On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 01:07:55 GMT, "Rob" wrote:

I installed a CB in my Jeep Rubicon for use when my buddies and I go trail
riding. I mounted a *ahem* 48" Radio Shack fiberglass whip on a right angle
antenna mount directly to the rear bumper. I ran a 20' Radio Shack 50 ohm
cable from the antenna to the transmitter mounted under the seat (Cobra 75
WX ST).
Power is supplied by a 4 ga. wire directly from the battery. I scraped off
paint under one of the seat mounting brackets and bolted the wire to that to
get a good ground.

The problem I'm having is calibrating the SWR meter. When key and hold down
the mic, I turn the meter's calibration knob all the way to the right and
the needle is still short of the calibration mark.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

If an SWR meter will not calibrate, there are 3 common reasons for
this (and a whole list of uncommon ones).
The first is an obvious lack of transmitter power. If your radio isn't
putting out at least a watt or 2, chances are you won't be able to
calibrate the meter.

The second is a radical fault in the antenna/feedline system. If the
cable or antenna mount is shorted, it can prevent the meter from
calibrating. One way to check this is to switch to the SWR position.
If the meter stays at the same point, you have a short.

The third common reason is a simple one. Is the meter hooked up
backwards? If you reverse the input and output connections, the meter
will not work properly, and you are actually trying to calibrate on
the reflected power (Which should be low). Again, a check for this
would be to switch to the SWR position. If the meter now pegs hard,
chances are you have it backwards.

Oh, and I just thought of a 4th reason. Are you sure you're on the
calibrate position?

Dave
"Sandbagger"
http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj

I hate to admit it, but the meter was hooked up backwards.
Thank you for the help.

On another note, on channel 1 my SWR is 2 and on channel 40 it's 3. The
antenna is a 48" Fiberglass whip from Radio Shack and is adjustable. I'm
guessing that I need to shorten the antenna?

Thanks again,

Rob Kulp

"Dave Hall" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 01:07:55 GMT, "Rob" wrote:

I installed a CB in my Jeep Rubicon for use when my buddies and I go
trail
riding. I mounted a *ahem* 48" Radio Shack fiberglass whip on a right
angle
antenna mount directly to the rear bumper. I ran a 20' Radio Shack 50 ohm
cable from the antenna to the transmitter mounted under the seat (Cobra
75
WX ST).
Power is supplied by a 4 ga. wire directly from the battery. I scraped
off
paint under one of the seat mounting brackets and bolted the wire to that
to
get a good ground.

The problem I'm having is calibrating the SWR meter. When key and hold
down
the mic, I turn the meter's calibration knob all the way to the right and
the needle is still short of the calibration mark.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

If an SWR meter will not calibrate, there are 3 common reasons for
this (and a whole list of uncommon ones).
The first is an obvious lack of transmitter power. If your radio isn't
putting out at least a watt or 2, chances are you won't be able to
calibrate the meter.

The second is a radical fault in the antenna/feedline system. If the
cable or antenna mount is shorted, it can prevent the meter from
calibrating. One way to check this is to switch to the SWR position.
If the meter stays at the same point, you have a short.

The third common reason is a simple one. Is the meter hooked up
backwards? If you reverse the input and output connections, the meter
will not work properly, and you are actually trying to calibrate on
the reflected power (Which should be low). Again, a check for this
would be to switch to the SWR position. If the meter now pegs hard,
chances are you have it backwards.

Oh, and I just thought of a 4th reason. Are you sure you're on the
calibrate position?

Dave
"Sandbagger"
http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj

With the antenna shortened all the way, my SWR is 2.5 on channel 12 which is
the channel I will be using the most. I'm not sure if I should just leave it
alone, or if there is something else I can do to get a better reading. I
suppose I could replace the Radio Shack feedline I used.

I'm sure my power and grounds are good as I have no engine noise. I've heard
a lot of people with Jeep Wranglers have engine noise issues.

Any other comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Rob Kulp


"Rob" wrote in message
news
I hate to admit it, but the meter was hooked up backwards.
Thank you for the help.

On another note, on channel 1 my SWR is 2 and on channel 40 it's 3. The
antenna is a 48" Fiberglass whip from Radio Shack and is adjustable. I'm
guessing that I need to shorten the antenna?

Thanks again,

Rob Kulp

"Dave Hall" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 01:07:55 GMT, "Rob" wrote:

I installed a CB in my Jeep Rubicon for use when my buddies and I go
trail
riding. I mounted a *ahem* 48" Radio Shack fiberglass whip on a right
angle
antenna mount directly to the rear bumper. I ran a 20' Radio Shack 50
ohm
cable from the antenna to the transmitter mounted under the seat (Cobra
75
WX ST).
Power is supplied by a 4 ga. wire directly from the battery. I scraped
off
paint under one of the seat mounting brackets and bolted the wire to
that
to
get a good ground.

The problem I'm having is calibrating the SWR meter. When key and hold
down
the mic, I turn the meter's calibration knob all the way to the right
and
the needle is still short of the calibration mark.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

If an SWR meter will not calibrate, there are 3 common reasons for
this (and a whole list of uncommon ones).
The first is an obvious lack of transmitter power. If your radio isn't
putting out at least a watt or 2, chances are you won't be able to
calibrate the meter.

The second is a radical fault in the antenna/feedline system. If the
cable or antenna mount is shorted, it can prevent the meter from
calibrating. One way to check this is to switch to the SWR position.
If the meter stays at the same point, you have a short.

The third common reason is a simple one. Is the meter hooked up
backwards? If you reverse the input and output connections, the meter
will not work properly, and you are actually trying to calibrate on
the reflected power (Which should be low). Again, a check for this
would be to switch to the SWR position. If the meter now pegs hard,
chances are you have it backwards.

Oh, and I just thought of a 4th reason. Are you sure you're on the
calibrate position?

Dave
"Sandbagger"
http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj

Not 2.5, but 3.5.

Rob

"Rob" wrote in message
om...
With the antenna shortened all the way, my SWR is 2.5 on channel 12 which
is
the channel I will be using the most. I'm not sure if I should just leave
it
alone, or if there is something else I can do to get a better reading. I
suppose I could replace the Radio Shack feedline I used.

I'm sure my power and grounds are good as I have no engine noise. I've
heard
a lot of people with Jeep Wranglers have engine noise issues.

Any other comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Rob Kulp


"Rob" wrote in message
news
I hate to admit it, but the meter was hooked up backwards.
Thank you for the help.

On another note, on channel 1 my SWR is 2 and on channel 40 it's 3. The
antenna is a 48" Fiberglass whip from Radio Shack and is adjustable. I'm
guessing that I need to shorten the antenna?

Thanks again,

Rob Kulp

"Dave Hall" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 01:07:55 GMT, "Rob" wrote:

I installed a CB in my Jeep Rubicon for use when my buddies and I go
trail
riding. I mounted a *ahem* 48" Radio Shack fiberglass whip on a right
angle
antenna mount directly to the rear bumper. I ran a 20' Radio Shack 50
ohm
cable from the antenna to the transmitter mounted under the seat
(Cobra
75
WX ST).
Power is supplied by a 4 ga. wire directly from the battery. I
scraped
off
paint under one of the seat mounting brackets and bolted the wire to
that
to
get a good ground.

The problem I'm having is calibrating the SWR meter. When key and
hold
down
the mic, I turn the meter's calibration knob all the way to the right
and
the needle is still short of the calibration mark.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

If an SWR meter will not calibrate, there are 3 common reasons for
this (and a whole list of uncommon ones).
The first is an obvious lack of transmitter power. If your radio isn't
putting out at least a watt or 2, chances are you won't be able to
calibrate the meter.

The second is a radical fault in the antenna/feedline system. If the
cable or antenna mount is shorted, it can prevent the meter from
calibrating. One way to check this is to switch to the SWR position.
If the meter stays at the same point, you have a short.

The third common reason is a simple one. Is the meter hooked up
backwards? If you reverse the input and output connections, the meter
will not work properly, and you are actually trying to calibrate on
the reflected power (Which should be low). Again, a check for this
would be to switch to the SWR position. If the meter now pegs hard,
chances are you have it backwards.

Oh, and I just thought of a 4th reason. Are you sure you're on the
calibrate position?

Dave
"Sandbagger"
http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj

"Rob" wrote:
With the antenna shortened all the way, my SWR is 2.5 on channel 12 which
is the channel I will be using the most.

What was your swr on channel 40?