K-40 flex whip with tuning sleeve

[JG]

Hello,

Great board you guys have here............ My problem is this. When hooking up my cobra 29 to a radio shack SWR meter I am getting high SWR on all channels........ The mount is grounded to frame via grounded straps so know the ball mount is grounded well........

Here is where I see the problem and need your guys professional imput...... The 3 foot k-40 flex whip fiberglass antenna has a sliding tuning sleeve and When I moved the tuning sleeve all the way to the top of the antenna, the SWR started to drop to about 2.5..... The problem is I cant move the antenna tuning sleeve up any further on the antenna to get the SWR down any more...I ran out of room........ Do I need a different fiberglass antenna with a tuning screw in the tip to be able to adjust further????????????

Looking to you pros for some help.......


Thanks again,

JG

[HI-TECH]

how close is the antena to the body of the car?

[JG]

The ball mount is mounted on the front quarter panel between the front tire and the door jam............ It is on a toyota pick-up

[HI-TECH]

ewwe yeah man it probly to close to your body your gitting what is called reflect where your radio signal is actually reflecting off your body of the car and since its so close its not alowing your antenna to resinnate properly throwing your SWR's off... if you can see if you can move the antenna away from the body a little bit more or relocate the mount and i bet you money that will cure your problem.

[JG]

I know the antenna is not in the most optimum place........... But, the holes for the ball mount are already in the side of the quarter panel, so I think my best option is just to work at it......

Aside from moving the mount............ what if I changed ball mounts, Coax and connectors to see if that would help........... Could I ground more?

I am just looking for things to try.......... before the mount is moved........... I just don't want to punch anymore holes if I can band-aid the one I have.......

Anymore ideas????? Thanks for the feedback Hi-Tech

[HI-TECH]

well you can try.. check your coax ends and all that stuff... ususly you want it to be @ least 8+ inches away from the body... keep workin on it you'll get it. but running a 2:1 swr isnt gonan hurt anything but you are looseing alot of power. also what year yota you have? i have an 80 longbed 4x4

[JG]

HI-TECH,

It is a 91 Toyota extra cab.... What do you mean by 8 inches away from the body????????? wouldn't the whole truck be classified as the body? What do you classify the body as? Sorry if the questions seem stupid.. I am just trying to get this thing running........

[rayray1963]

If your going to stick with a fiberglass antenna, you might consider a four or five foot antenna this may help some but chance' s are you will be better served to move the mount.


Just my two cents,,