CB Tuning Questions

[burrellsjeep]

I am replacing my CB in the Jeep. I installed a Midland 1001LWX CB its a compact unit. I have a 5' Fire Stick Antenna installed at the rear of the Jeep on the tub with a piece of ALUM Angle. I used the coax from the previous Midland CB that was in the Jeep.

I installed and Checked it with my SRW meter and its off the scale (high 3+) if I am reading it correctly, I calibrated per the instructions for the meter.

Now I am testing sitting in the garage, Could this be causing a false reading. I know adjusting the length of the antenna can help, But which way, shorter or longer. Do I have a bad cable?

Any help would be great.

 

[Bushwhacker]

try getting your readings out in the open away from trees and buildings. If it has a tunable tip on the antenna, try going up or down and see if your readings change. If you get no changes it could be a bad coax. Is it reading high on both 1 and 40 or just one or the other?

 

[burrellsjeep]

Its reading high on all channels, But its in a closed garage, I will try tomorrow in the open air. Antenna is not tunable with out cutting it.

 

[snappy]

If its a true firestick there should be an allen screw adustment in tghe end of it....

 

[burrellsjeep]

If its a true firestick there should be an allen screw adustment in tghe end of it....

Its a knock off I believe, No allen screw.

 

[89wrangler]

Some of them have a rubber cap on the top end. Pull it off and trim the wire a little at a time.

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Some of them have a rubber cap on the top end. Pull it off and trim the wire a little at a time.

This! Not all Firesticks have the screw, but all are tunable. Check out firesticks website.

 

[burrellsjeep]

Shortening the antenna will lessen the SRWs?

 

[rattlecanpaint]

Check this link out. These guys know all there is to know about tuning an antenna. Looks like your first problem is the garage though.
http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/swr-causes.htm

 

[burrellsjeep]

Check this link out. These guys know all there is to know about tuning an antenna. Looks like your first problem is the garage though.
http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/swr-causes.htm

Thanks, I have been reading on there, I gonna pull it out a check it again, Then see if I need a new Antenna or cable.

Thanks Again I haven't found that link on there, Its a good one.

 

[burrellsjeep]

Ok new firestick Cut to tune antenna and recommended cable, its still off the scale. Have not tuned the antenna yet, just want to be sure I am not reading it wrong first.

 

[burrellsjeep]

After trouble shooting it, I found that the antenna mount was grounding to the center pin on the cable causing a dead short, Which was causing the issue, I reworked the mount and it read around 2 on the meter, Trimmed the antenna and now i am at 1.25 on the meter and calling it good, it moves less than .25 through all channels, So i am happy with it.