Big SWR problem

[ExpoMike]

Here might be a good primer on antennas and racks and the why you don't want to do that and the problems with doing so. It could be part of your problem.

http://www.olypen.com/craigh/ant-rack.htm

Good luck.

 

[Snagger]

Thanks for that link - it's interesting information.

The roof rack is well earthed, but it could be the problem.

I made a dummy load to test the transciever (I couldn't get the right resistors, so the load had 58 ohms rather than the ideal 50), but it gave the same readings as the antenna, so I still have concerns over this second hand radio unit.

 

[Snagger]

I took all my kit and the vehicle to Thunderpole (a CB specialist about 25 miles from home). The SWR of the antenna stsyem is slightly higher than ideal, between 1.7 and 2.0 depending on whicgh meter was used to test it, theirs or mine, but was consistent regarless of trying one of their short and another of their long antennas and also bypassing my co-ax with a length of free-running co-ax from their testing equipment (is must be the roof rack causing it).

The big discovery was that my SWR meter has been built incorrectly, with the FWD/REF switch wired up the wrong way round. This was the second meter, the first having been swapped with exactly the same readings and suspected as faulty. So, if you have a Moonraker SWR-100 meter and get odd readings, that's the reason.

 

[Snagger]

The transciever came back from repair, so I fitted today. With a little trimming of the antenna, I have achieved an SWR of 1.3 across the UK band on my meter, which would be 1.6 on the shop's, and marked the antenna at a position which also gives 1.3 across the EU band (8mm longer than the UK length). I'm satisfied with that result.

 

[TNxterra]

Not all of us young guys are ignorant to the camel trophy. I have read and seen a few articles about it. I would have loved to have been a part of it, but being meerly 28 myself I'm a little young to have been a part of that.
I'm running a built cobra 29. I would recomend that you find a good truck stop and you should be able to find a good radio shop and they can tune it for you. They can also peak and tune your radio for better performance.
Cheers

 

[PhulesAU]

Not all of us young guys are ignorant to the camel trophy. I have read and seen a few articles about it. I would have loved to have been a part of it, but being meerly 28 myself I'm a little young to have been a part of that.
I'm running a built cobra 29. I would recomend that you find a good truck stop and you should be able to find a good radio shop and they can tune it for you. They can also peak and tune your radio for better performance.
Cheers

Not likley to happen in the UK ( Merry Old England) The band is different and He could probably just do it at home easier.