I would run both the + and - leads from the radio to the battery.
I would also run a ground lead from the radio chassis to the frame.
I would also run a ground lead from the radio chassis to the frame.
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High SWR
- Thread starter Bonekrushur
- Start date
ok lets back up here for a sec.
i dont think some folks in this thread realize that toyota is using a composite plastic bed in their new tacoma pickups.
not a plastic bed liner, the whole bed is made out of plastic.
lets also make sure that you are using that connex on the actual CB band of 26.965mhz to 27.405mhz.
is there a chance that the connex has not been converted yet?
just need to confirm that we are all on the same page.
next is to make sure that you are re-calibrating that SWR meter every time you change channels. please confirm that you are aware of the proper way to use it and are re-calibrating when you change channels.
assuming that you are on the CB band and using the meter correctly, the first thing you should do is get rid of that copper wire going from the connector to the chassis of the truck.
the way to ground your roll bar is to use copper braid either 1/2" or 1" wide and connect the bolts that hold the roll bar to the bed, to the truck frame.
you should be able to do this all under the truck.
do it on both sides. your ground straps shouldnt need to be more than about a foot long or so.
now make sure you have a good metal to metal connection from the light bar to the roll bar.
next, ground the cab of the truck to the frame on each side just like you did the roll bar.
after doing all this, you can decide whether or not you want to use the spring with your 102" whip.
obviously whichever gives you the lowest SWR is the way to go.
you should not have to cut a full size quarter wave whip.
just so you know, a 102" whip setup will give an SWR of 1.5 to 1 when working properly.
this is because its impedance is around 36ohms, and thats the way its supposed to be.
if you get the SWR to about 1.5 on channel 1 and channel 40, then you are all set.
good luck,
LC
i dont think some folks in this thread realize that toyota is using a composite plastic bed in their new tacoma pickups.
not a plastic bed liner, the whole bed is made out of plastic.
lets also make sure that you are using that connex on the actual CB band of 26.965mhz to 27.405mhz.
is there a chance that the connex has not been converted yet?
just need to confirm that we are all on the same page.
next is to make sure that you are re-calibrating that SWR meter every time you change channels. please confirm that you are aware of the proper way to use it and are re-calibrating when you change channels.
assuming that you are on the CB band and using the meter correctly, the first thing you should do is get rid of that copper wire going from the connector to the chassis of the truck.
the way to ground your roll bar is to use copper braid either 1/2" or 1" wide and connect the bolts that hold the roll bar to the bed, to the truck frame.
you should be able to do this all under the truck.
do it on both sides. your ground straps shouldnt need to be more than about a foot long or so.
now make sure you have a good metal to metal connection from the light bar to the roll bar.
next, ground the cab of the truck to the frame on each side just like you did the roll bar.
after doing all this, you can decide whether or not you want to use the spring with your 102" whip.
obviously whichever gives you the lowest SWR is the way to go.
you should not have to cut a full size quarter wave whip.
just so you know, a 102" whip setup will give an SWR of 1.5 to 1 when working properly.
this is because its impedance is around 36ohms, and thats the way its supposed to be.
if you get the SWR to about 1.5 on channel 1 and channel 40, then you are all set.
good luck,
LC
Yea, I've recalibrated before every check. I'll have to try moving those wires around a bit more, but in twenty years of working with cb radios I've never seen anything like this.
Ok, I finally got my hands on a Wilson 5000 from a friend of mine. I set it in the dead center of my roof (magnetic), and connected its line into my own. Results: High SWR gone! So I've come to the conclusion that somewhere, somehow, the way the truck is layed out, I'm just not getting the "right" ground to make everything click. I'll keep experimenting for a while until I find that "sweet spot", but for now, the 5000 will work for me. In fact, by keeping my whip in its same place, the SWR was lower. Thanks again for all the ideas!
I just went to get a new Wilson 5000 (magnetic). The guy who runs the shop has installed mobile units for years. He said any antenna installed on a light bar like mine won't work because the RF will travel down the bar each way. It doesn't matter how many grounds you put on, the interference will just be too much. So, I've put the 5000 on my roof and run its coax back to my old line. I'll take the whip off in a few days, but in case anyone else has a problem like this, I'll put up a photo so you can see the layout.
Excuse my french but that's a load of bull hockey, I know guys that are outputting 5000 watts with the same setup only they have a full steel bed to work with and that is your problem as I said way back in this thread, you do not have sufficient Ground Planing effect for your antenna and that's why when you put the 5k on the roof you get that effect and your srw is decreased, you have no other issue other than that.
You can mount your whip there and it will work fine.
The only thing that will travel down the light bar is dc and rf grounding unless your radio chassis is not grounded and if that's done then only dc grounding will travel down the light bar.
Oh yeah, I could mount the whip there, but I just don't want to put holes in the roof. I tried the new setup out and I'm transmitting the distance I wanted to in the first place, so all's good.
mack is correct, whoever told you that should not be trusted.
if you do what i suggested in my previous post; it will work.
LC
if you do what i suggested in my previous post; it will work.
LC
Hold on, let me go back here. I took a look at the way I worded my response last night and I apologize. I wasn't really into what I was saying that late last night, so if I can correct myself, the guy said basically the same thing you guys have said, about the ground plane effect. Because of what was mentioned here, I went to see him to get the new antenna and mount it on the roof, not to specifically have him troubleshoot. I already understood by that point my mounting location wasn't sufficient. So again, thank you all for helping me figure this out.
"103.216'' ... "a bit longer"
three decimal places,...... and then a "bit" longer
measure it with a micrometer,...... and then cut it with an axe