Using An Antenna Matcher? Good or Not So Good?

Used the search and I see there are those that have antenna matchers and are using them. I have a unique situation and would like the input of some of the more knowledgeable.

Car hauler. I know. Hard to please on the SWR because of varying loads, shapes, proximity of antenna to a hunk of steel, etc. All these years in the car haul biz, I've never really had a really decent talking radio. I am on that hunt now and as I am inching toward the amateur radio hobby, I'm trying to learn what I can about such matters.

I was recently told that antenna matchers are "junk" and serve no good purpose. That proper adjustment of the antenna and equipment to attain that right SWR is what is needed. I understand that. Recently, my antenna (MonkeyMade) was stolen off my truck in the yard where I park. Then later that week, my Stryker 440 was stolen from my truck at the Cummins Crosspoint facility in Louisville...after the "tech" parked it and left it unlocked. Tough, Cummins says...join the club. Plenty of drivers lose their CB and stuff out back.

OK...back to the point. I have run new K40 coax...the stuff with the removable connector on one end with rubber weather boots. I have a Para Dynamics antenna matcher, a Stryker SR447HP, a single Predator 10K with SWR at 1.5:1/1.6:1 currently UNLOADED...nothing loaded on the rack out over the hood. I have bought and am plumbing the 8 gauge cable from the batteries to a XForce TNT T250 box (2 x 2290) with both positive and negative fused near the battery. Am thinking of grounding closer to the amp in the cab, per advice from a friend.

When I load the rack with a car...I have the antenna at about a 2 o'clock slant and it's about 13' 10" to the tip. (There were many observations a year or so back by those TTR'ers assuming that a tilted antenna was only for those cowboy truckers so they look cool...lotsa things apparently look cool to a new gen of truckers...slanted antennas, low-ride seats, tall shift poles, tire thumpers...of which I am guilty of all so I must be the coolest old trucker since Claude Akins). Mine is tilted to get down to a reasonable height where my SWR was lowest and also to get out forward of that trunk when a car is backed on this position. Still have the coil and other sections about a foot away but the tip is well out over and away from the trunk. I have not checked the SWR when loaded yet but will get to that. I know that when the load changes and requires an SUV or mini-van to be backed up in this position, everything will change. The antenna may be just above the roof-line but it's all a lot closer. SWR will suffer, I'm sure.

In this case...would an antenna matcher save my radio or am I worrying about something I don't need to? Having been told antenna matchers are junk and unnecessary, in this case it seems to me that being able to adjust on the fly with a matcher is the answer. I guess the next question is will my set up suffer with an inline matcher?

Trying to get it right...

 

Thanks Josh.C. Mine's the same...100 watts and although I don't have the manual for the matcher, I believe they are only for 11 meter operation...not sure on that. I don't anticipate running the amp all the time. The Stryker seems to do well enough as it is but I just want that little kick when I need it. My main concern is whether a matcher would be a good option for the variable load makeup vs SWR.

Thanks.

 

Thank you, Crazy CDB. Your link needs the comma changed to a dot but I went there to see. I'll look at it more especially about the HAM stuff later on. First I heard the tuning units were not for CB. Heard they were junk but never heard they were not really for CB.