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A match box

Joe50

Member
Mar 30, 2011
7
0
11
Years ago there was something called a matchbox, " I think it was called that". Anyway you could put it inline sith a swr meter then use it to set your swr readings and then take the swr meter out of the line and leave the box inline.

I tried to google it but no luck thanks for any help.
 

Also called Antenna Tuner. MFJ makes a good line of them that are popular with the hams. Go on ebay and search for "antenna tuner." They'll be loads of them.

But really for CB use you should do whatever little thing may be necessary to adjust/tune the antenna to get rid of any SWRs and you won't need a tuner.

Good luck
 
RF Limited AT-KW1 No Ground CB Antenna Tuner

not sure what you are trying to do, if you want you can provide the forum with a little more info and see what comes up.

On just 11 meters-cb, you should be able to get a decent match and or tune without a matchbox.
I just bought the handheld cb below and a magnetic antenna. I am just going have it around for bug-out purposes. Bassically I just wanted it to be all set if and when I need it.
We had a huge ice storm here last year so I am trying to make things easier when it happens again.
My last experience with CB was in the mid 70's so I don't remember much but I do remember that I was having swr problems and that fixed it.
Like you said i might not even need the matchbox, but I am trying to cover all my bases.
Midland Radio - Midland Radio | Communication Solutions For Your World
 
ham ops use tuners to get to use nearby bands without having to change antennas and go through the retune process.

for the single cb band- 11 meters, you should be able to tune in with just the use of the swr meter. i say should because there are some shorter antennas that are narrow banded and harder to tune sometimes.

Place antenna on center of roof, best place for it to get good capacitance to ground. Hook up swr meter in betwee radio and antenna with a short coax cable and begin testing channel 1 swr and channel 40 swr. I'm assuming you have some instructions on this portion which is widely available on the www.
 
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ham ops use tuners to get to use nearby bands without having to change antennas and go through the retune process.

for the single cb band- 11 meters, you should be able to tune in with just the use of the swr meter. i say should because there are some shorter antennas that are narrow banded and harder to tune sometimes.

Place antenna on center of roof, best place for it to get good capacitance to ground. Hook up swr meter in betwee radio and antenna with a short coax cable and begin testing channel 1 swr and channel 40 swr. I'm assuming you have some instructions on this portion which is widely available on the www.
Thanks, I can probably figure it all out once the radio gets here.
 
I just bought the handheld cb below and a magnetic antenna. I am just going have it around for bug-out purposes. Bassically I just wanted it to be all set if and when I need it.
We had a huge ice storm here last year so I am trying to make things easier when it happens again.
My last experience with CB was in the mid 70's so I don't remember much but I do remember that I was having swr problems and that fixed it.
Like you said i might not even need the matchbox, but I am trying to cover all my bases.
Midland Radio - Midland Radio | Communication Solutions For Your World


Don't use a matchbox with a stick on antenna and a handheld. A matchbox does not make you get out any better and those midlands are so low power you won't hurt it running a pretty bad swr.
 
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agreed

If you have trouble getting a good match with that little antenna, you are much better going to a taller one.

I have a wilson 5k mag mount and it is a very good antenna, there are others like the wilson 1000 that should work very good for you. Alot of folks are also having good luck with the Sirio mag mounts.

Best of luck
;)
 
I have 2 of them sitting here a old Goldline antenna matcher and a new Paradynamics-PDC5 The goldline could tune a wet string to a 1.1:1 but the new paradynamics does work just the knobs are a little to small for my gorilla hands. The PDC5 does have a swr meter and power meter built in along with the matcher. I got mine for $22 from abetterwaytobuy on e bay. or just google it all as one word. He has some cheap prices and free shipping. He is close to my 20 so I don't ship I just pick up in person. He is not a radio shop!
 
I run a basic MFJ 16010ST 200 watt antenna tuner. I use a Solarcon "Zero Ground" mobile antenna as a base antenna. The Solarcon works great and does a fine job with transmit and receive... but it's near impossible to tune under 2:1 SWR. I use the MFJ to protect my radio equipment. It easily takes the SWR down to 1:1 as far as the radio is concerned.

I think the best CB investment I've made recently was buying a used MFJ frequency counter / antenna analyzer combo. That thing makes tuning an antenna virtually painless. Best 35 bucks I've spent on radio gear in awhile.
 
Also called Antenna Tuner. MFJ makes a good line of them that are popular with the hams. Go on ebay and search for "antenna tuner." They'll be loads of them.

But really for CB use you should do whatever little thing may be necessary to adjust/tune the antenna to get rid of any SWRs and you won't need a tuner.

Good luck

what are SWR's?
 

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