Bad Mic?

[JohnnyU]

I have an SWR meter Bray....

 

[feellnfroggy]

Bray look in the knoxville craigslist and use "cb" for your search factor, with shipping you should be able to find a pretty cheap quality cb. In any city for that matter.

 

[Bray D]

I have an SWR meter Bray....

Thanks John, but for 15 bucks, I may as well get one. That's about what it costs for me to drive to Chilli and back anyways haha. Have you got a good working radio in your rig? It would be nice to have good communication during the upcoming trip.

That being said, what is a decent brand SWR meter? I'll probably order all this crap online for the "ship to your door" convenience.

froggy - that's a good idea, but I'm not too hot on buying electronics used. I know some people get away with buying used stuff, but I always seem to get burned; and if its electronic, there's no hope in hell I'm gonna be able to fix it







How does antenna location affect the SWR? Or is the overall antenna height more important? I guess what I'm getting at is I don't want an antenna that's much taller than my cab. I could mount a shorter antenna on my bed rail, or a longer one lower in my bed to achieve the same overall height.

Which would be the better choice?

 

[JohnnyU]

Mines RadioShack. Offer stands if you dont want to have to buy one. I have a working radio in the Chevy and Dodge, although they both need to be tuned and peaked.


The center of the roof is the most idea location, but not always the most practical.

http://www.rightchannelradios.com/pages/cb-antenna-tuning-and-swr-explained-pv-c0-58.html

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/Equipment/How-to-Tune-a-C-B-Radio-Antenna.htm

http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/Off-tune.htm

 

[Bray D]

Yeah I've been reading like crazy about antenna/coax length, location, tuning, etc. Thanks for the links. I'll browse through them over the weekend.

From what I've read, I was doing EVERYTHING wrong haha. The new setup I want will be far from ideal, but should suffice for trail use.

 

[Bray D]

Welp everything is on its way. I went with the Uniden PRO520XL radio with 9' of Belden RG-8x coax (just a tad longer than what I need), 3' Firestik FireFly antenna, and an SWR with jumper cable.

Hoping everything comes in by the end of this coming week. Should give me enough time to get everything installed and tuned by our trip on Aug 14/15.

 

[bodkin1]

I have one of those Cobra 19's, a friend gave me it. Between that and the Uniden PC66XL I have in my truck it blows the 19 out of the water.
Notice they have started selling the 19's at Wal-Fart again. If it's being sold there you can bank on it not being a very great radio.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Best place for your antenna given that none wants to drill the roof is a small a frame style plate on a tool box in the bed, but if that isnt an option, a 6ft or taller whip on the corner of the bumper with flexing spring. Or 3 ft or taller mounted on the corner of the bedrail towards the back of the truck.

 

[02RangerXLT]

Since you do lots of off roading, get a spring... it helps 150% with the ability to go under lot hanging branches without killing your antenna.

 

[Bray D]

That's why I got the Firefly. It's supposed to be fairly flexible right? This is what I ordered:

http://www.walcottcb.com/firestik-fl3b-firefly-foot-flexible-antenna-p-897.html

I was gonna get a 3' Wilson FLEX since I read that Wilson is a great antenna. The reviews I read said some guys had trouble getting it to tune properly. The majority of the Firefly reviews said it was easily tunable and was a decent all around antenna.

My setup will be far from ideal. I don't plan to have a lot of the antenna sticking over my roofline. Hopefully it'll be flexible enough to handle what I'm going to drag it through. If not I'll look into getting a spring or may opt for the Wilson FLEX and see how it does. I guess you're supposed to be able to bend those suckers almost 180*.

Everything but my radio should be in tomorrow (already have my SWR meter and coax, waiting on antenna and radio). Radio should be waiting for me Monday. I'm excited to get all the new gear installed!

 

[02RangerXLT]

I would still get a spring IMO. I have springs on my 4ft firestiks, and I've driven through tree branches and they've been fine. They say that firefly is supposed to bend 180* or some crap like that, but I wouldn't want to risk it.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Def ned a spring, it allow 90* bending at the base so our not bending the antenna, its a def must offroad.

 

[Bray D]

I know what springs are for, but it'll raise the height of the antenna another 4-6" (whatever they are). I'm trying to stay as low as possible. I also know that cyclically bending the antenna isn't the best, and may lead to the antenna wire itself breaking even if the fiberglass portion doesn't.

I'm a stubborn bastard. I'll see how flexible it is when I get it. To be honest, even if its not that flexible, I'll probably run it till I break it - then look into gettin a spring or something.

Radio came in Friday. Still waiting on the antenna. Just checked UPS tracking and it was rescheduled. Should arrive tomorrow.

 

[feellnfroggy]

The antenna at hte cheapest is 25 bux, a spring is what 10 bux? So your looking at spending 35 minimum if its breaks? thats just crazy reasoning. and a spring will raise it what all of three inches? You have a 3ft antenna? So what if it is 3.5 ft with spring? That only puts it 8 inches above your roofline if you mount it on the bedrail. You may be stubborn but your not stupid. get the spring.

 

[02RangerXLT]

And actually, lighter duty springs cost less, and are shorter than a spring for full size fiberglass antennas like mine...