Need help with high SWR
 

A bunch of people have been helping me here with this. I got my setup running,
but have a high SWR on the CB band. Here are the parameters:


My SWR is 1.5 on channel 1, and 3 on channel 40.


1. I have a a 6 foot Firestik in the attic. I am using 8 pieces of 10 gauge
wire, all 102" long, as a ground plane connected to the mounting stud.

2. The mounting stud and ground plane wires are not connected to earth ground.
There is no way I can get a ground rod into the frozen ground. Not at least for
a few weeks.

3. I am using 50' of LMR-400 coax. No shorts measured.

4. I have a RF choke/balun of about 8 turns, 8 inches round, about 2 inches
below the antenna and ground plane wires. I cannot get it any lower.

5. The radio is a HR-2510, and that is not grounded for the same reason as #2.


I did a frequency check to see where this antenna is tuned. It seems to be tuned
for 26.500-26.800 MHz. The SWR is a flat 1.2 across that band. It starts to
when I go below or above that band.

I wanted to know if there is anything I should do before I cut the wire on the
Firestik. Would grounding the ground plane or the radio to a ground rod help?

And suggestions are appeciated.

Vinnie S.

"Vinnie S." wrote in message
...
A bunch of people have been helping me here with this. I got my setup
running,
but have a high SWR on the CB band. Here are the parameters:


My SWR is 1.5 on channel 1, and 3 on channel 40.


1. I have a a 6 foot Firestik in the attic. I am using 8 pieces of 10
gauge
wire, all 102" long, as a ground plane connected to the mounting stud.

2. The mounting stud and ground plane wires are not connected to earth
ground.
There is no way I can get a ground rod into the frozen ground. Not at
least for
a few weeks.

3. I am using 50' of LMR-400 coax. No shorts measured.

4. I have a RF choke/balun of about 8 turns, 8 inches round, about 2
inches
below the antenna and ground plane wires. I cannot get it any lower.

5. The radio is a HR-2510, and that is not grounded for the same reason as
#2.


I did a frequency check to see where this antenna is tuned. It seems to be
tuned
for 26.500-26.800 MHz. The SWR is a flat 1.2 across that band. It starts
to
when I go below or above that band.

I wanted to know if there is anything I should do before I cut the wire on
the
Firestik. Would grounding the ground plane or the radio to a ground rod
help?

And suggestions are appeciated.

Vinnie S.

This may seem overly simplistic or stupid, but try removing the plastic cap
on the end of the antenna. It affected my SWR on one I had. I can't remember
which way, but I do remember it made a difference.

On Tue, 01 Feb 2005 00:45:57 GMT, "U Know Who" wrote:



3. I am using 50' of LMR-400 coax. No shorts measured.

4. I have a RF choke/balun of about 8 turns, 8 inches round, about 2
inches
below the antenna and ground plane wires. I cannot get it any lower.

5. The radio is a HR-2510, and that is not grounded for the same reason as
#2.


I did a frequency check to see where this antenna is tuned. It seems to be
tuned
for 26.500-26.800 MHz. The SWR is a flat 1.2 across that band. It starts
to
when I go below or above that band.

I wanted to know if there is anything I should do before I cut the wire on
the
Firestik. Would grounding the ground plane or the radio to a ground rod
help?

And suggestions are appeciated.

Vinnie S.

This may seem overly simplistic or stupid, but try removing the plastic cap
on the end of the antenna. It affected my SWR on one I had. I can't remember
which way, but I do remember it made a difference.


Correct. That is what is on the Firestik website too. But it was so out of wack
on 27 MHz, I was wonder is I did something wrong. I wanted to see what people
had to say before I cut it.

Vinnie S.

A bunch of people have been helping me here with this. I got my setup running,
but have a high SWR on the CB band. Here are the parameters:


My SWR is 1.5 on channel 1, and 3 on channel 40.


1. I have a a 6 foot Firestik in the attic. I am using 8 pieces of 10 gauge
wire, all 102" long, as a ground plane connected to the mounting stud.

2. The mounting stud and ground plane wires are not connected to earth ground.
There is no way I can get a ground rod into the frozen ground. Not at least for
a few weeks.

3. I am using 50' of LMR-400 coax. No shorts measured.

4. I have a RF choke/balun of about 8 turns, 8 inches round, about 2 inches
below the antenna and ground plane wires. I cannot get it any lower.

5. The radio is a HR-2510, and that is not grounded for the same reason as #2.


I did a frequency check to see where this antenna is tuned. It seems to be tuned
for 26.500-26.800 MHz. The SWR is a flat 1.2 across that band. It starts to
when I go below or above that band.

I wanted to know if there is anything I should do before I cut the wire on the
Firestik. Would grounding the ground plane or the radio to a ground rod help?

And suggestions are appeciated.

Vinnie S.


Dude, you are using a keyclown radio on illegal frequencies. Get a stock
radio and you'll get help.

I did a frequency check to see where this antenna is tuned. It seems to be tuned
for 26.500-26.800 MHz. The SWR is a flat 1.2 across that band. It starts to
when I go below or above that band.

Because of the close proximity of the roof structure inside the attic
you are adding more capacitance to the antenna than what would
normally be there.

In order to bring the antenna back into resonance you'll need to
counteract the increased capacitance by decreasing the inductance.

This is done by shortening the antenna.

I don't believe you'll ever be able to get your match as low as you
could in free air. This is because you'll get more induced antenna
currents whenever the antenna is located inside a house.

On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 20:20:39 -0500, wrote:


I did a frequency check to see where this antenna is tuned. It seems to be tuned
for 26.500-26.800 MHz. The SWR is a flat 1.2 across that band. It starts to
when I go below or above that band.

Because of the close proximity of the roof structure inside the attic
you are adding more capacitance to the antenna than what would
normally be there.

In order to bring the antenna back into resonance you'll need to
counteract the increased capacitance by decreasing the inductance.

This is done by shortening the antenna.

I don't believe you'll ever be able to get your match as low as you
could in free air. This is because you'll get more induced antenna
currents whenever the antenna is located inside a house.



I got it down to 1.5 on 40, and 1.3 on 1. I can probably get it down to 1.3 on
40, and that is it.

Vinnie S.

"Vinnie S." wrote in message
...
On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 20:20:39 -0500, wrote:


I did a frequency check to see where this antenna is tuned. It seems to
be tuned
for 26.500-26.800 MHz. The SWR is a flat 1.2 across that band. It starts
to
when I go below or above that band.

Because of the close proximity of the roof structure inside the attic
you are adding more capacitance to the antenna than what would
normally be there.

In order to bring the antenna back into resonance you'll need to
counteract the increased capacitance by decreasing the inductance.

This is done by shortening the antenna.

I don't believe you'll ever be able to get your match as low as you
could in free air. This is because you'll get more induced antenna
currents whenever the antenna is located inside a house.



I got it down to 1.5 on 40, and 1.3 on 1. I can probably get it down to
1.3 on
40, and that is it.

Vinnie S.

How did you do it? And BTW, that's a wonderful match.

Vinnie S. wrote:
I got it down to 1.5 on 40, and 1.3 on 1. I can probably get it down to
1.3 on 40, and that is it.

Vinnie S.

Cool. Made any contacts yet?

Hello Vinnie:

If that antenna doesn't work, maybe a out side stealth small gauge wire
vertical dipole will work great, if you have some tree's around.

Jay in the Mojave

Kreedentials:
Rock & Roll Fan, C&W too, have bitchen outside speakers
Owner 1977 Ford F250 4x4 Truck, 460 Hi-Po Engine set ya back in the
seat, no smog ****
Member Mojave Desert Radio Association, 9dollrs
I use my Liberal Arts Collage Catalog as a back stop on my drill press

Vinnie S. wrote:

A bunch of people have been helping me here with this. I got my setup running,
but have a high SWR on the CB band. Here are the parameters:


My SWR is 1.5 on channel 1, and 3 on channel 40.


1. I have a a 6 foot Firestik in the attic. I am using 8 pieces of 10 gauge
wire, all 102" long, as a ground plane connected to the mounting stud.

2. The mounting stud and ground plane wires are not connected to earth ground.
There is no way I can get a ground rod into the frozen ground. Not at least for
a few weeks.

3. I am using 50' of LMR-400 coax. No shorts measured.

4. I have a RF choke/balun of about 8 turns, 8 inches round, about 2 inches
below the antenna and ground plane wires. I cannot get it any lower.

5. The radio is a HR-2510, and that is not grounded for the same reason as #2.


I did a frequency check to see where this antenna is tuned. It seems to be tuned
for 26.500-26.800 MHz. The SWR is a flat 1.2 across that band. It starts to
when I go below or above that band.

I wanted to know if there is anything I should do before I cut the wire on the
Firestik. Would grounding the ground plane or the radio to a ground rod help?

And suggestions are appeciated.

Vinnie S.

On Tue, 01 Feb 2005 04:57:49 GMT, "U Know Who" wrote:


"Vinnie S." wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 20:20:39 -0500, wrote:


I did a frequency check to see where this antenna is tuned. It seems to
be tuned
for 26.500-26.800 MHz. The SWR is a flat 1.2 across that band. It starts
to
when I go below or above that band.

Because of the close proximity of the roof structure inside the attic
you are adding more capacitance to the antenna than what would
normally be there.

In order to bring the antenna back into resonance you'll need to
counteract the increased capacitance by decreasing the inductance.

This is done by shortening the antenna.

I don't believe you'll ever be able to get your match as low as you
could in free air. This is because you'll get more induced antenna
currents whenever the antenna is located inside a house.



I got it down to 1.5 on 40, and 1.3 on 1. I can probably get it down to
1.3 on
40, and that is it.

Vinnie S.

How did you do it? And BTW, that's a wonderful match.


Cap off like you said, brought id down to about 2. I clipped some wire for the
rest. If I put the cap back on, I have to clip a little more. Firestik says they
cut their antenna extra long, so when it tuned to 26.5-26.8, I figured it might
work.

Vinnie S.

On 01 Feb 2005 11:56:27 GMT, Steveo wrote:

Vinnie S. wrote:
I got it down to 1.5 on 40, and 1.3 on 1. I can probably get it down to
1.3 on 40, and that is it.

Vinnie S.

Cool. Made any contacts yet?


I few last night, granted I spen the majority of the night on the SWR. I did
make a 15 mile trip to Delaware. No bad for a Firestik in the attic.

Vinnie S.

On Tue, 01 Feb 2005 05:24:05 -0800, Jay in the Mojave wrote:



Just temportary Jay. I will get an antenna up in the spring.

Vinnie S.

Vinnie S. wrote:
On 01 Feb 2005 11:56:27 GMT, Steveo wrote:

Vinnie S. wrote:
I got it down to 1.5 on 40, and 1.3 on 1. I can probably get it down
to 1.3 on 40, and that is it.

Vinnie S.

Cool. Made any contacts yet?

I few last night, granted I spen the majority of the night on the SWR. I
did make a 15 mile trip to Delaware. No bad for a Firestik in the attic.

Yup, not bad at all.

On 01 Feb 2005 14:04:19 GMT, Steveo wrote:

Vinnie S. wrote:
On 01 Feb 2005 11:56:27 GMT, Steveo wrote:

Vinnie S. wrote:
I got it down to 1.5 on 40, and 1.3 on 1. I can probably get it down
to 1.3 on 40, and that is it.

Vinnie S.

Cool. Made any contacts yet?

I few last night, granted I spen the majority of the night on the SWR. I
did make a 15 mile trip to Delaware. No bad for a Firestik in the attic.

Yup, not bad at all.


That Turner +3B I got from the attic seems to work real well. I got glowing
reports. When I first wired it, I put the no-connections wires on pin 5. I
didn't remember that pin 4 and 5 on the HR-2510 are channel up and down. So my
channels were scrolling at light speed ! LOL. Fixed that real fast. I didn't
remember because I never used the original mic.

Vinnie S.

Vinnie S. wrote:
On 01 Feb 2005 14:04:19 GMT, Steveo wrote:

Vinnie S. wrote:
On 01 Feb 2005 11:56:27 GMT, Steveo wrote:

Vinnie S. wrote:
I got it down to 1.5 on 40, and 1.3 on 1. I can probably get it
down to 1.3 on 40, and that is it.

Vinnie S.

Cool. Made any contacts yet?

I few last night, granted I spen the majority of the night on the SWR.
I did make a 15 mile trip to Delaware. No bad for a Firestik in the
attic.

Yup, not bad at all.

That Turner +3B I got from the attic seems to work real well. I got
glowing reports. When I first wired it, I put the no-connections wires on
pin 5. I didn't remember that pin 4 and 5 on the HR-2510 are channel up
and down. So my channels were scrolling at light speed ! LOL. Fixed that
real fast. I didn't remember because I never used the original mic.

Vinnie S.

Yea, you'd end up out of band real quick with that set up. lol

Any TVI problems with your antenna being that close?

On 01 Feb 2005 14:21:02 GMT, Steveo wrote:


Yea, you'd end up out of band real quick with that set up. lol

Any TVI problems with your antenna being that close?


Will update that tonight. So far no. It did set off one of my carbon monoxide
detectors. Though.

Vinnie S.

I got it down to a final 1.3-1.4 flat, across the CB 40. I would like to thank
eveyone here for their help.

Vinnie S.

On 01 Feb 2005 11:56:27 GMT, Steveo wrote:

Vinnie S. wrote:
I got it down to 1.5 on 40, and 1.3 on 1. I can probably get it down to
1.3 on 40, and that is it.

Vinnie S.

Cool. Made any contacts yet?


I few last night, granted I spen the majority of the night on the SWR. I did
make a 15 mile trip to Delaware. No bad for a Firestik in the attic.

Vinnie S.

Of course you are running illegal power with that radio
it is not legal for CB so whatever results you got are
because you cheated, went outside the rules, basically
dishonest, not to be trusted, etc.

sure i lay down beside my bowl.
you gonna feed me

u gonna let me starve
your writing sites in white is not really working
on my screen it shows up


"Steveo" wrote in message
...
1. How is the court ordered shrink working out for you?


he took a sabatical
2. How's the court ordered job hunt going?


a daily visit
really not a lie
enjoy my daily contact everywhere in law courts.
but i am seriously considering leaving it
good people and all.


3. How's the court ordered wage withholding going?


????????????
neither a borrower or a lender be.

4. Have you made the rain report for jamming repeaters again*, Doug?


nope
5. Have you threatened to kick anyone elses ass, only to hav*e them show
up at your section 8 slum and prove what a ****ing coward yo*u are,
maggot?

hate is so subtle
tax this fag with your REAL ISP
WHY stop your comments
because u r on my page

i don't kik ass. i only want guys i love. i have no pretense to making
enemies.
thes e are forgottwen in a moment
so just go away
as a red neck or a religious zealot.
i think u fail.
please stop cross posting
stop trying to harmm the guys who visit this page


http://n8wwm.4t.com/


Go lay down by your bowl, dogie.
oh a nice bowl of beef soup with arsenic
i think i will like this
spin around a few times
and have a nice sleep

g nite buddy

On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 04:13:16 GMT, "dug88" wrote:

sure i lay down beside my bowl.
you gonna feed me

u gonna let me starve
your writing sites in white is not really working
on my screen it shows up


"Steveo" wrote in message
...
1. How is the court ordered shrink working out for you?


he took a sabatical
2. How's the court ordered job hunt going?


a daily visit
really not a lie
enjoy my daily contact everywhere in law courts.
but i am seriously considering leaving it
good people and all.


3. How's the court ordered wage withholding going?


????????????
neither a borrower or a lender be.

4. Have you made the rain report for jamming repeaters again*, Doug?


nope
5. Have you threatened to kick anyone elses ass, only to hav*e them show
up at your section 8 slum and prove what a ****ing coward yo*u are,
maggot?

hate is so subtle
tax this fag with your REAL ISP
WHY stop your comments
because u r on my page

i don't kik ass. i only want guys i love. i have no pretense to making
enemies.
thes e are forgottwen in a moment
so just go away
as a red neck or a religious zealot.
i think u fail.
please stop cross posting
stop trying to harmm the guys who visit this page


http://n8wwm.4t.com/


Go lay down by your bowl, dogie.
oh a nice bowl of beef soup with arsenic
i think i will like this
spin around a few times
and have a nice sleep

g nite buddy



Haiku?

Dave
"Sandbagger"

Dave Hall wrote:
On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 04:13:16 GMT, "dug88" wrote:
Go lay down by your bowl, dogie.
oh a nice bowl of beef soup with arsenic
i think i will like this
spin around a few times
and have a nice sleep

g nite buddy



Haiku?


No, Steveu.