SWR Between Different Radios - Same Antenna

This forum provides help with antenna installation, as well as guidance on selecting the right antenna for your radio or mobile setup.
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Phaze91460

SWR Between Different Radios - Same Antenna

#19936

Post by Phaze91460 »

Well, this comes just after the post on mobile radio help so, read that first.

The SWR on this mobile setup is at 2 on ch 11. I am going to order a radio soon and dont want to mess up tuning with the old radio. How much difference is there by changing radios, everything else is the same?
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Mr RadioActive

#19947

Post by Mr RadioActive »

Antennas tune to a place and not a radio. Most modern cb shops dont use radios to tune antennas at all anymore. They use antenna analyzers. For example when I put a different radio on the bench, I dont need to climb the roof to readjust my antenna.

This all being said, some radios are not 50 ohms. Some radios, are a little off, and this can change swr. But its not usually, if ever a big problem. You can tune a antenna with any cb radio on the same cb chns, and get the same results. Again some may vary, but this is caused by different ohm radios. Its never usually a factor.

1.3 or less is a must in the modern radio world. 1978 1.5+ was fine well its 2006!
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Phaze91460

#19996

Post by Phaze91460 »

Yup, well its far enough off that I have to cut the whip so I didnt want to do that if it would effect the new radio.

Thanks, I will get it close then recheck with the new radio.
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SmallTruckBigRadio

#20219

Post by SmallTruckBigRadio »

Your new radio will be very powerful. Check SWR good on low deadkey, then check it on high deadkey. Radio on high, with SWR below 1.3, and you're in business for sure. If not, I suggest a Predator 10K properly mounted if you can. The SWR's on my Wilson 2000 crept up to 3.0 with no warning, and no visible damage.

I just switched from my Wilson 2000 to a Predator 10K. I will not even shame this forum by trying to sell the 2000 on here. I will only use it for a backup, in case a buzzard hits the 10K, and for roasting marshmallows.

The Wilson 2000 does do okay, if you can get the SWR's low enough, and it does have a lower profile. Oh, and even though the Predator 10K has much lower SWR, I was amazed to find no significant difference during a side by side TX and RX test.
Daily use does show that the 10K does seem to have an edge up on the 2000.
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