preps
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 17

Thread: At my wit's end

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    US
    Posts
    21
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0

    At my wit's end

    Please. Anyone I don't know what else to do anymore.

    I have a Cobra 29 LTD Classic, 18' Firering coax, a 4' Firefly. The Firefly is mounted on the roof of my SUV with the tuning screw removed and the mount attached to my roof racks horizontal bar and is grounded by a wire to the body of the truck. But I can NOT for the life of me get my SWR below 3 on 1 and 40.


    Channel 40 is higher than 1 but not by much at all, they're pretty much even. If I put the tuning screw in at all the SWR goes up on both channels. Is it that the antenna is too long because it's on my roof? Or too short? Should I get a regular Firestik? I just replaced the coax and the mount because I assumed it was the problem but it obviously wasn't. I

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
    Last edited by AgentJeffy; 06-05-2019 at 09:34 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    West coast
    Posts
    177
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 114 Times in 71 Posts
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    If it was me, I'd go with a top loaded firestick, get as much of the radiating element as far above the base. A double check of the coax and its connections, no crimps, solder the connector and the ground lugs. Besure to clean any paint or rust of the ground connection surface.

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to mjd420nova For This Useful Post:

    AgentJeffy (06-05-2019)

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    US
    Posts
    21
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by mjd420nova View Post
    If it was me, I'd go with a top loaded firestick, get as much of the radiating element as far above the base. A double check of the coax and its connections, no crimps, solder the connector and the ground lugs. Besure to clean any paint or rust of the ground connection surface.
    Thanks for the reply.

    So something like a KW series?

    The coax is good, I'm sure of it. Soldered the connector end of the coax on the Firering cable today. I can go back with a wire wheel and revisit the grounding location. I think it's good but doesn't hurt at all to check it again.

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
    Last edited by AgentJeffy; 06-06-2019 at 08:48 AM.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    US
    Posts
    21
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Would it even be worth me trying to trim off some of the tip of this tunable antenna? Or does that not work with these models?

    Saw a YouTube video of someone doing that and they swore it fixed up their SWR. Didn't think you could trim these tips though...

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Republic of Texas
    Posts
    865
    Thanks
    127
    Thanked 536 Times in 341 Posts
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    You might want to give up on the idea of mounting the antenna to the luggage rack...Those things are not grounded, and running a wire may-not be enough to get a decent ground... tried doing that on my old Suburban once, and never could get a decent ground...Best-bet would be either a magnet mounted antenna, or drill a hole and do a permanent mount.


  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    US
    Posts
    21
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by JesseJamesDallas View Post
    You might want to give up on the idea of mounting the antenna to the luggage rack...Those things are not grounded, and running a wire may-not be enough to get a decent ground... tried doing that on my old Suburban once, and never could get a decent ground...Best-bet would be either a magnet mounted antenna, or drill a hole and do a permanent mount.
    Ugh, I was hoping that wouldn't really be the case... Everyone swears that the roof it the best place to mount the antenna bar none. I figured running a beefy 10GA wire for the ground would have been enough but maybe it's too long of a run or something?

    I was really hoping to be able to get away with it up as high as possible to clear trees as best as I could. Short of changing the antenna to a top load (like a KW series) I've pretty much exhausted all my other options at this point.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Republic of Texas
    Posts
    865
    Thanks
    127
    Thanked 536 Times in 341 Posts
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by AgentJeffy View Post
    Ugh, I was hoping that wouldn't really be the case... Everyone swears that the roof it the best place to mount the antenna bar none. I figured running a beefy 10GA wire for the ground would have been enough but maybe it's too long of a run or something?

    I was really hoping to be able to get away with it up as high as possible to clear trees as best as I could. Short of changing the antenna to a top load (like a KW series) I've pretty much exhausted all my other options at this point.
    roof "IS" the best place for the antenna....just not on the luggage racks!


  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    US
    Posts
    21
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Any suggestions you got for me to maybe salvage the spot? Can you really clip the end of the tunable tip antennas without ruining it?

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Republic of Texas
    Posts
    865
    Thanks
    127
    Thanked 536 Times in 341 Posts
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Like I said earlier, either use a magnet mount, or drill a hole and install a permanent hockey-puck or ball mount...As for tuning the antenna, you can clip the wire off on those fiberglass type antennas, BUT BEFORE YOU DO THAT>>>Get the antenna mount problem fixed first, or you will just end up ruining a good antenna.


  11. The Following User Says Thank You to JesseJamesDallas For This Useful Post:

    BOOTY MONSTER (06-23-2019)

  12. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    US
    Posts
    21
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
    Downloads
    0
    Uploads
    0
    Man that's disappointing. I just wanted to get the best circular coverage and overall range out of my CB...

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Visitors found this page by searching for

None

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •