Project Danger Cart
#271
☠ CF Sheriff ☠
Thread Starter
yea i know how to adjust everything on the radio, and my antenna is not tuneable. May need to do that though if I can't figure it out. I know i need to fix my body to battery ground so maybe that'll help.
#272
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Cloquet, MN
Posts: 976
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
5 Posts
Year: 2000 Ltd.
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
The way you want to tune (assuming you want the best SWR on CH19) it is to get the SWR the same on channels 1 and 40. That will give you the best possible on CH19 for your setup. If memory serves me since you're SWR is much higher on CH40 than CH1 your antenna is "long" and need to be shorter. Even though you may not have a "tunable" antenna, they still are tunable and should be tuned. What you have to do in that case is physically cut the antenna down to what you need. Same thing goes for SS whips. You if there's not an adjustment to extend or shorten the antenna, they typically come from the factory long and then you trim accordingly. Hope this helps. I just went through this not too long ago with mine.
Here's the link to Firestik's tech page on tuning. http://firestik.com/Tech_Docs/Setting_SWR.htm I'm assuming you're run across their tech page in your research, but if not it's a wealth of info.
Here's the link to Firestik's tech page on tuning. http://firestik.com/Tech_Docs/Setting_SWR.htm I'm assuming you're run across their tech page in your research, but if not it's a wealth of info.
Last edited by Northwoods Snowman; 09-07-2012 at 11:13 AM.
#273
☠ CF Sheriff ☠
Thread Starter
Yea i actually checked and I had it backwards. CH 1 is high, and CH 40 is low, so i'm "short".
I plan on adding a spring and possibly a quick disconnect in the near future, so we'll see how it turns out with those and some grounding checks/revisions.
I plan on adding a spring and possibly a quick disconnect in the near future, so we'll see how it turns out with those and some grounding checks/revisions.
#274
CF Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: The Florida State University
Posts: 8,387
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I-6 4.0 L
STOP USING THE RADIO!!!!!!!!! until you get it tuned properly. Spend the $20 and buy a tuneable firestik/wilson. The antenna you have can be cut (with a saw), but if you're off by and 1/8" of and inch too short, it's bad. Just get a a tuneable antenna. The best thing for the radio is to have the calibration stuff set at zero and have the antenna do the tuning.
#275
☠ CF Sheriff ☠
Thread Starter
whoh relax partner - I have it set right now so on ANY channel, i never go above a SWR reading of 3. Calibration isn't perfect, but I adjusted it so my SWR is within spec. My range i'm sure is ****ty like this, but it still works for now and won't damage the radio.
#276
CF Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: The Florida State University
Posts: 8,387
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I-6 4.0 L
I'm relaxed lol, I don't want you to blow a $100 radio is all lol. My point being, anything above a 2.5 swr, especially a 3 will fry a radio. Just turn it off for now and get yourself a tunable antenna. Or, you can run a 102" whip and spring. It has me at an swr of a 1.5 through all channels.
#277
No, I don't lick fish.
STOP USING THE RADIO!!!!!!!!! until you get it tuned properly. Spend the $20 and buy a tuneable firestik/wilson. The antenna you have can be cut (with a saw), but if you're off by and 1/8" of and inch too short, it's bad. Just get a a tuneable antenna. The best thing for the radio is to have the calibration stuff set at zero and have the antenna do the tuning.
#278
CF Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: The Florida State University
Posts: 8,387
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I-6 4.0 L
Hey Dukie, what are you wanting the quick disco for? I have a heavy spring on mine with the 5' firestik and it only takes a minute to unscrew the antenna - and if you add a lock washer between the antenna and the spring, you can just fist-tighten the antenna and it won't ever come undone... mine has been on there for a year - only being taken off for parking garages and it has never loosened up on its own
Saw?!? You don't need a saw... the fiberglass mast is is just what the copper wire wraps around... the copper wire is actually the antenna - all you have to do it take the tip cap off, expose the copper wire, and nip off a little at a time until you reach the length you want. The only hard part about it is making sure you don't take off too much... but any CB shop worth their salt can make this happen without much effort.
Saw?!? You don't need a saw... the fiberglass mast is is just what the copper wire wraps around... the copper wire is actually the antenna - all you have to do it take the tip cap off, expose the copper wire, and nip off a little at a time until you reach the length you want. The only hard part about it is making sure you don't take off too much... but any CB shop worth their salt can make this happen without much effort.
#279
No, I don't lick fish.
Not sure why you would need to.... the purpose of the mast is just to have something to keep the copper wire up in the air - also acts as an insulator - the fiberglass mast has no transmitting properties whatsoever - that information is from an ARRL licensed General operator.
If you are cutting the wavelength of the antenna, you will need to cut the mast because you're cutting more than just a half of a wind or so off of the copper to fine-tune. Going down an entire wavelength means you have to remove quite a bit more copper which means you need less mast so that when you stretch the copper over it, the windings are properly spaced and tethered at both ends.
If you are cutting the wavelength of the antenna, you will need to cut the mast because you're cutting more than just a half of a wind or so off of the copper to fine-tune. Going down an entire wavelength means you have to remove quite a bit more copper which means you need less mast so that when you stretch the copper over it, the windings are properly spaced and tethered at both ends.
#280
☠ CF Sheriff ☠
Thread Starter
don't need to cut anything, I'm too short, not too long.
#281
Seasoned Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Roscoe, IL
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L 242 Power Tech I6
Originally Posted by dukie564
don't need to cut anything, I'm too short, not too long.
#282
::CF Administrator::
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Lantana, Fl
Posts: 34,042
Received 236 Likes
on
188 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.Slow
Originally Posted by zimbobwye
That's what she said! ..sorry, dukie. I'll bow my head in shame. But, couldn't pass that one up!
#285
No, I don't lick fish.
Originally Posted by mikefrost
You need to let me build you a bumper for that thing Justin