I am so frustrated I just have to walk away from it.
I pulled my 4600 outa the dodge on installed it in the ford. The SWR in the ford is set correctly and everything is ok there.
I installed the Cobra 29 in the Dodge and the SWR is still readin over 3. While checking the SWR my 575-M6 died ( Wire problem I think ).
I have changed all the coax twice, changed 4 mounts, changed 2 antenna's and I still can't get the SWR down. I have checked my grounds and they are connecting properly, I have ran Ohms tests on everything and have found nothing. I just dont know what else to do right now........
SWR is exactly the same on 1 as on 40 and changing the whip up or down will move the SWR showing me that it is balanced right now, just high.
Frustration !
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Phaze91460
Actualy I did, I forgot.
I have a Dosy C-4002-PSW test center and a Para Dynamics PDC 2
The para is a P.O.S. but does get it close. Both read so close as to make me believe they were the same.
The main antenna is a Pred 10K and the other I tested is a Wilson 2000 Trucker. Had to adjust on both to get it balanced between 1 and 40 but SWR realy didnt change.
Just hooked up a spare cable from antenna to meter to radio and same again.
I have another mount comming and will try again when it shows up.
I have a Dosy C-4002-PSW test center and a Para Dynamics PDC 2
The para is a P.O.S. but does get it close. Both read so close as to make me believe they were the same.
The main antenna is a Pred 10K and the other I tested is a Wilson 2000 Trucker. Had to adjust on both to get it balanced between 1 and 40 but SWR realy didnt change.
Just hooked up a spare cable from antenna to meter to radio and same again.
I have another mount comming and will try again when it shows up.
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231
Is there continuity between the base of the antenna and the ground by chance? What kind of connection are you using at the antenna (i.e. PL259, ring connections, etc.)?
Personally it sounds like an insufficient RF ground to me. As you know, it's not the same as electrical ground. When insufficient RF ground is present, it acts (typically) exactly like you've described. Not knowing the details of your set up, I'd just be guessing. But RF grounds require shiney metal contact. Corrosion at that point may test okay with a continuity meter...but doesn't mean it's okay at the RF level.
Just some thoughts.
Personally it sounds like an insufficient RF ground to me. As you know, it's not the same as electrical ground. When insufficient RF ground is present, it acts (typically) exactly like you've described. Not knowing the details of your set up, I'd just be guessing. But RF grounds require shiney metal contact. Corrosion at that point may test okay with a continuity meter...but doesn't mean it's okay at the RF level.
Just some thoughts.
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Phaze91460
I have 8 gauge low impedance, high strand wire with plated copper connectors daisy chain style from the ladder rack ( Where the antenna mount is ) to the inside of the cab ( Seat bolt ) to the frame to the battery to the front clip to the fenders to the hood. All checked out on the meter but I did not remove and check the physical contact points.
I can run an extra tie in from the ladder pint to the base of the antenna, will try that next break.
Is there a seal / dielectric solution to use on ground connections to make them stay cleen and in good contact ?
I can run an extra tie in from the ladder pint to the base of the antenna, will try that next break.
Is there a seal / dielectric solution to use on ground connections to make them stay cleen and in good contact ?
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stickman
HERE'S A DUMB QUESTION BUT DID YOU CHECK YOUR JUMPER BY CHANCE? THE OTHER DAY I WAS AT A CB SHOP THE TECH WAS CHECKING SOMEONES RADIO TO AMP HE WAS GETTING BAD READS SO HE JIGGLED THE COAX ON HIS JUMPER AND GUESS WHAT?? IT WAS A BAD JUMPER SO HE OPENED A NEW ONE AND WAH-LA IT WAS RIGHT ON!! JUST A THOUGHT
STICKMAN
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Big Guns
Frustration !
I wouldnt use a daisy chain for your grounds. You need to have your grounds as short as possible and dont forget about trimmimg the whip on your antenna.
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Phaze91460
In the original setup ( That blew a pill in my 4 pill ) I had a 18' cable from the antenna to the 4 pill and a 9' from the 4 pill to the radio. I tested with the jumper I use on my base which tested fine there.
The replacement cables are RG 213 U and have the same lengths as the orig setup. I sent out the 4 pill for repair so I just hooked up the meters between for testing. no jumper there.
I bought 2 other jumpers in RG 213 U cable at the same time and removed the 9' and installed those to test as well.
I have since switched another coax I have into the mix just for testing and still no different. I have to change the whip each time I change coax to get the balance between 1 and 40 but still have the high readings.
Got another antenna and mount comming. May just get more coax as well. Gota be a problem somewhere in there. May have more than one problem.
As far a daisy chain, I figured that the continuity in the grounding would be more secure. If you ground from the battery to the frame then continue on to the bed how is that different than grounding to the frame and the frame going to the bed ? got more metal in the frame and a ground wire following it shouldnt make any difference.
The replacement cables are RG 213 U and have the same lengths as the orig setup. I sent out the 4 pill for repair so I just hooked up the meters between for testing. no jumper there.
I bought 2 other jumpers in RG 213 U cable at the same time and removed the 9' and installed those to test as well.
I have since switched another coax I have into the mix just for testing and still no different. I have to change the whip each time I change coax to get the balance between 1 and 40 but still have the high readings.
Got another antenna and mount comming. May just get more coax as well. Gota be a problem somewhere in there. May have more than one problem.
As far a daisy chain, I figured that the continuity in the grounding would be more secure. If you ground from the battery to the frame then continue on to the bed how is that different than grounding to the frame and the frame going to the bed ? got more metal in the frame and a ground wire following it shouldnt make any difference.
