Ok SWR I offically give up
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 226
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From: Easton, Pa
i just put on the K40 to see if it would fix the problem. When i adjust the whip i can get the readings close to the same reading but still way high so there is fluctuation. I was going to hook up the inline meter but couldnt find the little jumper wire! went to radio shack to grab another and was inform that RADIO SHACK NO LONGER DEALS IN CB'S !!!!! so i have to wait until i can get to the truck stop and grab another
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: Easton, Pa
thats what i think the light isjust an indicator that the mic is keyed up
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
From: Mandeville, LA
i just put on the K40 to see if it would fix the problem. When i adjust the whip i can get the readings close to the same reading but still way high so there is fluctuation. I was going to hook up the inline meter but couldnt find the little jumper wire! went to radio shack to grab another and was inform that RADIO SHACK NO LONGER DEALS IN CB'S !!!!! so i have to wait until i can get to the truck stop and grab another
Could be a local Radio Shack issue.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
From: VERMONT
The Shack still deals with CB Stuff. Some stores more than others. You can however go to www.RADIOSHACK.com and they have many items available from radios, cables and meters. You can evevn have it shipped to store for faster delivery.
When you did the SWR test on your radio, were you in an open field? SWR test need to be done in a opened field or very large parking lot. If not done this way , you can have reflected power , bouncing off large objects like buildings , sheds , light post, etc. Especially metalic objects. Try re-doing the SWR test in an open field. As already mentioned , known fact , built in SWR meters are no where accurate , as stand alone uints.
Try the following :
Take a continuity tester and do the following 3 test.
GROUND CHECK - disconnect the radio from the antenna connection , with the radio now dissconnected , take one side of the meter and with someone helping you or purchase some aligator clips and put one clip right on the base of the antenna,,, has to be the base not the bolt, this will ensure that the ground is making contact to the bracket. Now take the other test lead from your meter and touch the "NEGATIVE SIDE" Jeep's Battery. You should get the continuity buzzer. If not , make sure the meter is set correctly, try touching the 2 test leads together to confirm you are in the audible buzzer mode. After confirming that the meter is working and in the right mode, try the above again. If no continuity, than there is a issue with the grounding of your antenna system.
DIRECT SHORT CHECK --- Using the same continuity meter, disconnect the antenna cable from the radio, using your multimeter, put one lead on the outer screw connector of the pl-259 connector, than the other test lead on the center conductor of the pl-259 connector. you should have " NO CONTINUITY" . If you do , you have a direct short as mentioned via other members.
COAX CABLE CHECK - With the coax cable disconnected on both the radio side and the antenna side,, with the continuity meter, take one test lead and put it on the center conductor on one end, than the other test lead on the other end of the cable on the center conductor.The meter shoulld indicate continuity with a buzzer---- good --- if not, the cable has a broken connection., Do the same test on the same cable , but instead of going center conductor to ceter conductor , do the outer shell of the connector to connector " The screw fitting of the pl-259 connector. Same theory , if you get continuity " with the buzzer" than the cable is good , at least from a technical stand point. Never run cable via a door channel where the cableis constantly getting chafted, over time it will cause a short or a bad connection.
Try the above test, if you have a continuity meter , it does not cost anything but time. If you do not have a meter, buy a chepo from Radio Shack for less than $25. You can always take a 9-volt battery, some wire and any dc bulbs from 9-volts to 12 volts will work enough to do the above test. Just make sure what ever method you use , it is reliable enough to rely on.
Also what channel did you do the SWR Test on? The CB Band from channel 1 will always have the lowest SWR Reading compared to channel 40. I did my test on Channel - 20..It is in the center of the band. I use channel 19 the most and my swr on that channel is 1.2. the higher channels I get 1.6 on the meter.
Until you get this issue resolved with with the high SWR readings, do not transmit. Every transmission with a high SWR willcause the FinalAmps in the radio to start fading and eventually stop working properly. Plus you can be causing interference with the Jeeps electronics.
Someone has already mentioned as well, but I would like to say the same thing,, never coil up excess coax cable. Try torun it a longer route like going the long way, as mentioned that makes the SWR's go crazy.
Try these suggestions and give us feed back what you found. Do not give up, there is a reason why you have a high swr reading , just need to find out why.
I can walk you through the entire process. PM me if you need more help.
SLIM
When you did the SWR test on your radio, were you in an open field? SWR test need to be done in a opened field or very large parking lot. If not done this way , you can have reflected power , bouncing off large objects like buildings , sheds , light post, etc. Especially metalic objects. Try re-doing the SWR test in an open field. As already mentioned , known fact , built in SWR meters are no where accurate , as stand alone uints.
Try the following :
Take a continuity tester and do the following 3 test.
GROUND CHECK - disconnect the radio from the antenna connection , with the radio now dissconnected , take one side of the meter and with someone helping you or purchase some aligator clips and put one clip right on the base of the antenna,,, has to be the base not the bolt, this will ensure that the ground is making contact to the bracket. Now take the other test lead from your meter and touch the "NEGATIVE SIDE" Jeep's Battery. You should get the continuity buzzer. If not , make sure the meter is set correctly, try touching the 2 test leads together to confirm you are in the audible buzzer mode. After confirming that the meter is working and in the right mode, try the above again. If no continuity, than there is a issue with the grounding of your antenna system.
DIRECT SHORT CHECK --- Using the same continuity meter, disconnect the antenna cable from the radio, using your multimeter, put one lead on the outer screw connector of the pl-259 connector, than the other test lead on the center conductor of the pl-259 connector. you should have " NO CONTINUITY" . If you do , you have a direct short as mentioned via other members.
COAX CABLE CHECK - With the coax cable disconnected on both the radio side and the antenna side,, with the continuity meter, take one test lead and put it on the center conductor on one end, than the other test lead on the other end of the cable on the center conductor.The meter shoulld indicate continuity with a buzzer---- good --- if not, the cable has a broken connection., Do the same test on the same cable , but instead of going center conductor to ceter conductor , do the outer shell of the connector to connector " The screw fitting of the pl-259 connector. Same theory , if you get continuity " with the buzzer" than the cable is good , at least from a technical stand point. Never run cable via a door channel where the cableis constantly getting chafted, over time it will cause a short or a bad connection.
Try the above test, if you have a continuity meter , it does not cost anything but time. If you do not have a meter, buy a chepo from Radio Shack for less than $25. You can always take a 9-volt battery, some wire and any dc bulbs from 9-volts to 12 volts will work enough to do the above test. Just make sure what ever method you use , it is reliable enough to rely on.
Also what channel did you do the SWR Test on? The CB Band from channel 1 will always have the lowest SWR Reading compared to channel 40. I did my test on Channel - 20..It is in the center of the band. I use channel 19 the most and my swr on that channel is 1.2. the higher channels I get 1.6 on the meter.
Until you get this issue resolved with with the high SWR readings, do not transmit. Every transmission with a high SWR willcause the FinalAmps in the radio to start fading and eventually stop working properly. Plus you can be causing interference with the Jeeps electronics.
Someone has already mentioned as well, but I would like to say the same thing,, never coil up excess coax cable. Try torun it a longer route like going the long way, as mentioned that makes the SWR's go crazy.
Try these suggestions and give us feed back what you found. Do not give up, there is a reason why you have a high swr reading , just need to find out why.
I can walk you through the entire process. PM me if you need more help.
SLIM
Last edited by SLIM_SNOOPY; Jan 26, 2011 at 07:23 AM.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 0
From: Alb., NM
Take you antenna off and see what your SWR is, if there is no change then you most likely have an open in your coax and the coax is acting like the antenna.
Also did you check the insulator, is it on correctly.. it should be on top.. or is it completely isolating the mount from your antenna connector. This to would give you bad SWR's.
Also I highly doubt your location is giving you that hi of SWR...
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: Easton, Pa
Ok so this is what i found today. I was by the local truck stop so i stopped in since i've been wanting to buy a better mic. while there i picked up a new antenna stud. they had a stud there called a maxi stud for larger antennas so i figured i`m going to take the antenna all apart to check it might as well pick it up and install it. When i took the old one off it was horribly corroded to the point that i had alot of trouble unscrewing the antenna wire. so i picked up some electrical grease greased everything up and put it back together to see if that was the problem. My swr dropped from 5 !! to about 2.5 and there about on other channels. So since thats not extremely bad like it was before I think i will try to tune the antenna now and see where it gets me.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
From: VERMONT
Ok so this is what i found today. I was by the local truck stop so i stopped in since i've been wanting to buy a better mic. while there i picked up a new antenna stud. they had a stud there called a maxi stud for larger antennas so i figured i`m going to take the antenna all apart to check it might as well pick it up and install it. When i took the old one off it was horribly corroded to the point that i had alot of trouble unscrewing the antenna wire. so i picked up some electrical grease greased everything up and put it back together to see if that was the problem. My swr dropped from 5 !! to about 2.5 and there about on other channels. So since thats not extremely bad like it was before I think i will try to tune the antenna now and see where it gets me.
GOOD LUCK !!!!
SLIM