SWR Meter

[Chris]

I know quite a few of you have one, anyone close to Aurora that I can use? I figure it shouldn't take more than a few minutes to see if my antenna needs any adjustment.

TIA! :thumb:

[sunk]

I will be available tomorrow evening, if no one helps you out by then.

[Brad]

How do you adjust a CB antenna?

[Mporter]

How do you adjust a CB antenna?

You either get an adjustable tip one (basically a screw that you adjust in or out) or you unravel some of the wire at the top and trim it.

I just picked mine up again from Mitch (speedwagon) but it's down in lakewood, and im in boulder
Sorry Chris.

[Brad]

Mine has a screw in tip. I was looking for more of a procedure based on the swr meter than a definition.

[Chris]

How do you tune a CB antenna? ;)

[Mporter]

Basically you tune it on channel 1 and then on channel 40. And based on the readings you get from that, you adjust the tip accordingly (i can't remember which way exactly as it was a long time since i did it.) but google can fill in the blanks.

[Brad]

Let me Google "How do you tune a CB antenna?" for you


Is it me or is that just a d**ksih thing to do?

Thank you Matt. That is what I was looking for.

[Mporter]

And the goal is to get the SWR on both 1 and 40 to be about as close as you can. that way you get the best SWR on ch 19 (commonly used). There's also stuff out there that tells you how to tune it if you want better performance on more specific channels (i.e. channel 5 or 30, etc)

http://firestik.com/Tech_Docs/swr-intro.htm
http://firestik.com/Tech_Docs/Setting_SWR.htm
http://firestik.com/Tech_Docs/Off-tune.htm

Firestik has some good stuff on their website. That's where all the above links are from
http://firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm

[scout man]

Is it me or is that just a d**ksih thing to do?
That goes back to a member we had here before you came around. He really needed it and got it quite frequently. Its become a bit of a joke. The nice thing is, you will get to do it to Chris one day too!!

[Brad]

Awesome info Matt! I have a tunable tip firestick, so that relates directly to what I asked. :thumb:

I look forward to the day Steve! :D

I was not trying to say it in defense but more a opinion request. ;)

[Mporter]

No problem. I got a tuneable tip firestik as well. just makes it so much easier and you don't have to worry about f***ing up the antenna by chopping too much wire on it.

Ah good ol' Zach. T'was an interesting period, I wonder if he ever started working on that truck.

[Haku]

No problem. I got a tuneable tip firestik as well. just makes it so much easier and you don't have to worry about f***ing up the antenna by chopping too much wire on it.

Ah good ol' Zach. T'was an interesting period, I wonder if he ever started working on that truck.

I just talked to him.....it looks like this now....

http://image.minitruckinweb.com/f/8240297/0802mt_04_z+monster_minitrucks+ford_ranger.jpg

but with two hours of work can look like this...

http://image.automotive.com/f/features/ford/8556432+pheader/0607mt_01_z+1994_ford_ranger_splash+front_drivers_ side_view.jpg

and on weekends looks like this....

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/1216/3421/3039210022_large.jpg

:p

[AccordRanger]

I just talked to him.....it looks like this now....

http://image.minitruckinweb.com/f/8240297/0802mt_04_z+monster_minitrucks+ford_ranger.jpg

but with two hours of work can look like this...

http://image.automotive.com/f/features/ford/8556432+pheader/0607mt_01_z+1994_ford_ranger_splash+front_drivers_ side_view.jpg

and on weekends looks like this....

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/1216/3421/3039210022_large.jpg

:p

:lmao::lmao::lmao: That's grand!

[Chris]

:lmao: Yep! Seriously every antenna comes with tuning instructions, I should have been more thoughtful and said RTFM.

[Brad]

I should have been more thoughtful and said RTFM.

THAT I would have understood! :D

[DaJudge]

I'm in Aurora and have an SWR meter. Did you ever find one?

[Chris]

I haven't found one close to me Al, I'm not in a hurry and IIRC you live by my daughter. I'm by the Aurora Municipal Building which I believe you're familiar with. ;)

[Rob]

I should have been more thoughtful and said RTFM.

This from the guy who avoids RTFM himself. :)

[Chris]

I would RTFM if my ADD permitted! Fortunately the manual for tuning an anyenna is about 4 sentences long. :D

[Chris]

Thanks for the offers folks but I'm going to stay untuned for now since it's always seemed fine. Giving it more thought I've never tuned a CB antenna in the past.

[DaJudge]

I haven't found one close to me Al, I'm not in a hurry and IIRC you live by my daughter. I'm by the Aurora Municipal Building which I believe you're familiar with. ;)

If/when you want it just say the word. I can bring it to work and you can pick it up at the courthouse.

[Chris]

If/when you want it just say the word. I can bring it to work and you can pick it up at the courthouse.

Thanks Al, I'll take you up on that some time.