I have no static at all, something's wrong.

02RangerXLT · Jul 9, 2010

As some of you might know, I had a 9ft Belden Coax attached to a 4ft firestik on a hood mount. The mount started to rub paint off, so I built a mount that went across the bed rails.

I got a new 18ft firestik coax, and attached it, routed it, all that good stuff, and I also put a spring on. When I turned my radio on to see if I could hear static, there is no sound coming out of the radio, no static at all. Anyone know whats wrong with it?

I really can't think of what it could be besides maybe the ground on the bar, but the bolts are touching the bare metal of the bed, and the bed is grounded to the chassis so...

willievhook · Jul 9, 2010

Did you have it tuned after you moved it?

Did you put bushing on to keep the bolt from touching your ground plane?

I've also heard that "plug into the bottom of the antenna" coax didn't ground out very well...

02RangerXLT · Jul 9, 2010

willievhook said:
Did you have it tuned after you moved it?

Did you put bushing on to keep the bolt from touching your ground plane?

I've also heard that "plug into the bottom of the antenna" coax didn't ground out very well...

Nope, didn't tune it yet, because there aint any static, there should be static before you tune it anyway...

I put one of those things on the bracket... maybe I should do two, and enlarge my hole. I'll see what I can do.

Thanks

countryboy · Jul 9, 2010

i would run a ground from the the frame to the new bracket that way u know u have a good ground. run under some power-lines and see if you get any noise. that will let you now if you have a connection between the antenna and the coax.

02RangerXLT · Jul 9, 2010

Hmm, I drilled the hole out to the size that the package told me, and then put the nylon washer on, and it works good now. Thanks!

willievhook · Jul 10, 2010

Welcome

philmorley · Mar 20, 2011

What exactly was the problem you had? I believe i'm having the same issue with mine.

02RangerXLT · Mar 20, 2011

philmorley said:
What exactly was the problem you had? I believe i'm having the same issue with mine.

I messed up when I drilled the holes, and drilled too small of a hole. This setup is long gone, however.

:icon_thumby:

philmorley · Mar 20, 2011

I wonder why drilling too small of a hole had such an effect on the SWR. Sorry to beat a dead horse, but this issue is driving me insane.

02RangerXLT · Mar 20, 2011

philmorley said:
I wonder why drilling too small of a hole had such an effect on the SWR. Sorry to beat a dead horse, but this issue is driving me insane.

Because the mounting stud didn't fit at all, and I was lacking the nylon washer that is required for proper usage. I just didn't have the parts I needed.

Spott · Mar 21, 2011

The driven element was grounding out, so he effectively shorted out and bypassed the antenna.

The outside braid of the coax, and the shell of the connector, should be well connected to ground. The center conductor should connect to the antenna, and not to ground at all. At least that is the case with a vertical-style whip, which is what 99% of mobile CB setups use.

There are other antenna configurations, but they're large, and complicated, and the theory behind them is well beyond the scope of this discussion.

Spott

philmorley · Mar 22, 2011

Gotcha! I think that is the same issue I am having. Thanks for your help guys.

I have no static at all, something's wrong.

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