KW ground plan- or lack of....

[w9l]

I have read several posts related to this with a mix of solutions. I have 93 Kenworth with the big square fiberglass hood. The roof caps are fiberglass as well. Thecab and sleeper frames are aluminum structure and skins. My antenna is mounted on the mirror arm on driver side. The mirror arm is bolted cab door/windshield post-not the door itself. I have a number 12 ground wire fastened securely to the ant mount bracket and run to the lower mirror arm post where it is bolted to the post with a stainless bolt. I have a new 4 ft Firestick 2. (Thinking I may switch to a Predator or Wilson Trucker) No matter what I do, 1.8 is about as low as I can get on 40 with tip screwed all the way down. I get about 1.2 on 1 and 20 is about in the middle @1.5.Has new stud mount and gray coax- 15 ft- from cb shop in W. Memphis. This is testing with Galaxy radios set to highest output and mic gain turned all the way down. I just have a 30 dollar Astatic truckstop tester and while i find it rather cheesy it is dead on the same as my 93t on swr readings. I have thought about running a ground from the stainless visor over windshield to the cab post and from the antenna mount to visor to gain a little more up and fwd facing ground plane. Visor si not grounded now because it is rivnut fastened to fiberglass roof. Looking to get a better tester but I think the swr part might be ok on the Astatic. Power and Mod notsomuch. Looking at a Paradynamics Pdc600 3 meter 1000 watt rf unit. This is an older unit that is in box with manual and appears to have been used lightly if at all. Probably should start another thread on that. Sorry. Standing by....

[MDYoungblood]

A lot of the newer tractors are all plastic so getting a good counterpoise is a real headache. Most truckers depend on the frame and trailer, that is why you see a lot of antennas that are tilted forwards. Try to stretch the coax out, don't wrap it up in a small coil, the shield does help add some counterpoise and try to bongd as much of the metal framing as possible. You might not get a great SWR but good enough to not harm the radio.

3's

Greg