really bad swr

I just did a big post on high swr

 

How To Deal With Really High SWR In Newer Trucks..

 

Got a link to your post?

 

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...um/122819-how-deal-high-swr-newer-trucks.html

 

I hope this post is in time for the OP [original poster] Dieselman123. When your SWR reading is 3.0 or higher it indicates that you have a connection problem. An excessive amount of the signal that you are trying to transmit is being reflected back to the cb radio. This will cause damage to the power transistors. DO NOT continue to use this radio or the power transistors will be permanently damaged and you will be unable to transmit a half mile if that far. Repairing the radio is expensive and buying another radio will probably be cheaper.

A faulty antenna, faulty coax and/or insufficient ground plane are the main causes of an SWR of 3.0 or higher. Tuning the antenna will not correct a SWR reading this high. Swapping a known good antenna and coax can easily eliminate the first two thus, by process of elimination, leaving you with a ground plane problem.

Ground plane problems occur when the door that the antenna is mounted on is painted. Paint is an insulator. The painted door is not, in and of itself, a large enough metal object to be a sufficient ground plane. Because the door is painted, the door is isolated from the door frame, roof and the rest of the metal in the vehicle. By adding ground straps with good metal to metal contact between the door and door frame, door frame and chassis etc.. You will connect the large metal components of the vehicle together to create a large ground plane. This will bring the SWR reading down to safe levels ie. below 3.0 ..

Understanding the SWR reading is key to having a good performing CB radio system. Readings on an external meter of 1.1 to 1.5 are preferred. 1.6 to 2.9 indicate that the antenna needs tuning. But 3.0 and higher indicate a serious problem that can and will damage your radio and, if left uncorrected, turn your CB radio into a piece of basically unuseable junk.

Immediately after installing your CB radio, check your SWR reading, make the necessary repairs if needed and enjoy your radio for many years.

 

Have you tried checking your ground connection on the set, also the ants have to have a good ground.