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Cb radio help?
Posted on 3/9/13 at 1:14 pm
Posted on 3/9/13 at 1:14 pm
Just bought two cobra cb radios with magnetic mount antennas. We mounted them on two of our new tractors but they won't work past 50 feet. I bought a swr meter and It giving
Me a high reading (4&5). I believe it is the ground. We have tried mounting them to everything and nothing will work. Please help. Thanks
Me a high reading (4&5). I believe it is the ground. We have tried mounting them to everything and nothing will work. Please help. Thanks
6
Posted on 3/9/13 at 1:15 pm to geaux481
Paging downshift
Posted on 3/9/13 at 1:18 pm to geaux481
Run power to the radios directly from the positive & negative terminals on the battery.
Antenna's should have a set screw on them to adjust for SWR. Should be a small set screw that will let you raise or lower the aerial.
Antenna's should have a set screw on them to adjust for SWR. Should be a small set screw that will let you raise or lower the aerial.
Posted on 3/9/13 at 1:20 pm to cdaniel76
I have tried moving it up and down but still a high reading on the swr
Posted on 3/9/13 at 2:08 pm to geaux481
If you tried adjusting the stinger via the set screw and it's still too high you may have to trim the stinger (whip) a little at a time (1/4") to get the SWR reading down to acceptable levels. Also, if you bought a shite antenna you may just be SOL. Go get a Wilson Lil Will.
ETA: Also make sure the magnetic base is in the middle of the roof or whatever it is sitting on so as to make a complete groundplane for the antenna (or atleast the best it can).
ETA: Also make sure the magnetic base is in the middle of the roof or whatever it is sitting on so as to make a complete groundplane for the antenna (or atleast the best it can).
This post was edited on 3/9/13 at 2:09 pm
Posted on 3/9/13 at 2:39 pm to geaux481
How long is the antenna?
Posted on 3/9/13 at 3:26 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
3 feet antenna.
Posted on 3/9/13 at 3:27 pm to geaux481
Downshift will say you need at least an eight foot one
Posted on 3/9/13 at 3:40 pm to KingRanch
3 foot long one gets knocked off going under bridges and trees so a 8 ft won't work. I dont need much distance. A mile at max
Posted on 3/9/13 at 3:49 pm to geaux481
You're probably grounding it out or something. Do you have it on the roof away from any other metal stuff?
With that setup your SWRs should be around 2ish
With that setup your SWRs should be around 2ish
Posted on 3/9/13 at 3:53 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
I have tried it on the roof on a metal plate that is glued on a fiberglass cab. I figure that wasn't grounded. I put it on the mirror mount, the frame, everywhere. But everything is painted. No plain metal. Could that keep me from getting a ground?
Posted on 3/9/13 at 4:01 pm to geaux481
You should be able to just put it straight on the painted roof. That's how they're meant to be used.
Other than checking the simple things like connections I'm not sure what to tell ya. It could be anything. Putting the antenna cable certain ways can mess it up, metal stuff in the wrong places can screw it up, sun spots can screw it up, and there's a bunch of other stuff.
Just keep playing with it until your SWRs start getting down. You can actually screw up your radio with SWR's that high.
ETA: Wait I just saw that you have a fiberglass roof. Got some metal bolted to the frame somewhere that you can stick it to?
Other than checking the simple things like connections I'm not sure what to tell ya. It could be anything. Putting the antenna cable certain ways can mess it up, metal stuff in the wrong places can screw it up, sun spots can screw it up, and there's a bunch of other stuff.
Just keep playing with it until your SWRs start getting down. You can actually screw up your radio with SWR's that high.
ETA: Wait I just saw that you have a fiberglass roof. Got some metal bolted to the frame somewhere that you can stick it to?
This post was edited on 3/9/13 at 4:02 pm
Posted on 3/9/13 at 4:11 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Yeah. I have tried everywhere on this tractor
Posted on 3/9/13 at 4:15 pm to geaux481
Not sure what else to check. Maybe try it on the roof of your truck to see if it's any better. Just stick the antenna to the roof and hook the radio straight to the battery and see what your SWR's are like that.
Don't be insulted, but does your radio have an SWR knob?
Don't be insulted, but does your radio have an SWR knob?
Posted on 3/9/13 at 4:21 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
No swr on the cb. I just bought some cheep ones for my fertilizing crew. I have it plugged into cigarette lighters. Could that be my problem. I have no clue how to install these things. And I dont have time to shutdown to get someone to fix them. I appreciate the help
Posted on 3/9/13 at 4:24 pm to geaux481
Try it with the antenna on the roof of your truck.
I don't see why the cigarette lighter plug would be a problem.
I don't see why the cigarette lighter plug would be a problem.
Posted on 3/9/13 at 4:27 pm to cdaniel76
You can't adjust the SWRs down from 4 or 5 to lower than 2 by just moving that antenna.
Make sure you have solid power connected directly to the battery. Ground shouldn't be a problem unless where you stuck the antenna isn't grounded well.
I had to add an extra 8ft to my coax to get it down from 4 to 1.25
Don't talk on it too much with the SWR readings that high. The radio might have a light on it letting you know if they are above the threshold
Make sure you have solid power connected directly to the battery. Ground shouldn't be a problem unless where you stuck the antenna isn't grounded well.
I had to add an extra 8ft to my coax to get it down from 4 to 1.25
Don't talk on it too much with the SWR readings that high. The radio might have a light on it letting you know if they are above the threshold
This post was edited on 3/9/13 at 4:31 pm
Posted on 3/9/13 at 4:28 pm to geaux481
cigarette lighters carry an aweful lot of "trash" through their power source. Sometimes in powered accessories plugged into the lighter you'll hear a "whine" that inscreases with engine RPMs. That can be interfering with the radio also.
Try doing like I mentioned and run power and ground straight to the battery.
Try doing like I mentioned and run power and ground straight to the battery.
Posted on 3/9/13 at 4:32 pm to geaux481
Post the model number of the units you are installing.
Posted on 3/9/13 at 5:29 pm to hogdaddy
If I had to guess, it would be a 29 and a Lil will
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