1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site
    Quick Links: Installing Inverter in Cab Welcome to my next hell, need suggestions. CB/HAM communications Icom F121 2meter Radio / Repeater Use? What weight gear oil 15K maintenance

CB Antenna Tunning???

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by ETaco23, Apr 12, 2014.

  1. Apr 12, 2014 at 8:46 PM
    #1
    ETaco23

    #1
    ETaco23 [OP] Marshall offroad Fabrication

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2008
    Member:
    #4544
    Messages:
    5,513
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Evan
    PNW
    Vehicle:
    13' Pyrite Mica TRD Offroad DCSB 4x4
    Color Match Grille, Bed mat, Kings with JBA UCA's, Dakars and 34" BFG KM3, Snugtop Canopy, and my "Marshall Fabrication" Rock Sliders.
    I made me a custom bracket for my antenna, its like relentless's hood hinge bracket.. but on the passenger side.. well for the life of me cant get the SWR under 3.. I have a 4' composite antenna and 18' coax cable..
    And right now all channels are at 3+ swr... whats the deal?
    I know i have the antenna bracket connections for the coax correct but cant figure this out!! Help! Please..
     
    ETaco23, Apr 12, 2014
    #1
  2. Apr 12, 2014 at 8:49 PM
    #2
    snowgod06

    #2
    snowgod06 UG legend wannabe

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2009
    Member:
    #16454
    Messages:
    5,576
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rob
    A farm field, OREGON
    Vehicle:
    06 Access Cab
    crap bolted and welded together....
    antenna could be to tall, are you making sure your in the open for tuning? No trees, power lines, buildings, stuff like that.
     
    snowgod06, Apr 12, 2014
    #2
  3. Apr 12, 2014 at 8:53 PM
    #3
    BamaToy1997

    #3
    BamaToy1997 Wheel Bearing Master

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2012
    Member:
    #71846
    Messages:
    10,792
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bill
    Navarre, FL
    Vehicle:
    1997 Tacoma 4X4 AKA "Blue Beast"
    best wheel bearings around! www.marionbumper2bumper.com
    As Snow mentioned, you should be in an open area, with no trees or buildings. I will ask this, are you SURE that you are using the SWR meter correctly? If not done the right way you will get incorrect high readings. Other things that will cause high SWR are broken wires in antenna, bad pins on the ends of the antenna cable, incorrectly mounted antenna base (not grounded properly, or signal conductor accidentally grounded) incorrectly connected cable ends.
     
    BamaToy1997, Apr 12, 2014
    #3
  4. Apr 12, 2014 at 8:58 PM
    #4
    MrGrimm

    #4
    MrGrimm Mall Crawler

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2009
    Member:
    #24568
    Messages:
    2,849
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dean
    Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2006 Toyota Tacoma 4WD w/TRD Sport Package
    See build page
    MrGrimm, Apr 12, 2014
    #4
  5. Apr 12, 2014 at 9:12 PM
    #5
    ETaco23

    #5
    ETaco23 [OP] Marshall offroad Fabrication

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2008
    Member:
    #4544
    Messages:
    5,513
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Evan
    PNW
    Vehicle:
    13' Pyrite Mica TRD Offroad DCSB 4x4
    Color Match Grille, Bed mat, Kings with JBA UCA's, Dakars and 34" BFG KM3, Snugtop Canopy, and my "Marshall Fabrication" Rock Sliders.
    I will check the ground again.. because everything i read say it most likely is the ground...
     
    ETaco23, Apr 12, 2014
    #5
  6. Apr 12, 2014 at 9:16 PM
    #6
    ETaco23

    #6
    ETaco23 [OP] Marshall offroad Fabrication

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2008
    Member:
    #4544
    Messages:
    5,513
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Evan
    PNW
    Vehicle:
    13' Pyrite Mica TRD Offroad DCSB 4x4
    Color Match Grille, Bed mat, Kings with JBA UCA's, Dakars and 34" BFG KM3, Snugtop Canopy, and my "Marshall Fabrication" Rock Sliders.
    I am doing my reading correctly. And in the middle of a field.
     
    ETaco23, Apr 12, 2014
    #6
  7. Apr 12, 2014 at 9:17 PM
    #7
    snowgod06

    #7
    snowgod06 UG legend wannabe

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2009
    Member:
    #16454
    Messages:
    5,576
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rob
    A farm field, OREGON
    Vehicle:
    06 Access Cab
    crap bolted and welded together....
    their must be some bad connection somewhere, or even possibly a crap antenna. <<--- that doesnt happen often, but is possible.
     
    snowgod06, Apr 12, 2014
    #7
  8. Apr 23, 2014 at 8:07 AM
    #8
    ETaco23

    #8
    ETaco23 [OP] Marshall offroad Fabrication

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2008
    Member:
    #4544
    Messages:
    5,513
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Evan
    PNW
    Vehicle:
    13' Pyrite Mica TRD Offroad DCSB 4x4
    Color Match Grille, Bed mat, Kings with JBA UCA's, Dakars and 34" BFG KM3, Snugtop Canopy, and my "Marshall Fabrication" Rock Sliders.
    Still not getting good SWR!! even after moving the antenna with a new mount and grounded the mount to the cab.
    The new mount is right next to my tool box on the drivers side..

    My next option's I think are either bad/crappy Coax or antenna.. Or its just the location has crappy Ground Plane and its just the way its going to be.

    Ive check continuity of everythng with a multimeter.. And everything seems good. even the coax.. But maybe the coax just sucks. Its a Radio Shack special. :)
     
    ETaco23, Apr 23, 2014
    #8
  9. Apr 23, 2014 at 8:53 AM
    #9
    tan4x4

    #9
    tan4x4 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2011
    Member:
    #67982
    Messages:
    3,809
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rick
    Folsom, CA
    Vehicle:
    99 Tacoma EC 4x4 2.7L Auto
    Bilsteins, OME 881's, 3-leaf AAL, Detroit TruTrac, Tundra brake swap, Michelin LTX AT2, Tranny skidplate, TC skidplate, CBI rear bumper, TG sliders, UltraGauge, PowerTank, Reverse Camera
    Does your DB mount look exactly like this? If not, that could be the issue.

    [​IMG]
     
    tan4x4, Apr 23, 2014
    #9
  10. Apr 23, 2014 at 5:33 PM
    #10
    ETaco23

    #10
    ETaco23 [OP] Marshall offroad Fabrication

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2008
    Member:
    #4544
    Messages:
    5,513
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Evan
    PNW
    Vehicle:
    13' Pyrite Mica TRD Offroad DCSB 4x4
    Color Match Grille, Bed mat, Kings with JBA UCA's, Dakars and 34" BFG KM3, Snugtop Canopy, and my "Marshall Fabrication" Rock Sliders.
    yes, my connections are good and im getting no shorts...
     
    ETaco23, Apr 23, 2014
    #10
  11. Apr 23, 2014 at 5:43 PM
    #11
    TXpro4X4

    #11
    TXpro4X4 Fuck Cancer!

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2011
    Member:
    #66093
    Messages:
    27,905
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bryan
    Costa Mesa, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 TOY
    Toy Stuff..... Faktor Amber lights on in the grill. Under front bumper led rock lighting. Center counsel c.b mod with under the hood p.a. Anytime foglight mod. R.G.B tape light for inside toekick lighting. Front and back. Front weathertech floor mats. De-Baged except TOY on tailgate. FJ style 6 speed shifter knob. Rubber tacoma bed mat. Trd exhaust. Trd 16in beadlocker style wheels. Electrical a/c 115volt plug/usb mod next to passenger knee. Fox 2.5 coilovers. Icon 2.0's in the rear. Rear locker any-time mod. Abs kill switch mod. All Pro ISF front skid Pelfrey built front differential skid Baja design pro pods Rigid pods CBI pods brackets Mobtown tailgate guard RIP Mobtown Caliraised rear amber pod lights CJ Jumper- map, running, amber fog, reverse, and license plate led bulbs Pedal Commander
    What is an swr meter? And where would I find one?
    I have a cb, didn't know you needed to tune? It .
    Also how would you know if you needed at all?
     
    TXpro4X4, Apr 23, 2014
    #11
  12. Apr 23, 2014 at 6:57 PM
    #12
    MrGrimm

    #12
    MrGrimm Mall Crawler

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2009
    Member:
    #24568
    Messages:
    2,849
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dean
    Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2006 Toyota Tacoma 4WD w/TRD Sport Package
    See build page
    Get an SWR meter on eBay. Look up how to use one on YouTube. And yes it needs to be tuned.
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    MrGrimm, Apr 23, 2014
    #12
  13. Apr 29, 2014 at 12:01 PM
    #13
    TXpro4X4

    #13
    TXpro4X4 Fuck Cancer!

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2011
    Member:
    #66093
    Messages:
    27,905
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bryan
    Costa Mesa, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 TOY
    Toy Stuff..... Faktor Amber lights on in the grill. Under front bumper led rock lighting. Center counsel c.b mod with under the hood p.a. Anytime foglight mod. R.G.B tape light for inside toekick lighting. Front and back. Front weathertech floor mats. De-Baged except TOY on tailgate. FJ style 6 speed shifter knob. Rubber tacoma bed mat. Trd exhaust. Trd 16in beadlocker style wheels. Electrical a/c 115volt plug/usb mod next to passenger knee. Fox 2.5 coilovers. Icon 2.0's in the rear. Rear locker any-time mod. Abs kill switch mod. All Pro ISF front skid Pelfrey built front differential skid Baja design pro pods Rigid pods CBI pods brackets Mobtown tailgate guard RIP Mobtown Caliraised rear amber pod lights CJ Jumper- map, running, amber fog, reverse, and license plate led bulbs Pedal Commander
    Ok
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    TXpro4X4, Apr 29, 2014
    #13
  14. Apr 29, 2014 at 5:32 PM
    #14
    ETaco23

    #14
    ETaco23 [OP] Marshall offroad Fabrication

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2008
    Member:
    #4544
    Messages:
    5,513
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Evan
    PNW
    Vehicle:
    13' Pyrite Mica TRD Offroad DCSB 4x4
    Color Match Grille, Bed mat, Kings with JBA UCA's, Dakars and 34" BFG KM3, Snugtop Canopy, and my "Marshall Fabrication" Rock Sliders.
    still havent got mine right yet.. Im going to try a spring on it next to see if that helps..
    Then I will do a new coax, (better quality)
     
    ETaco23, Apr 29, 2014
    #14

Products Discussed in

USA Made PL-259 Improved Double Shielded RG-58u for FireStik Antenna K-8A 18-Foot Single CB/Ham Coax Cable
$37.70
To Top