CB Radio and Antenna HELP

So I recently installed a Cobra 29LTD Classic with a Fire stix tunable tip antenna. No matter which way I tune (up or down) I seem to be running hot. I can turn my SWR down on the ratio but then my range it cut considerably. Does the Antenna have to be grounder to my truck? What can I do other than the usual tuning to figure out whether or not my antenna is to long or to short?

 

Yes the antenna base should be grounded to the main body of the truck. Under the rubber tip of your antenna theres a bolt and jam nut adjust the bolt out until your srw is around 1.5 or as close to 1as you can.

 

I've done that and no matter how far in or out I bring it, it still stays the same. I'm going to ground the antenna and try it again. That could have been my problem all along. Thank you for your help. I will let you know if it works.

 

i had trouble with mine not working right and figured out that the antenna was grounding itself out because it was making contact with the metal mount
the antenna has to have something between it and the mount to work correctly
the mount does not have to be grounded to the truck, because mine is just drilled into my toolbox and the coax cable was screwed in and now it works right
hope this helps!!

 

You'll get standing waves on the coax if the base mounting is not grounded. also an added spring is going to change your swr the antenna will have to be adjusted.

 

i dont notice it on my cb
but my mount is custom made and all metal so i dont know if that helps me not to have waves

 

If you have a voltmeter, check your coax to see if it has any resistance, could be grounding out (possible kink, anything is possible). Try adjusting the swr without the spring.

 

Sometimes the length of your coax will mess up your swr. I always run a 18ft coax and then curl up the excess.