Hey Guys,

I got all of my stuff installed and now i tryed to tune the antenna but the lowest i could get the SWR Meter is like up around 3 rite at the red line. There are some pictures posted in the Vehicle Snapshots thread and on my cardomain page. The thread is called New Stuff. If you had any suggestions or ideas it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Anymore info?

Are you sure everythings grounded properly? Kinked coax? Is the coax dual PL-259 connectors or one pl-259 and the other a spade and circular washer type deal? Are those in good shape?

Where's it located on your truck?

 

I didnt know it had to be grounded. The coax is kinked but i did have to roll up the extra, but i rolled it in a big circle under the seat. I dont know what kind i coax it is. I just went to radio shack and got what they had. There are pictures on my cardomain page.

 

Just make sure your mount on the tool box has a good ground to the bed. Take an ohm meter and check from the outside of the PL259 connector with everything connected to a good known ground (should show 0 ohms or close to it). Then remove the antenna from the mount and the connector at the radio only and check from the center post for the antenna to ground....It should not show any reading (Open Circuit). Next, make sure your zeroing the SWR meter correctly.

If all that checks out ok its time to start trimming the antenna to adjust the SWR for the lowest reading.

 

How do i ground the mount.

 

It should be grounded by the antenna mounting screws to your tool box, but if your tool box is not grounded to the body, then put a black 14ga wire with a loop connector under one of the mounting screws for the antenna and run it down to a good known ground on the body. If you have an Ohm meter check it first before running a new wire.

 

Ok Thanks.

 

When grounding the antenna... try to ground to the frame rail when possible.... and use a piece of braded grounding strap for grounding. It provides a better path to ground since there are multiple fine wires in the strap....
DO NOT coil up the extra coax.... this will create a choke which decreases the received and transmitted signal... Just run the coax the long way around the truck cab..... Guarantee you will see the difference.....

There is no reason why you cannot tune your antenna to 1.1 to 1.... as long as the antenna signal is not obstructed by the cab of the truck, the antenna is grounded properly and you tune the antenna length with an antenna analyzer..

OR 4x4