| Author | Message | |||
     Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 654 Registered: 05-2003 |
I have been trying to get my CB working again today. I have a Cobra 75WSXT with a 4' FireStick (tunable) mounted on my rear tire carrier (as shown on Expedition Exchange website). It used to work. Nothing has changed except for I have used my antenna alot to test water depth and mud consistency. Since broken, it has not been receiving or transmitting (NOAA has worked). I attached meter, took readings, then checked all connections. One of the connections had loosened a tiny bit. I tightened it back down and took readings again. After tightening, I can hear some traffic on the CB, which is a positive sign (I think). I don't live near any highways, so I am not able to see if it picks up truckers and highway chatter. The readings are still off. I am posting pic of my meter so you can see what just the guages (not the readings themselves) look like where I take my readings. I recorded the readings after install when it was working well.  When I take my readings, I notate the SWR on the right meter. I have also recorded the Watts which is measure in the meter on the left. I am hoping that someone can give me a guestimate diagnosis before I start tinkering with it more. I MIGHT try to shorten my antenna tip since the reading for channel 1 is higher than on channel 40. Readings when my CB worked. Taken on 09-7-03. *********SWR/Watts (recorded in reverse position from level meters) Channel 01 2.2/1.0 Channel 19 2.0/1.5 Channel 40 1.7/2.0 Current Readings - this afternoon 01-04-04 *********SWR/WATTS Channel 01 2.6/1.0 Channel 19 2.2/1.8 Channel 40 1.8/2.8 As you can see, there has been a change in the numbers without an apparent cause. Any ideas?? A recent thread suggested that perhaps antennas should be grounded for better reception. Any opinions on that? And finally, can I lubricate my quick disconnect? I really think it needs it, but I don't know if it is ok to put lub on it?? Thanks in advance, Jamie | |||
| Will Cupp (W_cupp) Senior Member Username: W_cupp Post Number: 273 Registered: 07-2003 |
Your SWRs look to be in the operating range, under 3.0. It could be your mic. | |||
| Victor (Vabiro) Member Username: Vabiro Post Number: 124 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jamie, The way things should work is that the SWR should measure the ratio of power that is sent to the antenna that is reflected back to the radio. In an ideal match the ratio is 1.0:1.0 which means that 5watts go up the coax and none is reflected back. Theoretically. The problem is that it all depends on the tuning of the coax and antenna. It should match the wave length. It can match by being the exact length or a fraction of the length measuered in 1/8th multiple (1/4, 1/2, 5/8). Now on the the reason for this lesson in antenna theory: The coax can match, the antenna can match, or ideally both together, but never just the coax. If the lenghth of the coax is a multiple of about 51 inches for a CB then you might have a problem. That could include the coax being severed at some multiple. To test this try doing the test with the coax disconnected from the antenna. If you don't see a change, disconnect the connector from the CB and use an ohm meter (continuity meter, usually part of a multi-meter or volt meter) to test if there is a short between the centre and the outside. BTW, keeping a good ground on the antenna is always a good idea. Victor | |||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 656 Registered: 05-2003 |
Victor, You lost me just a bit. I wonder if I did what you suggested in your last paragraph? When I tested it, I did disconnected the antenna from the CB. When I tested it, I kind of "bridged" the SWR between the antenna and the CB unit, if that makes sense?) I plugged the antenna into the SWR meter, then ran a 2 foot coax with PL-259 connectors out of the SWR to the CB. Is what I did what you were describing in your last paragraph? Do you think my antenna is grounded already since it is mounted on the spare tire carrier? Thanks, Jamie | |||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Senior Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 278 Registered: 08-2003 |
Jamie, I have a Wilson "Little Wil" hooked up to my Cobra 75 WX ST, and it works great. Here's a picture.
I connected mine, made sure there where no overlaps in the coax, tuned it with my SWR meter (I tuned it so channel 1 is 1.4 SWR, and channel 40 is 1.4 SWR) and it's placed directly above me on my roof rack. The antenna was about $22, and I think it works great with my CB. Matt | |||
| Gabriel Guay (Gearhead) Member Username: Gearhead Post Number: 62 Registered: 04-2002 |
An SWR of 3.0 is not in the operating range. you need to be at least 2.0 or less just so it's operable and should be able to tune down to at least 1.5:1 on chan 1 & 40 with a lower SWR at the mid frequency. The length of the coax only comes into play when you are feeding an antenna that is out of resonance. If the antenna is correctly tuned to resonance and you are using 50 ohm coax like RG58U then the impedance is 50 Ohms and will transfer Rf to a tuned antenna in resonance at any length of coax. As for lubricating the quick disconnect. I use a shot of WD40 on my VHF antenna mounts and never have had any SWR problems and thats with 50 Watts of power at VHF. CB band is at 27 Mhz and much more forgiving. Also your antenna system needs a good ground to reflect RF from. If the base is not grounded, you will have erratic SWR readings. If too much of the antenna is in close proximity to the body, the SWR will tend to be higher and the antenna will radiate a pattern away from the body. Best location for a good omni directional antenna is on the roof, front bumper, or lip mount on the edge of the hood. There is nothing wrong with your spare tire mount but it will not give the best performance although certaintly more than good enough for trial use. I�m not familiar with the firestick but, I would do the following in this order: 1. Purchase or borrow a 50 Ohm dummy load and connect to the coax and test SWR. This should read less than 1.5 on chan 1-20-40 2. If the SWR is still high, Coax has been crushed or damaged in some way. If the coax has been crushed, the distance separating the center conductor and the shield has been changed changing the impedance of the coax to something other than 50 Ohms, Replace the coax. 3. Test with Antenna once Coax has been tested and found good. Shorten antenna in 1/8� increments. You will see the SWR start to lower on all chan. As you get closer to resonance, there will start to be a curve developing. Chan 1 will eventually become nearly 1.0:1 and when the next cut is taken, chan 1 will start to rise again while chan 20 will still become lower. Once you reach a point where 1 & 40 are the same. That is as close to resonance as your going to get. Ask for help from a Ham if you know any. We hams tend to be anal about achieving resonance. A typical SWR curve at resonace would look like this: Chan 1 = 1.5 VSWR @ 4.25 watts CHan 20 = 1.2 VSWR @ 4.75 watts Chan 40 = 1.5 VSWR @ 4.25 watts If you are not sure on how to do this, wait and read-up on Antenna tuning. Look on the ARRL web site or buy a book on the subject at radio shack. I hope this helps. KA1WEX | |||
| Will Cupp (W_cupp) Senior Member Username: W_cupp Post Number: 278 Registered: 07-2003 |
This may help. http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/Setting_SWR.htm Note that under 3.0 Swr's you are still safe from damage to you unit. | |||
| Victor (Vabiro) Member Username: Vabiro Post Number: 125 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jamie, You're on the right track, but all I ment was that once the SWR meter is in line between the radio and antenna disconnect the coax at the antenna. If your meter readings are the same then there is a problem in the coax and the signal isn't even making it to the antenna. Gabriel is right to use a dummy load, it's just that they aren't too common outside amateur (ham) circles or amongst serious radio hobbyists. When previously functioning radios suddenly stop working I start looking at the coax and connectors. Coax can get crushed in doors and hinges and may not show outward marks obviously. Connectors frequently get pulled on and shorts develop inside. Using the dummy load, as Gabriel suggested, is the best way to find elusive problems with the cable and connectors. However, always visually check the coax for signs of pinching, especially where the door closes on it. If all else fails, borrow a magnet mount and see if it works with the radio. Victor | |||
| Axel Haakonsen (Axel) Moderator Username: Axel Post Number: 699 Registered: 02-2003 |
In addition to the good advice already given here, I woul strongly recommend that you find a different tool to check water depth and mud consistency. It don't have to be a Snap-On tool, a Snap-Off wooden branch will do just fine.....  - Axel | |||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 658 Registered: 05-2003 |
Thanks Guys, I think I better understand a bit better after reading your posts I've been referencing piles of papers I printed from firestick when I got my antenna's - this can be a confusing subject. I appreciate your translations! Finished most of my repairs at 3am this morning. Drilled more holes in my truck and crossed off many items on my "to do list". Maybe my lucky streak of playing tech will continue today and I'll finish up CB issues? I'll try connecting meter today with just the CB (not the antenna) and take readings, that should be easy enough - especially since I managed to get the fuse panel closure repaired. I don't know what a dummy load is. (Unless of course, I were to take out my CB and sit on it) Magnet - funny you brought that up - I had the weirdest thing happen last night. I dismanteled my cargo door last night while I was moving something to a better location. I was very careful to put the screws with each item that I removed so that I could put everything back together correctly. When I got to putting my subwoofer back, it didn't fit quite right, so I set it on my cargo work area to look at it. It had sucked up a big pair of pliers onto the back of itself. It took effort to pull them off. Does anyone know why the subwoofer has magents? Along the same line, why is the metal part of my cargo door encased in plastic under the panel lining? Axel, good thinking! I really should order should order a spare antenna while he's got them in neon pink . Using mine to test the terrain provides me with some humor when I get into sticky situations. I'll let you know the results of my readings taken today w/o antenna. Thanks again for all your help, Jamie p.s. Does anyone know where I can find info and instructions on how to ground my antenna as I have it set up? | |||
| Reed Cotton (Reedcotton) Senior Member Username: Reedcotton Post Number: 283 Registered: 01-2003 |
Jamie- Axel is right, it would be better to use a different depth sounder than your CB antenna. Is it possible that some of that muddy water got into the antenna connector? A little corrosion can make a lot of difference in how well the antenna conects to the coax. Make sure all the connectors are clean. Water may also have worked into the coax from the connector. Just something to check before hooking up the meters. I am not sure what you mean in your last post about checking readings without the antenna. But to keep from damaging the radio, you should have either an antenna or a dummy load attached. A dummy load is just a resistance that will absorb the energy that the antenna normally uses. Sometimes it is as simple as a light bulb, or other type of resistor of the correct wattage to dissapate the power. (This is a bit over simplified, but is the general idea). -Reed | |||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 662 Registered: 05-2003 |
I did lub my disconnects using militec and it worked well. I have always wondered why it has such a unique and distinctive smell to it but have never thought to ask anyone. I went out to test the SWR without antenna hooked up as suggested. My SWR & Power Meter documentation says in big bold print: CAUTION: DO NOT SWITCH ON THE TRANSMITTER UNLESS BOTH ANTENNA AND TEST METER ARE CONNECTED Connect the coaxial cable (apprx 60 cm long with a PL 259 plug on each end) to the antenna jack on the transmitter and the "CB" or "TX" jack on the meter. Connect the cable coming from the antenna to the "ANT" jack on the meter. Then switch on the transmitter. NEVER PRESS THE "TRANSMIT" BUTTON UNLESS BOTH CABLES ARE CONNECTED! Do you think I should go ahead and do it anyway? Thanks for your help, Jamie | |||
| Reed Cotton (Reedcotton) Senior Member Username: Reedcotton Post Number: 284 Registered: 01-2003 |
Follow the directions that came with the meter | |||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 663 Registered: 05-2003 |
Thanks Reed, I almost went ahead and did it, then decided I should ask first. I will try to find out where I can buy a dummy load. Jamie | |||
| Axel Haakonsen (Axel) Moderator Username: Axel Post Number: 703 Registered: 02-2003 |
Try Radio Shack.
If it didn't, you wouldn't get much sound. All conventional speakers have electromagnets in them, that's how they make the speaker cones move: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/speaker2.htm - Axel | |||
| Gabriel Guay (Gearhead) Member Username: Gearhead Post Number: 63 Registered: 04-2002 |
Jamie, Radio Shack sells a 50 Ohm dummy load for about $19.00. It's just a 50 Ohm resister with a PL 259 on one end. Any one working on a CB or radio of any sort should invest in one. The idea is if the antenna ( In this case a dummy load ) is known to accept power at less than 1.5:1 VSWR than the cause of high VSWR has got to be in the cable or connectors. It's a really fast way to test your coax on regular basis. If VSWR looks good with the dummy load in place of the antenna, than you know any change is due to the antenna. And yes, the SWR of a given antenna will change over time. This is more prone to fiberglass whips with a wire wound over the whip. UV will degrade the whip covering and the wire will oxidize within the cover. Water can and will enter the cover and soak into the fiberglass over time changing it's electrical length. Dipping the whip into mud doesn't help that. Also, what ever you do, don't transmit without the antenna or a 50 Ohm load to absorb the RF. With out the antenna, the RF will reflect back to the final amplifier and exit as heat. One or seconds and the amplifier will become nothing more than ash. You new CB will only be a receiver from then on. GG | |||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 672 Registered: 05-2003 |
Thanks Gabriel, I'm just about to head up to radio shack to get it. Axel, That sure is a strong magnet back there! You've got me wondering if that will magnet could erase data like other magnets can? If it would, I guess that pocket bin right next to it would not be a wise place to store data that could be erased? Thanks again, Jamie | |||
| Tyler kinghorn (Flippedrover) New Member Username: Flippedrover Post Number: 18 Registered: 12-2003 |
Jamie,It can erase data. | |||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 674 Registered: 05-2003 |
This is getting ridiculous. I might as well be living on mars. I'm just about to give up on trying to fix it again. I just returned from Radio Shack. The manager said that they have not carried dummie loads in 10 - 15 years. He said that volt meters won't work. Any other suggestions where I could find one? Maybe Home Depot? I've also got a Boaters World and West Marine that are nearby. Thanks, Jamie | |||
| Victor (Vabiro) Member Username: Vabiro Post Number: 130 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jamie, You will probably not find a dummy load at Home Hardware. As I mentioned, you will be hard pressed to find a dummy load outside those working very regularly with CBs, ham or two-way radio. Your best bet is a two-way radio or Ham radio shop. I'm not familiar with the marine shops you mention, but they might if the service marine radio equipment. Probably best to give them a call first. I'm not sure why they told you at Radio Shack that you wouldn't be able to determine if coax is shorted using a continuity meter. He might have thought that you wanted to use it as a dummy load, in which case he would be correct. Victor | |||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1198 Registered: 09-2002 |
Victor, this is wrong. Ideally, no matter what the cable length, if the cable, transmitter, and antenna impedance are matched, the length of the cable doesn't matter. Say, as in case with a proper dummy load. If the antenna is mismatched, you have to use tuning circuit or RF transformer to match it. A cable can then serve as a tuning circuit, and then its length becomes important (but not in the way you worded it). However, I am yet to see a person who would cut and resplice cable to tune an antenna. Besides, a resonant tuning circuit will only work well in a fraction of the band. Jamie, at CB frequency, you can use a regular common 5W resistor to emulate a dummy load. Look at the back of your transceiver to see what it should be. BTW, SWR of 2 is not too bad, and may simply be caused by poor electrical connection between the antenna mount and ground plane. Also, if your antenna cable has kinks in it, the external conductor (jacket) may have several strands cut, which may cause the overal impedance mismatch. | |||
| Victor (Vabiro) Member Username: Vabiro Post Number: 131 Registered: 10-2003 |
Peter, You are correct, and I am wrong. I may have tried to oversimplify some of the potential issues, and in the process misspoke. I have been involved in the wireless business for almost 20 years (LMR and cellular) and have seen some very funky behaviour. This includes several occasions where lengths of coax, unattached to an antenna, have given 1.5:1 SWR. The reason for this might not have been as I described. Getting back to Jamie's original description of the problem:
Paraphrasing: she wasn't receiving anything and then tightend a loose connector, and now was. NOAA with that radio doesn't seem to require an antenna connected, atleast it doesn't seem to make a difference on mine. This sounds like she didn't have antenna connected, and was in all likelihood, transmitting without antenna for a period. This might explain why she seems to be able to receive but not transmit now. Then again, maybe she can now. I think we are doing a great disservice to her by having he chase around for a dummy load. Her time would be much better spent finding someone in her community that has a magnet mount antenna and finding out if things are OK with her radio. It also shouldn't be too much of a problem to borrow an antenna with the same 3/8 24 thread and screw it into her mount. If her use of the antenna as a dipstick has caused an issue this should reveal it quickly enough. Victor | |||
| Axel Haakonsen (Axel) Moderator Username: Axel Post Number: 710 Registered: 02-2003 |
A magnet is a magnet, so it can erase data on any magnetic type storage device such as a floppy disk (does anyone use these still?) a hard drive or a credit card. It will have no effect on a CD or DVD, since these are optical devices, but those magnets could potentially cause problems with an electronic device. How close are those speakers to your CB antenna, by the way? - Axel | |||
| Gabriel Guay (Gearhead) Member Username: Gearhead Post Number: 66 Registered: 04-2002 |
Jamie, I see you live in Florida. Florida has one of highest concentrations of Hams in the country. AES ( Armature Electronics Supply ) is located in Orlando Florida 621 Commonwealth Ave. 1-800-327-32803 A dummy load is not an exotic piece of equipment. It is simply a necessary piece of test equipment used to determine if a transmitter or feed line ( coax ) is functioning properly. I recommend anyone who will be willing to spend money to buy an SWR meter at least add a dummy load to their test kit. As for the radio worked before and now it does not. Your SWR was not great before ( 2.2 on Chan 1 now 2.6 on Chan 1 ) This is a small change typical to a coax that was pinched or the whip antenna has soaked in moister and is now electrically longer. Looking at your pictures in your gallery, your antenna is very close the body of your truck and most your RF radiation will reflect off the body back to the antenna causing a higher than normal SWR ( 2.2 would be typical ) That�s why I though it would be necessary to know if the SWR looks good into a 50 Ohm load to eliminate the coax damage from the problem. You can buy a simple 50 Ohm � watt resister for about 30 cents and solder one leg to the center connector of a PL259 connector and the other leg to the outer barrel of the PL259 connector. You now have a simple 50 Ohm dummy load that will handle the full 5 watts of your transmitter as long as you don�t transmit longer than a few seconds at a time with 5 minutes to cool in-between. However, the simplest solution will probably be to borrow a magnet mount from someone and connect that to your radio as Victor has said but, that will not solve your problem. It will only verify if the radio is working or not. You will still have an SWR problem unless you were to keep the magnet mount as your new antenna. A 2.6 SWR is not high enough to indicate a short. I could talk you though adjusting your antenna but, if it turned out the coax was the cause, we would have cut down your antenna for nothing. I left out a bunch of technical radio formulas on SWR because I understand you are not aspiring to become a ham but, only want to fix your CB. It�s really hard to do over the internet without knowing if the coax is good or not. If a mag mount proves to work and give good SWR readings, you could connect the coax from the mag mount to a double female barrel connector and connect that to the coax that normally connects to your fire stick mount. If it still reads good SWR, than you would know your coax is good. If that's the case, then I could help you tune the antenna from there. Beyond that, I don�t know how to help you over the internet. let us know what happens GG | |||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 684 Registered: 05-2003 |
Axel, The speaker is in the base of the cargo door, antenna is installed exactly per the instructions on Expedition Exhange website. I sure am glad I don't store my laptop back there!! That could do more damage than my vacumn cleaner did!! No luck at Home Depot or Boaters World. Thanks for the additional suggestions and help. After reading you post, I think we're gonna be up and running soon - HAM operater tech support I CAN get right here. Thanks Again, Jamie | |||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 717 Registered: 05-2003 |
Good News (I think) Maybe someone can figure out this mystery. My CB and Antenna and Connections were all fine. Ham radio guys ran all kinds of tests and said all readings were great (it was a tad short, but so little they said not to mess with it). Yesterday, I had no trouble at all while out running with my CB and keeping in contact with Ham Radio Operators while I was on the road. Just for the heck of it, I picked up a magmount CB/Ham Antenna kit at Radio Shack. Put it on the top of the roof at exactly center point. Ran the coax along roofrack rails and tore enough of my truck apart to run the cable to the inside. I left my firestick antenna and coax separate and still in place. Disconnected it and hooked up magmount to CB. Heard chatter on EVERY channel. Hooked it up to the SWR meter and all readings were over 3.0 (not good). Checked all connections then retested with same results. Then I disconnected the magmount antenna, leaving it in place. Hooked my firestick back up to my CB and tested the SWR. ALL READINGS dropped to lower levels just as they "should ideally be" on the graph. Channels 1 & 40 SWR is 1.2. Turned on my CB and finished work listening to all kinds of nutty conversations on several channels. EVERYTHING is coming in clean & clear! I'm amused because I can't figure out why it my regular set up is now working fantastic with just a "dummy" magmount sitting in the center of my roof even though it is not connected. Is this somehow helping my firestick bounce the signals around? 4' firestick is mounted to spare wheel carrier. Unconnected magmount antenna is just over 4' above my roof line. I'm leaving it that way since that antenna just sitting up there seems to be helping my firestick out! Happy all is working better now - but, I am CLUELESS as to why!! Thanks again for your help, Jamie | |||
| Gabriel Guay (Gearhead) Member Username: Gearhead Post Number: 68 Registered: 04-2002 |
Jamie, by having an unconnected tuned antenna, you have created a two eliment beam. Now you have improved radiation and recieve abuility in one direction with no improved radiation and recieve in the other direction. Can't explain the high SWR on the roof mounted mag mount unless it needs tuning. Keep in mind that an antennas electricl lengh is affected by nearby metal objects. Thats why I suspected you would need to tune the fire stick to it's location. Would be intresting to see if removing the Mag mount dergades the performance of the fire stick. Hey, if it works, don't knock it. Glad to here you got working good. wish I could have been more help with out confusing the issue. GG | |||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 720 Registered: 05-2003 |
Gabreil, I did try removing the magmount and tested SWR on firestick, readings returned to the same poor readings as on my first post. Stuck the magmount back up there and SWR readings were great. I really had some great entertainment listening to the unusual conversations while finishing working, even picked up a few boaters going by. Perhaps the 3.2 - 3.9 readings on channels 1, 19, & 40 when Magmount was connected were from the antenna base sitting in the middle of my roof rack rails? Thanks, Jamie | |||
| Joey (Joey4420) Senior Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 516 Registered: 04-2003 |
Jamie, sorry I haven't followed this thread (been busy) Yes if you have the antenna mounted inside the roof rack (between any metal items within 9 inches, it will effect the SWR drastically. Remember the R stands for Reflective (kind of like a mirror) Also if you have your fire Stick mounted on the spare tire mount and it is a 4 foot antenna, which means that about 38 inches is below the roof line, not to mention the roof rack line. This will account for high SWR readings as well. Picture your antenna as a small hot air balloon. It doesn't just transmit or receive from the top of the antenna, it does this all along the antenna with the exception of the top, and so if you only have the top of the antenna exposed then you will not transmit or receive very well at all. Not to mention the SWR will be very high, due to the reflection of the signal all along the back of the Disco and the roof rack. Hope this helps. | |||
| Reed Cotton (Reedcotton) Senior Member Username: Reedcotton Post Number: 300 Registered: 01-2003 |
Jamie- "My CB and Antenna and Connections were all fine. Ham radio guys ran all kinds of tests and said all readings were great (it was a tad short, but so little they said not to mess with it). Yesterday, I had no trouble at all while out running with my CB and keeping in contact with Ham Radio Operators while I was on the road. " ----- If it aint broke, don't fix it  This starts to sound more like maybe a broken coax. Everything is OK then you move the wire, and everything goes bad. This could also include bad connections on the cable terminals. Are the plugs on the coax press fit, or soldered? If they are soldered, have them resoldered. If they are press fit, get some soldered on. It could still be a break in the cable though. It looks like you are going to owe your ham friends more pizza and beer. BTW- I think the whole magmount suggestion was for you to borrow one to test your radio with, and not have to route the cable first. -Reed | |||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 723 Registered: 05-2003 |
It it ain't broke, don't fix it: I like that! Happy to report that it is still working amazingly well. Combination must be creating some kind of great field even though the "why" is a mystery. Tested all coax and connections - no problems. Running the additional coax inside my truck only took me a few minutes. Besides, I got to test my salad fork as a panel popper on the side panel near the rear pillar. It worked great Thanks again, Jamie | |||
| Reed Cotton (Reedcotton) Senior Member Username: Reedcotton Post Number: 301 Registered: 01-2003 |
Whatever works for you. Just rember that you have that four foot whip sitting on top. (That can always be fun in underground parking, and their fluorescent tubes though.) Off subject- I thought I saw a picture of your rig in another thread that showed your LR toolbox in a tray on the back door. Where did you source that tray/holder from? (The discussion about the value of the LR Toolbox will be left for another time (I've got one too!).) -Reed | |||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 724 Registered: 05-2003 |
Reed, The tray, straps, and mounting hardware came with the toolkit. Jamie | |||
| Reed Cotton (Reedcotton) Senior Member Username: Reedcotton Post Number: 302 Registered: 01-2003 |
Jamie, Thanks for the info. I guess I'm SOL on that issue then, as I bought the toolbox when I bought the truck, and it didn't then come with those accesories. But it has given me som ideas. -Reed | |||
| Gabriel Guay (Gearhead) Member Username: Gearhead Post Number: 69 Registered: 04-2002 |
Jamie, I was'nt going to get into this but, the other poster touched on it and can't help myself. If your ham freinds said all was OK, why did you buy a mag mount? and after seing that it really does work better once a good SWR is achieved, you said you tried removing the mag mount and the firestick goes back to the bad SWR as in your earlier post. I somehow don't think your ham freind fixed you up or he would have talked you into using a longer whip that you could tune to resonace or a propoerly installed roof mount 1/4 wave base loaded antenna, or a properly tuned mag mount, or a a hood lip mounted 1/4" base loaded whip. You now have a tuned system purly by chance. Just because it works doesent mean it's correct. If you don't mind the extra antenna and it works for you, great, but I'd rather see you understand why it works the way it works. When off road, my hood mounted antenna takes a tremendous beating and I test SWR with the dummy load to check the cable before and after each outing. If the cable checks good, then I check the antenna before and after each outing. Somtimes the antenna takes a good whack and knocks the center load out of adjustment. I can readjust in few seconds and be on my way. I know its VHF and not CB but same principle. If I'm going to have to depend on this thing in an emergancy, I need to know how to operate it and maintain it. To do that I need to undersand it like any other peice of equipment. I think your tuned mag mount, if mounted to a plate on the top of your rack would out preform the firestick and a lip mount on your hood would out perform the firestick without smashing in every drive through. If you are dead set on the firestick, the front bumber would yeild a good radiation pattern with inherantly good SWR and you can see what you antenna is about to get beatup with and avoid some of the damage. Just think about it next time you decide to reconfigure the CB set-up. GG | |||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 726 Registered: 05-2003 |
Thanks Gabriel, My freinds think I'm totally wasting my time with a CB - they think I need this onboard ham radio that costs $700  that will pick up ham + CB frequencies. I don't think I need it, nor do I want it. In any case, their equipment confirmed that my set up was working as well as could be expected. I bought the cheapy magmount on my way home just to give it a try because I'm weary of being fussed at because my set-up has only worked sporadically. Being in the doghouse with the bigger dogs gets old after awhile. I figured that if I put it up there and it didn't work, at least I could say I had tried to fix it again. I figured that it wouldn't hurt to run another coax into my truck "for backup" if we're out doing something and my radio/antenna set-up wouldn't work, at least I could "try" hooking up the other antenna. I have exhausted every resource attempting to find a live person in the flesh that understands CB's. At least now maybe I will be able to hear communications and get some notice when I am in the doghouse again. I've been asking for help with it for months, and have come to the conclusion that's just not going to happen. If this doesn't work, I think maybe I'll just rebel and throw it all off the bridge? Thanks again Jamie | |||
| Gabriel Guay (Gearhead) Member Username: Gearhead Post Number: 70 Registered: 04-2002 |
Jamie, I hope you didn't take my last post the wrong way. 1st you are a smart lady. You now know more about your Rover than 90% of the general driving public. Unfortunatly, the more you learn, the more you find you don't know. Don't let anyone give you shit over not knowing something. All I was saying is, with a little reading, you can understand what is happening and fix it your self. Just because a lot of people run a whip at the back door of their Suberban doesn't mean they don't have the same poor SWR you have on the Rover. It's like if your motor had bad rods and started to knock, you change the oil to 20W50 and it's better but if you go to 20W70 the knock goes away. Did it fix the knock noise? yes. Did it fix the bad rod bearings? no. Thats similar to your antenna. It works but, not for the right reasons. I just wanted you to know it was a band aid. About your ham friends trying to talk you into a HAM rig, I Know if you wanted to become a Ham you would have gone that route but, you only want a good working CB. Unfortunatly most hams started out with a CB and ended up hams because of learning to fix problems like yours. Why most hams put CB'ers down I'll never understand. You are 85% of the way to solving your problem. If I was in Florida, I would test your coax as in my first post and then fix you up with an antenna that will work in that location. possibly the next loger Whip might solve it or simply adjusting the one you have. But what you have works for now, nothing wrong with that. I gave you a bit of a hard time because I think you are the type of person to come back at this later and solve it on your own and will be proud of it . Was not meant as a put down. GG | |||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 727 Registered: 05-2003 |
Gariel, I didn't take your post as a put down. I considered it very informative and appreciate the input. I'm sure that understanding of all the variables involved will come with time and experience. If I was in your state, I'd come over so you could fix it up. You never know, maybe someday I will meet you halfway!! When I do get my CB working flawlessly, they'll just start nagging me about something else. One of the benefits of my radios not working is that I can't hear them nagging at me. Oh, well - at least my position as the peon at the bottom of the food chain in daily operations is extremely secure Thanks again! Jamie |
