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ok maybe that dident work ,

trying again

and anouther

So you know that the radio works fine in your mobile TX and RX. Then, if it doesn't work when hooked up to the SD'r, then something is wrong in the SD'r, the coax, or the end connection at the antenna is bad. I have seen other's make bad connections in the antenna using SD antennas, because it can be difficult to connect without damaging something.

What are all the extra wires running around here and there?

How are you getting the coax out of the bottom of the mast pipe? It looks like it is a foot or two above the bottom.

It looks like some sort of pig-tail splice sticking out the mast opposite side of the coax, about a foot above the tri-pod. If so, that is not right.

Or, is the two short wires seen sticking out maybe a guy wire attachment or something else?

I can't see the details of the mast/tri-pod connection. Does the mast pipe attach to another pipe, side by side in the tri-pod somehow? I can't tell from your images. In other words does the longer mast pipe inside the antenna hub of the SD'r have an open bottom end? This is necessary to provide a way for the coax inside the pipe to exit to the radio?

Or, have you jury-rigged some other type of coax connection at this point?

I could understand this if the mast pipe was down inside the tri-pod and stopped just before resting on the roof. It would not be very stable, but this would allow the coax to just come out of the bottom toward the radio. However, it also looks like there is some retainer attached to the roof and the bottom of the mast is sitting inside that retainer to support the mast from moving laterally back and forth. Not enough info.

Moleculo is right, an OHM test of the center to shield at the radio end of the coax to a SD'r---it should show an open circuit. It is just like a center fed dipole connection. This would not make his audio alarm go off in his OHM's meter---as there is no DC continuity there.

Ignore some of my questions above, I either failed to read your last post fully or I was working on mine when you posted. You answered some of my questions, regarding the large coax for one. Even so, I'm still not getting a good picture of the setup on the roof.

don't worry about the confusion, just don't get fustrated and let it block your common sense. You do not have to appologize. We have all been there.

yea it is inside the other pipe , i will get up there tomorrow and make sure there is no pinching or nothing got chafed , also i got another cobra 29 ltd classic , hooked it up and the meeter seams to be working fine , with this radio . but what is weird is that it seams to work about the same as far as tx / rx .
i have made contact on this radio tonight as well but still dont seam to be getting out more then like 7 miles... after cutting 10 -15 feet off the cable , should that make a difference ??

anouther note i took the first 29 in the car tonight , ans the swr reading was still not reading right , so i took a ride , and could talk to people about 7 miles away on the wilson1000 i have on top of the car... weird stuff

This is starting to get a little confusing So you're saying that the first cobra 29 will now not calibrate the swr in the mobile, but it did before? And now the second cobra29 calibrates properly AND shows a low SWR? Before we get any farther into the "talk distance" problem, we first need to understand whether or not the antenna is installed properly...and the SWR measurement helps us understand that question. What is the SWR with the second cobra 29?

"yea it is inside the other pipe," Boy, now that clears it up.

Tell us: since you did not know what a "Dead Key" was, and that is alright, and since you have only been into CB for a week or so, then how did you know what to do in order to repair the coax connector after you cut it?

Why did you cut it?

Marconi,,,, you asked this .... I can't see the details of the mast/tri-pod connection. Does the mast pipe attach to another pipe, side by side in the tri-pod somehow? in other words does the longer mast pipe inside the antenna hub of the SD'r have an open bottom end?


i dident see where you had asked about the hole at the bottom .. sorry , but
yes the mass pipe has a hole all the way threw it .. the pipe on the tripod that the mass connects to is about 1 1/2 deep , alsothe pipe on the tripod is 2 inch's around , and my mass is only 1 1/4 on the outside.. so the coax does come out the bottom of the mass pipe and then loops along side of the mass comeing out of the tripod , ( like i said i plan on moveing the antenna up higher, i just wanted to see if i could get a descent reading up on the roof . if i do leave the antenna there i will drill a hole in the tripod and take the pitting off and feed it threw the pipe and then into the bottom of the mass,,

as far as the cable goes ,,, i havent cut it yet ... but i did buy 60 feet with no ends on it ,, i got the pl-259 uhf-type connectors ( solderless) type ,, i just read the back of the package that the connectors came in and did just as it said ,, i then checkd with my meter that they where oaming out ( beep ) then checked the other edge of the connectors to see if that oamed out as well ( beep ) then i checked the center of the connecter to the out side and no ( beep ) ... so i figured that everything was good and that nothing is touching inside . if i do cut it i will just fix back like it was ,,,once i am happy with the location of the antenna i will solder the tip of the center wire where it sticks out of the tip , to make sure nothing comes apart ...( no i wont leave a big bob there , i will solder it then sand paper then end to insure a smooth tip, as most of the solder will be inside the metel tip of the connector....


moleculo,,, im very sorry this is confusing , trust me i know the feeling .. lol .

yes before in the Mobil the first cobra 29 lets call it (29a) and the newer one (29b) .. but yes the 29 (a) was swr tuneing fine in the Mobil , but not in the house . but yesterday i took it back outside and tested it , and the readings are just like in the house.. wont go to the cal mark ..

and yes the 29 ( b) newer one seams to calibrate fine , and shows low swr readings ,, ok im about the do another swr reading ..

channel 20 set to cal on the ( external ) swr meter , key mic and adjust knob to where it says ( cal ) then without ltting go of mic switch to swr .
also i will note that the radio is set to ( s/rf )
reading is 1.2

channel 40 same steps as above .
reading is 1.3

channel 1 same steps as above .
reading is ,1.3

here is the wierd thing , i dont seams to be getting better reception or further, i have made contact with the newer 29 ( b ) and it seams to be about the same as the other ,,, weird stuff


hope this helps guy's im sorry this is a pain , like i said i will answer anything and do anything to try to make this easyer for us all .

You cannot depend on the center conductor of the coax to make good contact inside the PL259 pin without at the very least soldering the center pin in place. Period!

I think you have burned your final in the radio and that is why it won't go to the set mark in CAL mode.