CB specifics

True, there is factory paint on the hood hinge and I'm not willing to remove that lol, So for the wire I guess I would just use ring terminals to attach to the stud and the battery (or chasis ground)?

 

Yes. The paint WILL affect the GROUND. Always needs to be no paint. But u can take to the chasis or straight to negative terminal. I think if u do that ur SWR will drop.

 

It is not only possible, it says to me that you have the antenna tuned correctly.

An antenna, based on it's electrical length and physical length, resonates at one frequency. Since you have a near perfect SWR at Channel 19 (27.185 MHz), that means your antenna is resonate at that frequency. Channel 19 is the center of the CB band. Therefore, channel 1 and channel 40, which are at the ends of the band (26.965 Mhz and 27.405 Mhz, respectively) are evenly spaced from channel 19. The fact that you have the same SWR on 1 and 40 also indicates that you are tuned correctly to the middle of the band, channel 19. Channels 2-18 and channels 39-20 will each be nearer and nearer to a 1:1 SWR, the nearer you get to 19.

You can fiddle around with the ground, you can fiddle around with coax routing, you can try a different mounting position. But I don't think that will help the Firefly have a broader bandwidth, which is what you need to have a 1:1 at center frequency and less than 2:1 at the ends of the frequency band.

For what it's worth, you are good to go if you are at 2:1 or less on all channels and really good to go if you are near perfect on channel 19.

 

I'll probably mess around with it some more in the warmer weather, but for now at least I have something that is operable. If i try this out I'll report back with the results. Thanks for the help!

Yea i kind of figured that once channel 1 and 40 are reading the same, the antenna has been tuned as well as it can be for the given setup. I may mess with it in the warmer weather but like you said, im perfect at channel 19 which I think is pretty good for a 3' antenna. Thanks for the detailed info!

 

I did the same exact swap!

 

Don't know what everyone was talking about....my 980 bearcat fits fine...
Also purchased the wireless mic for $40 cad

 

Where do u think a Ranger RC1-2970N4 will fit? I have the manual 6spd. Dbl cab OR

 

Haha looks fine to me I put my 880 on the center console near my right leg

 

On or in the center console?

 

Maybe center console was the wrong words lol, here's a pic from the drivers seat looking down. It works out nice too beacuse the mic holder mounts on the radio right near the channel knob

 

Is this a 400Watt CB??

 

10/12 meters tuned from fine tune cb shop. Will be 11 meters when done. But yes to ur question. Gonna use the sirio performer whip with sirio mag mount.
Have no idea where to mount it. But I'm up for the challenge.

 

I just installed my

$65 Uniden Pro520XL Pro Series 40-Channel CB Radio. Compact Design. ANL Switch and PA/CB Switch. 7 Watts of Audio Output and Instant Emergency Channel 9. - Black

Uniden Pro520XL, Firestik 18' coax cable with Firering, Procomm HD barrel spring,

$44 Hustler QD-2 Antenna Quick Disconnect - Stainless Steel!

Hustler QD-2 Stainless Steel Quick Disconnect, and Francis 300 CB24B pre-tuned antenna.

SWR is 1.7 (channel 1) and 0.2 (channel 40)

How the heck do I tune this pre-tuned antenna?

Any constructive guidance is welcome.

Thanks


@WileECoyote and others

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xEtfOqgGdvU

That's your antenna. Can't do much!!

 

I wonder if anyone has tried to cut down a Francis antenna and achieved a lower SWR?

 

Are u sure u are doing the SWR meter right?
Hook up meter.
Turn on radio
Go to channel 1
Have the switch on meter set to FWD
Key mike and and turn knob to the set
While keying mike flip switch to ref
Take note of reading
Now go to channel 40
Repeat steps 4-7
Also u CAN NOT CUT DOWN THE ANTENNA. It's fiberglass may splinter it.

 

Yup. Did this exactly as you described.
I pretty sure I can cut it cleanly without splintering, then epoxy the end to prevent future fraying. I'm just wondering if this would correct the SWR ratio.

 

Step #1 ) Find a place that is clear of trees, buildings, other obstruction and other antennas that could give you false readings. The areas should be clear of objects by 50 feet or more in all directions.

Step #2 ) Place the meter inline between the radio and antenna using your coax jumper.

Step #3 ) Hook the jumper from radio to the TX or transmitter side of the meter and antenna to the ANT or antenna side of the meter.

Step #4 ) Turn the radio on and set it to channel 1.

[ Special note: If you will only be broadcasting on the CB bands & if your radio has SSB ( Single Side Band ) &/or is an export, make sure the selector knob is ine the "AM" position & the frequency display ( if your radio has one ) on Channel 1 shows 26.965 Mhz / Channel 20 Shows 27.205 Mhz / Channel 40 Shows 27.405 Mhz ]

Step #5 ) Turn the adjustment knob to the minimum or full counter clockwise position. Set the meter to the CAL or calibrate position.

Step #6 ) Key the mic and turn the calibration knob so that the needle moves to the CAL mark on the scale.

Step #7 )Set the meter switch to the SWR setting without touching the calibration knob.

Step #8 ) Key the mic and record the SWR meter reading.

Now repeat steps 5-8 on channel 40.

Also, just for reference, repeat steps 5-8 on Channel 20 ( which is the center of the 11-meter CB Band )

If the SWR is lower on channel 1 than channel 40, your antenna/whip is too long. If the SWR is higher on channel 1 than channel 40, your antenna/whip is too short.
Adjust your antenna in ¼ inch increments. Some antennas have a set screw that allows you to adjust the height of the whip and others must have some of the whip cut or ground off to adjust the SWR. Many of the whips are stainless steel and very hard to cut. A hacksaw, cutoff wheel, or bolt cutters will be necessary to cut these antennas.
After you make an adjustment, repeat steps 5 through 8 until your SWR is the same at both channel 1 and channel 40.
The goal is to get the lowest SWR possible. If your SWR is below 2.1:1 you are ok, 1.5:1 or less is what I would recommend . If you have or plan on getting an amp, you need an SWR of 1.3:1 or less. If you have tuned the antenna but still have a high SWR reading, you may try moving the antenna to another location on the vehicle or you may need to add ground straps to the vehicle for better bonding. Grounding & bonding is dicussed in another thread.

ADJUSTING SHORT ANTENNAS


If SWR on channel 1 is greater than that on channel 40, your antenna is considered to be "SHORT" and increasing the physical and/or electrical length of the antenna is required to correct this situation. Because we make our antennas extra long, readings which indicate "Short" normally stem from ground plane deficiency (lack of vehicle metal surface for the antenna to reflect its signal rom). This condition is often corrected by adding a spring and/or quick disconnect to increase the physical height. Ground plane deficiencies can also be compensated for by using dual (co-phased) antennas or special no-ground-plane antenna kits.

NOTE: The shorter the antenna, the more sensitive it is to adjustments. For example, removing two wire turns on a 4 foot antenna might move the SWR by 0.3; the same amount removed from a 2 foot antenna may move the SWR by 1.0. Make smaller adjustments on shorter antennas.

 

Obstructions within the "near field", 36 feet will not have any serious effect on your VSWR reading. Certainly not enough to peg your meter. With meter readings like that, a shorted antenna mounting is most likely, followed by a faulty antenna cable connector, especially if you have a "Fire Ring" at the antenna end.

 

@WileECoyote
^
?
Mine tuned or not never an issue
Not saying poster^but as far as communications grounging.
Noob?

How can we help?
Maybe I'm looking too far forward into the post just looking to help