so you tuned the radio... at which frequency did you use to tune it? With CB freqencies, we're talkin about 26.965 MHz to 27.405 MHz, no?

what was the VSWR @ f?
what was the forward?
what was the reflected?

 

haha cb's are too much fun, That would look like sex on the back bumper, maybe take and old red pool noodle and slide it down so it doesnt bang up your bed

 

All I know (and the sad part is my directions for it flew out the window of my truck later the same day). The directions from the thing and the firestick book I had said to tune to every channel and have the SWR meter set to 10fwd, key up, then set to 100 REF and dial it in for the SWR.

Oh btw I wanted the paradynamics model, I forgot I got an astatic PDC1 instead b/c it was cheaper.

I have this meter:

After I tuned the CB, none of the channels were in the red at all. I admit all I did was read the directions and do what they said and adjust the little know near 1.1 or so. Cause otherwise the directions suck and I have not much a clue as to what your talking about. I keyed up, it was in the red in FWD and I dialed it back to the little itty bitty numbers on that meter on the bottom of the upper dial to about 1.1 and did this for every channel. SOmething tells me I didnt do this right, but I know I was able to get people alot better afterwards.

 

so tennis balls are passe'?

 

Ok so I tried to find the directions online for my SWR meter, no luck and I cant find the proper website either, all "astatic" brings up is audio mics and stuff.

What I did find is on cobras website about SWR tuning http://www.cobra.com/index.cfm?fusea...upport.FAQ#184 ..

So in laymens terms it said (if I am reading it right):
1. Set SWR meter in fwd position

2. Key the mic up and while key'd up adjust the little knob so that the needle is on the "set" marker on the dial

3. While still key'd up set the switch to "ref", your SWR is shown.

If SWR is not good, adjust the antenna (in my case the firestick screw at the top of the antenna?).

Is that what I need to do and do I need to do it for every channel or just 1, 19 and 40? I have a cobra 19 DX III and a firestick II no ground plane antenna.

 

you're getting somewhere there

me- 10-7.

 

So thats all I gotta do? And if the antenna is to long my SWR will be high on 1 and low on 40 and if to short high on 40 and lower on 1. According to cobra I am looking for them to be as CLOSE as possible. And do I tune all the channels or just 1, 19 and 40?

Sorry dude, I am clueless about this stuff beside the junky manuals I got. I wired the thing in expertly though, thats gotta count for something.

 

If you're going to be using all 40 channels regularly, then tune it on 21. You can actually tune it on either 19, 20 or 21 and be okay. Some guides say use 19 because channels 31-40 are often occupied by people using sideband transeivers which basic a.m. c.b.'s can't demodulate so using the lower channel to tune improves the antenna's performance across the lower 30 channels. If you're going to use one particular channel consistantly, tune the antenna at that channel for best performance.
After adjusting the antenna, check the VSWR at the lowest and highest channels just to be sure you'll be okay if you ever do use those channels.

 

Having a low SWR is really where it's at. Doesn't have much effect on recieving but really helps you get out there not to mention keep from frying your finals. I actually managed to get a 1.1 on my match and when combined with my radio being peaked and tuned....yeah we can get out.

 

I figured out wtf was wrong with my whole setup. Originally my SWR tuner came with crappy directions, so I had plugged the antenna and jumper cable in the way I thought it was supposed to be. Turns out I had them backwards...

I now have a 1.2.. on both 40 and 1 (its between 1.2 and 1.3) and a 1.1 on 21. No wonder I was going nuts tuning it all..stupid unlabeled SWR meter. Beware the astatics PDC1

 

What your actually doing is matching the ant to the rig. You only need to do this for channels 1 and 40. I used to install these and run 'em years ago. I still have my modified Uniden Grant XL and my Texas Star "16 candles".....1600 watts that swung up 2100. I just used it to talk around town.......lol. Remember you wanna keep the match as close to 1 on both channels as possible.