CB SWR Question
#1
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
CB SWR Question
Installed a Cobra 19 Ultra III tonight, with a 3' Firestik Antenna. I only plan to use the CB on group runs and am wondering if you can run it with the antenna straight out of the box without all the SWR tuning. Being group runs, will be in close proximity to the other guys, so not deeply concerned about highway use, long distance, etc. Any info would be appreciated-thanks.
#2
JK Jedi
no if you want it to last you need to tune it. Also it will get frustrating when you can transmit or copy when on the trail. The firesticks are easy to tune and a meter is cheap.
#3
JK Freak
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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Alternately you could take it to some truck stops. Some of them have CB shops that could help you.
#4
JK Freak
If anything, you at the very least need the SWR meter to make sure you've got a good install. If you've got a pinched coax, no good ground plane, mount installed wrong (i.e. accidentally put the plastic spacer in the wrong place and thus antenna is shorted to ground), or even a bad antenna (it happens), etc... your SWR will be sky high, indicating you've got a problem that needs to be fixed ASAP. You would barely transmit, if even at all, and your radio's life will be very short lived. Note that receiving signal is the easy part, and just because you can receive doesn't mean there are no issues present.
Aside from that, tuning will help get a better and longer range transmissions, and help the longevity of the radio... and on a personal side note, seems like every trail ride we always have at least one person who never bothered to check or tune their antenna; and all day long all we hear is garble garble garble. It's annoying, don't be that person
It's actually gotten to the point where we are trying to get the group to ditch CB and go GMRS instead.
Aside from that, tuning will help get a better and longer range transmissions, and help the longevity of the radio... and on a personal side note, seems like every trail ride we always have at least one person who never bothered to check or tune their antenna; and all day long all we hear is garble garble garble. It's annoying, don't be that person
It's actually gotten to the point where we are trying to get the group to ditch CB and go GMRS instead.
#5
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Thanks for all the info. Makes sense now. I dont mind buying a meter but have to learn to use it for the initial setup. Im in Oceanside, north of San Diego and from prior threads havent found anyone with a cb shop in this area.
#6
JK Jedi
go to the firestick web site they have an excellent tutorial on how to tune the antenna. If you can brush your teeth without poking your eye you can tune the firestick.
#7
JK Super Freak
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#10
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
But works good for me on the trails! So I cant complain! Thanks for the response.