CB Radio Problems

[SatiricalHen]

Alright someone here has to know something about CB radios. I took the factory antenna out on my Cherokee and used that location for my CB antenna. There is a good ground, good continuity. Uniden 520xl with a Wilson 2000 trucker and I can’t get the SWR below like 2.5. Any suggestions?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MJCARENA]

Could be getting reflection from your cage. Looks like a bottom loaded antenna. Best place is middle of your roof. I am no radio expert, just my opinion.

 

[SatiricalHen]

Could be getting reflection from your cage. Looks like a bottom loaded antenna. Best place is middle of your roof. I am no radio expert, just my opinion.
 

That’s what I’m slightly worried about. I have a friend with a base load between his spare tire and the hard top on his wrangler mounted to the tire carrier and his has a perfect SWR. I figured mine was far enough away/in the open more than his I really want to run a whip style antenna as I feel they will handle tapping tree limbs better than an unsprung fiberglass antenna. Also looks a lot closer to factory which was kinda the look i was after. I had tried an NH-4-HC antenna previously and I couldn’t even get the SWR below midway of 3 to set on the SWR meter.
Here’s the NH-4-HC.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MJCARENA]

Looking at your picture closer, it looks like part of the antenna is below the fender.

[AeroNautical]

 

[SatiricalHen]

 

I know in theory how to tune a CB radio and I’ve tuned many, but this set up didn’t matter if the antenna was longer or shorter, all the components were properly hooked up. I’m assuming just due to location of the antenna I can’t get the SWR lower.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SatiricalHen]

I took a friends firefly and stuck it on and without any tuning it had a much better SWR across the board. I guess I just need a higher load coil. I was hoping to not have to go to a fiberglass antenna because I’m going to break it. It’s just a matter of time, but a whip seems to bounce back better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schardein]

On 3/10/2020 at 10:47 PM, SatiricalHen said:

I took a friends firefly and stuck it on and without any tuning it had a much better SWR across the board. I guess I just need a higher load coil. I was hoping to not have to go to a fiberglass antenna because I’m going to break it. It’s just a matter of time, but a whip seems to bounce back better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Before you posted this, I was wondering if your cb antenna CABLE might be part of the issue.  I've read that you don't want to "coil" the extra cable length.  The fact you had two antennas that seemed to have high SWR readings made me pause to consider the cable.

 

With your friend's antenna, I am guessing you still used your cable?

[SatiricalHen]

Before you posted this, I was wondering if your cb antenna CABLE might be part of the issue.  I've read that you don't want to "coil" the extra cable length.  The fact you had two antennas that seemed to have high SWR readings made me pause to consider the cable.
 
With your friend's antenna, I am guessing you still used your cable?

Yes I had used my cable. With a 3’ firestik it’s well under 3 on the meter. I think with a 4’ it would get more over the roofline and get it lower, but I’m not going to burn up the radio so I think it’ll be okay.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk