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#1
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"John Smith" wrote in
: driver42: Well, without seeing the webpage you are referring to (URL), I am just making an educated guess, I would think it would... John "driver42" wrote in message 5... "John Smith" wrote in : driver42: As a side note, most antennas can handle a 100 watts without problem, however, if you are going to run BIG POWER, it would be good to check the specs on the antenna(s) and make sure they will not be damaged by large power input... John "driver42" wrote in message 5... "John Smith" wrote in : driver: If the swr is over a 2 to 1, you get into danger of damaging the output finals in the equipment, will also decrease your range. There is always a method to decrease (tune adjust) swr... John "driver42" wrote in message 5... Hi, If I'm not able to set the SWR in the trucks that I drive will it hurt the radio or just give me decreased range? My problem is that I'll be moving from truck to truck so I wont have time to set the SWR correctly. Most of our trucks have factory installed double antenna's which I'm not too thrilled about. Thanks for your input. I dont want a "big" radio. I just want a quality radio. I'm looking at either the PC68ELITE or the PC78ELITE both from Uniden. I had a PC68 about ten years ago that I had tweeked and it was a great unit. I was just on a CB site and I seen that they sell a box that lets you set the SWR from your seat without touching the antenna. The box is plugged inbetween your radio and antenna and then you just use your SWR meter plus the knobs on the box to adjust to the desired level that you want. Are these things any good or are they a gimmick? Thanks, Driver42 John, I just was reading about this radio. http://www.galaxyradios.com/cb/959.html says it has an "Automatic SWR Circuit (no complicated calibration procedure)" Does that mean the circuit sets the SWR automatically? Thanks for your help |
#2
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I just was reading about this radio. http://www.galaxyradios.com/cb/959.html says it has an "Automatic SWR Circuit (no complicated calibration procedure)" Does that mean the circuit sets the SWR automatically? No. It means that it will read the SWR ratio without you having to manually calibrate the meter. It does not correct the problem if there is one. If you move the radio from location to location just check the reading. If it's 2:1 or lower don't worry about it. |
#4
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Thanks,
I have an SWR meter from radio shack that I've used in the past. I know how to use it. My problem is that I'll be in a different truck everyday and wont be able to set the SWR the way I want to. On Monday I'm gonna call the cb shop that I saw online and ask them about the SWR match box. Below is a cut and paste of this product. Let me know if this will set the SWR without having to mess with the antenna's. "Don't "Live with" High SWR Readings! This Matcher will tune your SWR very low, simply insert inline between radio & Antenna. Has 2 Adjustment knobs. Perfect for Radios with wide channel coverage, indoor antennas, non-tunable mobile antennas, or for using 10 thru 12 meters off 1 antenna. Handles 80w pep. Requires either an SWR meter built into radio, or an optional SWR meter between Radio & Matcher." Don't be anal about SWR. If you have an SWR of between 1.5 to 2, don't worry about it. If you must have 1.0:1 on every channel, you'll need a tuner to "fix" it. SWR is a ratio of impedance. It is only one of a multitude of important parameters. I like high field strength. It shows you how well your antenna is radiating. |
#5
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If you move the radio from location to location just check the reading. If it's 2:1 or lower don't worry about it. Thanks, I have an SWR meter from radio shack that I've used in the past. I know how to use it. My problem is that I'll be in a different truck everyday and wont be able to set the SWR the way I want to. On Monday I'm gonna call the cb shop that I saw online and ask them about the SWR match box. Below is a cut and paste of this product. Let me know if this will set the SWR without having to mess with the antenna's. "Don't "Live with" High SWR Readings! This Matcher will tune your SWR very low, simply insert inline between radio & Antenna. Has 2 Adjustment knobs. Perfect for Radios with wide channel coverage, indoor antennas, non-tunable mobile antennas, or for using 10 thru 12 meters off 1 antenna. Handles 80w pep. Requires either an SWR meter built into radio, or an optional SWR meter between Radio & Matcher." This is a line flattener. They can be problematic in that one of the knobs can be bumped and give you an abnormally high SWR reading. Much higher than the antenna itself. You also will double the possibility of a loose coax connector, and don't forget that moving the setup will require more time and care. |
#6
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On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 23:54:05 -0400, wrote in
: If you move the radio from location to location just check the reading. If it's 2:1 or lower don't worry about it. Thanks, I have an SWR meter from radio shack that I've used in the past. I know how to use it. My problem is that I'll be in a different truck everyday and wont be able to set the SWR the way I want to. On Monday I'm gonna call the cb shop that I saw online and ask them about the SWR match box. Below is a cut and paste of this product. Let me know if this will set the SWR without having to mess with the antenna's. "Don't "Live with" High SWR Readings! This Matcher will tune your SWR very low, simply insert inline between radio & Antenna. Has 2 Adjustment knobs. Perfect for Radios with wide channel coverage, indoor antennas, non-tunable mobile antennas, or for using 10 thru 12 meters off 1 antenna. Handles 80w pep. Requires either an SWR meter built into radio, or an optional SWR meter between Radio & Matcher." This is a line flattener. .....oh brother, more voodoo CB terminology. If the line has standing waves on it then it isn't flat, and no matching device on the radio end can reduce or eliminate the line-load mismatch causing the standing waves. The only "line flattener" is a LOAD impedance that matches the LINE impedance. You can't do that at the radio. They can be problematic in that one of the knobs can be bumped and give you an abnormally high SWR reading. Much higher than the antenna itself. Or the antenna can hit a tree and fall off, or the coax could get jammed in the door, or the radio's power leads could be accidently shorted by a sharp edge under the dash....... You also will double the possibility of a loose coax connector, and don't forget that moving the setup will require more time and care. Oh, the turmoil of it all! So why even bother using the CB in the first place if there's going to be the possibility of a problem? If you want to discourage the guy from using a matching device then at least give him some -valid- reasons. Like, you probably won't notice any difference if the SWR is 3:1 and not 1:1, or that the importance of SWR is moot when compared to field strength, or that any matching device isn't going to accomplish squat with a cigarette-lighter radio and a mag-mount antenna. This isn't exactly a performance rig, and the fact is that SWR isn't going to tell you anything -- if you manage to get it to 1:1 you'll get a warm-fuzzy, but that's about it. Just plug it in and talk. If someone hears you, great. If they don't, there's probably nothing you can do short of a full and proper install that will get you heard. ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
#7
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Frank:
Yep. The good old "hair splitters" come crawling out now. Fact is, and he made them clear!, the company has the antenna and coax, it is a give, he will switching trucks, no time and doesn't wanna pay shop fees with every run, load, etc... The match box is fine, guarantees he will not generate a bunch of shop costs... Any sensible person knows it is a no brainer... He doesn't want to get a damn engineering degree, he wants to use it... John "Frank Gilliland" wrote in message ... On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 23:54:05 -0400, wrote in : If you move the radio from location to location just check the reading. If it's 2:1 or lower don't worry about it. Thanks, I have an SWR meter from radio shack that I've used in the past. I know how to use it. My problem is that I'll be in a different truck everyday and wont be able to set the SWR the way I want to. On Monday I'm gonna call the cb shop that I saw online and ask them about the SWR match box. Below is a cut and paste of this product. Let me know if this will set the SWR without having to mess with the antenna's. "Don't "Live with" High SWR Readings! This Matcher will tune your SWR very low, simply insert inline between radio & Antenna. Has 2 Adjustment knobs. Perfect for Radios with wide channel coverage, indoor antennas, non-tunable mobile antennas, or for using 10 thru 12 meters off 1 antenna. Handles 80w pep. Requires either an SWR meter built into radio, or an optional SWR meter between Radio & Matcher." This is a line flattener. ....oh brother, more voodoo CB terminology. If the line has standing waves on it then it isn't flat, and no matching device on the radio end can reduce or eliminate the line-load mismatch causing the standing waves. The only "line flattener" is a LOAD impedance that matches the LINE impedance. You can't do that at the radio. They can be problematic in that one of the knobs can be bumped and give you an abnormally high SWR reading. Much higher than the antenna itself. Or the antenna can hit a tree and fall off, or the coax could get jammed in the door, or the radio's power leads could be accidently shorted by a sharp edge under the dash....... You also will double the possibility of a loose coax connector, and don't forget that moving the setup will require more time and care. Oh, the turmoil of it all! So why even bother using the CB in the first place if there's going to be the possibility of a problem? If you want to discourage the guy from using a matching device then at least give him some -valid- reasons. Like, you probably won't notice any difference if the SWR is 3:1 and not 1:1, or that the importance of SWR is moot when compared to field strength, or that any matching device isn't going to accomplish squat with a cigarette-lighter radio and a mag-mount antenna. This isn't exactly a performance rig, and the fact is that SWR isn't going to tell you anything -- if you manage to get it to 1:1 you'll get a warm-fuzzy, but that's about it. Just plug it in and talk. If someone hears you, great. If they don't, there's probably nothing you can do short of a full and proper install that will get you heard. ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
#8
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On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 23:11:03 -0700, "John Smith"
wrote in : Frank: Yep. The good old "hair splitters" come crawling out now. Fact is, and he made them clear!, the company has the antenna and coax, it is a give, he will switching trucks, no time and doesn't wanna pay shop fees with every run, load, etc... The match box is fine, guarantees he will not generate a bunch of shop costs... It guarantees nothing of the sort, since any improvement is marginal at best..... more than likely he wouldn't notice the difference in a blind comparison. What he -will- notice is that his bandwidth is now more limited (actually -increasing- SWR on the high and low end of the band) because those matchboxes make pretty good preselectors. Any sensible person knows it is a no brainer... Any sensible person would want to know if he's wasting his money on a gimmick that sounds good in theory (and marketing) but does little or nothing for his intended application. He doesn't want to get a damn engineering degree, he wants to use it... Maybe you missed this part: .... Just plug it in and talk. If someone hears you, great. If they don't, there's probably nothing you can do short of a full and proper install that will get you heard. ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
#9
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On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 23:11:03 -0700, "John Smith"
wrote: +The match box is fine, guarantees he will not generate a bunch of shop costs... + +Any sensible person knows it is a no brainer... + +He doesn't want to get a damn engineering degree, he wants to use it... +John ****** A matchbox only fools the transmitter into thinking it sees a proper load. It does nothing for the standing waves that already exist on the coax. It does not improve antenna performance. james |
#10
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On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 22:56:21 -0700, Frank Gilliland
wrote: On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 23:54:05 -0400, wrote in : If you move the radio from location to location just check the reading. If it's 2:1 or lower don't worry about it. Thanks, I have an SWR meter from radio shack that I've used in the past. I know how to use it. My problem is that I'll be in a different truck everyday and wont be able to set the SWR the way I want to. On Monday I'm gonna call the cb shop that I saw online and ask them about the SWR match box. Below is a cut and paste of this product. Let me know if this will set the SWR without having to mess with the antenna's. "Don't "Live with" High SWR Readings! This Matcher will tune your SWR very low, simply insert inline between radio & Antenna. Has 2 Adjustment knobs. Perfect for Radios with wide channel coverage, indoor antennas, non-tunable mobile antennas, or for using 10 thru 12 meters off 1 antenna. Handles 80w pep. Requires either an SWR meter built into radio, or an optional SWR meter between Radio & Matcher." This is a line flattener. ....oh brother, more voodoo CB terminology. http://www.rockwellcollins.com/ecat/gs/LF-2040.html http://www.listserve.com/archives/co.../msg00270.html http://www.listserve.com/archives/co.../msg00270.html http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/acs/radios/HF-8040.htm http://www.valcom.ca/Guelph/products...-30_photo.html Yup. Sure looks like the term "Line Flattener" is "more voodoo CB terminology" |
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