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High SWR

I’m excited to get the meter. Arriving Tuesday. Can’t wait to tune it with a good analyzer. Learned a lot in a few day. Lots of sweat and testing. A good meter is priceless. Just want everything done right. Have a few $$ into this. Tried to get good top notch products for this set up. I’ll post pics when finished.
 
So, which is better - Mini60 Sark100 analyzer or the NanoVNA? Are these where you just connect it to the coax instead of the radio and start tuning, bonding, etc until it shows good readings? I've never used one, seen one in use, so I have no idea what they do.
 
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I ordered the rigexpert AA55. Watched videos on it and going to read the book first. When the guy hooked up his analyzer we were able to tune the antenna. Not sure what meter he had but it was hey small handheld unit. my analyzer is arriving tomorrow hopefully and I will take some pictures. If I would’ve had an analyzer in the beginning it would’ve save me three days of troubleshooting. He said it was a very cheap model and not sure how accurate it was. But it brought SWR from 2 to 1 down to 1.4 to 1. But I’m not sure what the resonance is. I will be able to verify everything.
 
Are these where you just connect it to the coax instead of the radio and start tuning, bonding, etc until it shows good readings?

Ideally, you would connect at the feedpoint. Correct, you won’t need a radio to view SWR and other data, the device does that for you. Unlike a meter, you don’t get just a reading for one frequency...you get a graphic showing SWR (or other data) across an entire range.

I use a Nano VNA, mostly because it was a very economical way to get started. But after buying it I don’t see the need to upgrade.
 
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487156AB-064B-4C70-A8B4-1D1528850555.jpeg 66F8917F-AC04-4940-AEBE-1CF8B84A84E8.jpeg 62B41B99-0144-4579-AC59-2DDB685FC0C2.jpeg So I got the tuner today and tuned the antenna it was off and the guy did have a cheap meter but he got me in the ballpark here are a few pictures need to do research on what the other numbers mean.
Look at the corrosion on this whip. I did not tune the whip it is too long I only tuned the Francis antenna. I did put the whip on and did not feel like dealing with it today
 
Dremel & Brass wire wheel on that crud.

This version by Roadworks now my go to.

Polishing Peterbilt tanks & wheels enough work. This makes those big expanses easy to keep up (was proven to me). All by hand and easy.

On second bottle in less than a year have used it so extensively.


7EA0B737-1B4A-43E6-8CAD-B3AC0FAE705B.jpeg
 
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It’s a given that Vise Grips are a Radio tool (sssh, never speak it loudly).

I’ve a pair that are my field vise for cleaning up problems like that. Cheap pair made for a slip-seater. Has a handy tab on it.

A little 3M Duct tape on jaws.

.
 
Nick: I would not do any additional trimming of the antenna, just scan up and down with frequency then see where it falls in.
Then report, you may find it never gets exactly there but gives a reference point to where the rise and fall of the reactance occurs. The antenna is VERY close.
However, you may see a rise in VSWR where the X=0 occurs, (very common) it's just a good point of reference to where X=0 and Z=R fall together.
I also understand why the whip was so problematic, seeing it's true condition (I was assuming it was a new install) my bad.
I have not used the product suggested, but seeing the experience of Slowmover, I believe it sounds reasonable to do the cleanup job intended.
I have used a similar "food grade" stainless polish in the past with a brass wire brush to do the job. (I had a supply available so I used it). I would look for a set-screw and remove the whip from the stud coupling (if possible) and clean the whip and coupling inside and then coat also, judging from the picture I would bet it needs cleaning also.
Then test the whip installed in the mount and report back before any trimming.
GL you're getting there and enjoy the install.
All the Best
Gary
 
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