shop, and I'm at home)

    by the way... thanks for the help!
     
    Sodman, Mar 30, 2013
    Sodman, Mar 30, 2013
    #10
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