10K Tuning

[bigwoody]

I was wondering if I should set the swr's on my 10K with the power turned up or down on my 95T2. I had a CB shop tune my antenna but they quit when the got below 1.5, and I am looking for 1.1 or better. You know always looking for perfection.

P.S. Just sent my 95T2 to Mr RadioActive to get that SuperWackPack done and man I am missing my radio. I have my Cobra 200 in the truck until I get my big ol 95T2 back, but it just isn't the same.

[BigBopper]

I always start with power in a low setting, your mic gain all the way down,,,once I start getting a good SWR, then I turn up the power and finish setting the SWRs

[bigwoody]

Does it matter what length of coax for the jumper between the meter and radio?

[BigBopper]

nope mot really, I use a 3ft jumper

[jessejamesdallas]

BigBopper is correct. Now best way to do it, is if you can find someone with a Antenna analyzer, this would be better...I use a MFJ 259B Antenna Analyzer, which just hooks to the coax from the antenna. Get it set useing one of these, and When the radio is on low, or high, you should be set...

[bigwoody]

Is that the same thing as a Rat Shak SWR meter?

[SmallTruckBigRadio]

Is that the same thing as a Rat Shak SWR meter?

No,
I think the meter that jessejamesdallas is referring to, takes the place of the radio in the SWR test. So you have just the meter and the antenna. Very nice if you can find one. I priced them last week and got scared enough to stop looking.

Your Cobra should work for SWR checks with the SWR meter you have now though.
The shop you used must not be familiar with how good the 10K can be, or they are just lazy.
What are your SWR's on Ch 1 vs. Ch40.
Even check SWR's on upper Ch 40 vs. Lower Ch 1. With these readings, we will be able to tell you if you should cut more, or if too much has already been cut.
Also, you may see slightly different results when the stinger is nearly touching the bottom, or nearly all the way out. Finding the sweet spot for your installation is a bonus. A combination of cutting, and finding the sweet spot worked very well for me.
See what your SWR's are now on Ch1 vs Ch40, place a mark on the stinger for reference if you want to remember where you started. And see what your SWR does with the stinger lowered and raised before cutting.
I had to cut over 10 inches off of mine. Did you notice how much the shop cut?
Cutting is hard, but growing it back is impossible. Get pen and paper and keep notes so you don't lose track.

If you accidentally have too much cut, send a tear stained email to Kale, and jessejamesdallas, and they will tell you how to order a new one.

[Rex_foxhound]

If you accidentally have too much cut, send a tear stained email to Kale, and jessejamesdallas, and they will tell you how to order a new one.

You always know just how to put it SmallTruck.

You sshould be able to get your swr's flat (1.0) or really close to it.
My 12" shaft on a tri-mag mount is 1.0 on ch.1 and right at 1.1 on ch.40.
It would probably go lower but I got tired of using my Dremel.

[Rocky Mountain Oyster]

Small Truck, welcome back. I was looking for one of them analyzers also. I found one for $100 that sounds good, it MFJ-207, thinking about getting one just because.....

[bigwoody]

I started tuning the antenna with an inline swr/power meter, and could only get down to 1.6. I did that with only cutting off four inches. I didn
t trust the meter because the instructions said the meter didn't work well with radio's with side bands. The radio shop just hooked his analyzer up and moved the stinger up to reach 1.5 and quit.

[SmallTruckBigRadio]

I started tuning the antenna with an inline swr/power meter, and could only get down to 1.6. I did that with only cutting off four inches. I didnt trust the meter because the instructions said the meter didn't work well with radio's with side bands. The radio shop just hooked his analyzer up and moved the stinger up to reach 1.5 and quit.

I think that most everyone cuts more than that, but be very careful. Is it easy for you to get back to the fellow with the analyzer? Can he understand "flat SWR" aka perfection?

If your SWR meter says that it doesn't work with sideband, that probably only means while sideband is selected, so you should be OK with ch1-40 checks.

Is your SWR different between ch1 and ch40?

[jessejamesdallas]

Most ALL CB SHOPS will stop tuning @ 1.5 swr. That's because "Time is Money" to those guys, and 1.5 is like a magic number to them.

As for the MFJ 207 Analyzer, That one will work ok. New they sell for $99 on the MFJ's web page.

But the MFJ 259B, and the MFJ 269 are much better, and user friendly, meters. They will also tell ya a little more about your set-up, than the 207.

I would check out EBay for one. Used ones sell for under $200. New, is closer to $250+

[Rocky Mountain Oyster]

Thank you JessyJamesDallas, very good information. I will check that out. I will wait till after Christmas, and then more than likely it will become a 10K world......