banshee Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Gents who knows what about CB radios? What dose it mean to. "Tune" an antanna? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpdriver1 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 This would be adjusting the antenna for best SWR. There is a meter that you use or some radios have the ability built in. A ham radio, cb shop, or radio operator can help you with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AeroNautical Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Yep, adjusting it by either lengthening or shortening the length of the antenna itself. You'll ideally want between a 1.5 and 3 SWR reading across all channels, but it's nearly impossible to tune "ideally", so tune for the channel you use most. 19 is a common one as it's the trucker channel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacks Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 PFCLeist is correct. You are tuning the antennas length. SWR is a ratio of transmitted power vs reflected power. The power is reflected from the antenna back towards the radio because the impedance of the antenna and the radio output circuits don't match. The procedure isn't difficult but does require as SWR meter. It's far easier to explain by talking with someone. PM me and I can walk you thru the procedure and the why's and why not's of what needs to be done. I'm a ham, first licensed in 1978. Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 SWR is an acronym for Standing Wave Ratio. If your radio doesn't have a built-in SWR meter, Radio Shack used to sell one for around 20 bucks. I have no idea if Radio Shack sells anything useful today. Where will you mount the radio and the antenna? One thing to try to avoid is using a very long antenna cable and then coiling the excess somewhere between the antenna and the radio. If you can' try to keep the antenna downlead as short and as straight as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banshee Posted March 28, 2015 Author Share Posted March 28, 2015 Sorry to beat a dead horse but how far away from my radio Antanna do I need to mount my CB Antanna? Or dose it matter?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AeroNautical Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 The most central location on your vehicle, above everything. On our trucks, for example, mounting it central on a grounded tool box, is perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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