New England B.S. Thread

Years ago I got a nice print made of KJU's official headshot and framed it. Hung it on the wall among the family photos and my ex wife (a former Korean mil linguist) didn't notice it for a year. My brother finally saw it and asked about it. Her eyes about bugged out and she was speechless. She thought it was hilarious bit couldn't believe it had been there that long.

I also once fabricated an invitation letter from the DPRK Friendship and Brotherhood Association with a Chinese consulate return address asking her to attend a "peace and friendship" banquet.

 

Just a heads up. Connecticut General Assembly recently passed a bill to allow municipals to start issuing etickets. It will take some time for the devices to be in place, but they're coming.

 

I think he summed it up well. What are you redoing on the suspension..I remember you lifting it I think?

Mine is about a minute to remove, but I would need to see yours as mine's a 2010. I've had to pull the radio several times on the Rav4 though..like @Pugga said Youtube..plus use a plastic pry bar, zero marks on the trim.

OMG totally me and Cupcake. I usually fall asleep on the couch in the summer b/c she refuses to use the AC when she's sleeping and it gets so hot and stuffy upstairs even with windows and fans.

 

Alrighty folks, I’m going to need assistance setting up my CB.
I’ve got everything installed and hooked up, but my SWR indicates all channels at 3 or so.

Antenna is a 102” whip, so no adjustment there. It does sit on a spring though.
Center and ground are separate, checked that thru both the stud, connections, and coax cable. I have the ground attached to the frame (indirectly), so I’m not sure what I’m missing.

Here’s where it sits at the moment:

 

I’d start by removing the spring and seeing what the SWR reading is without it.

 

Same deal unfortunately. Just about 3.0

 

@cttz

Check for ground, from mount to frame, and from radio to frame.

If that proves out, check for continuity through cable.etc

 

Mount to frame is good. Less than 5 ohm.

Not sure how to check radio to frame. Though I did hook the ground wire up to my added fuse block, so that should be ok.

Cable continuity is good.

Maybe interference from the bed rack could be a thing?

 

Did you file off the powder coat from the holes on the antenna mount? Need good metal to metal connection, both at the spring and at the bolts into the bed.

 

I'll have to check that out. I have Klein tools and I can say they are top quality.

 

Made a bare metal bracket with a wire run to ground.
Bolt on bed is where it’s attached and makes decent connection to frame.

 

Ground for radio gear can be very picky. Did you clean the frame down to bare metal where the contact patch is?

Also, is your whip tunable? Take a look at the tip and see if it's threaded.

Edit: I see you already said whip not tunable

 

I did not clean the frame. The first pic is where I “grounded” it. The resistance reading is under 5, but it might be an issue.

Antenna is not tunable, just has the little ball tip.

I did notice I might have overtightened the collar on the cable to the antenna, and kinda broke it… I’ll have to try my other cable (new one that came in the kit) to see if that solves it. If it does, I’m just a dumbass…

 

Changing this out is going to be a pain… I had the whole thing wired and fed thru the grommet under the passenger seat…

 

Tie them together and pull. It's a lot easier the second time

Also i think i steered you wrong. You want metal to metal on the frame bolts, but you don't want the spring to contact the metal of the mount - that's what that plastic washer is for.

 

Well, I just tested the theory of the cable not touching entirely, and I think it’s right. I propped it up and made sure it’s straight. Without spring SWR ranges from 1.0-1.5 and with the spring SWR is 1.5-2.5

Basically. My cable was skewed just enough from touching the bed, ground contact became not the best? Means I drilled my hole too close, and to avoid making another one, I’m just going to scoot the DB cover back…

Also, yeah. That plastic washer is in the right spot:

 

Ok never mind, I’m at a loss. When I have the DB cover open even by the width of a pair of vice grips. SWR goes down to 2. Close the cover all the way and SWR goes up to 3…

 

Switch to gmrs?

 

When I frame ground vehc radios I like to clean a bare patch on the frame, weld a nut on, and use a stainless eye and stainless machine screw to attach an eye w/ a 90 degree boot packed full of dielectric. Mask the top of the but off when you repaint the weld/frame.

I've spent too much time chasing ghosts to think it isn't worth the time.

If you crimped those ends yourself on the antenna cable they might also be sketch - RG59 can be a pain with cheap crimpers and ends.