http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/Setting_SWR.htm

thought this was helpful....

 

Very nice write up!

I like this:I have occasionally had people tell me the coax length doesn't matter. But in fact, an odd number 1/4 wavelengths transforms the impedance. You need an even number of quarter wavelengths, or much less than a 1/4 wavelength for a short cable, to get a good match.

This is why a 15 to 22 foot length of coax is often the best. Getting it down around 8 to 12 feet, or up around 27 feet, may cause problems.

Also, we had that exact problem with Luke (shadyluke) when he mounted his antenna on his camper cap. He grounded the mount using a pretty long wire and it was acting as part of the antenna circuit (making his whip in to a dipole) and it wouldn't tune. I had him shorten the ground lead down to a foot or two long, and it tuned like a champ then.

 

cool, my uncle has the meter, but we didnt no how to use it, now ill have to check it.

 

yeah theres alot of good reading on there under the tech docs, just go back to the main page. it helped me out quite a bit.

 

I pretty sure i cant tune mine but i will ask anyways, i have a 102" steel whip is it tunable. and if not why do i have bad reception and a hole lot of static even when i mess with the squelch? and how do i get rid of it.

 

Either an engine noise problem, fuel pump problem, or other "emanator" of static. These are common on Rangers.

The other possibility is a bad ground at the antenna. You must make sure the sheild is grounded at the antenna end to ensure good performance.

Also, digital equipment you've added to the truck can radiate signals sometimes.

When noise is being radiated by something in the truck, it's a radio signal which your receiver pics up -- and the better the antenna, the louder the noise!

Does it do it when your truck is running only? Or when the key is on but not started? And if you can run it with the key off, that's helpful to look at also.

Let's start with those questions and see what else we can think of.

 

actually know that you mention it it is not that bad when the truck is off but i have noticed it gets really bad when i romp on the gas.

 

When you turn the squelch all the way down, it is supposed to go to "open squelch" which is nothing but static assuming there is nothing else on the channel.

If you don't hear any radio traffic ever, it means one of three things:

1. The radio is junk
2. The antenna or coax has a problem
3. There is nobody talking.

 

I've unfortunately never tuned my antennae (complicated by the fact that I alternate between a 3' and 5' firestikII) due to not knowing where to find/steal/borrow an SWR meter. Although I primarily use my CB to listen in on truckers for traffic info (and sometimes just for amusement) I would like my system optimized. The only abnormal condition I've noticed in my truck is that my horn causes significant static through my cab speaker.

 

Ha ha! Next time you come down for a meet, we'll tune all your antennas!

 

Ah, interesting -- I didn't think of it that way. I took his post to mean that no matter what he did with the squelch, all he got was static. My reply probably didn't make much sense to you, Matt, since you saw it differently, lol.

 

Well, if it is one or the other, he got an answer :)

 

LOL Well i know my radio is crap it is form radio shack but unless i am on the highway i cant get any good signals and i know there are some around, so i think myabe it is just my crappy radio. thanks all

 

Actually John we shortened it from about 2 feet to about 2 inches. I had real cookin good SWR then. I have to retune tho John since I got a cap now thats made for my truck and have to make a new mount.

 

Very good, Luke. I couldn't remember how short we made it, only that we shortened it!

Well, you know what to do now, so you should be good to go!

 

Yeah and we confirmed that the meter built into my radio functioned as it should compared to yours.