The Great SWR Meter Pass Around

Yeah

 

Are your channel 1 and 40 readings still 1.5 and 3? Last I heard you should try to tune them to the same on both channels. I think with my old Cobra I got similar readings, but I was able to get them both down to around 2. People said I came in loud and clear. I'm assuming you have a tuneable antenna?

If you have a budget setup I wouldn't have super high expectations getting the tuning down to the 1s. High 1s is probably the best you can ask for. It's also hard to get a vehicle setup tuned perfectly just because of the way everything is grounded. Optimally you want your antenna to be grounded on a "flat plane", which is a difficult feat. My antenna is grounded on my toolbox, which is bolted to the bed. My toolbox is alumimum so there's that

I think what's more important is getting it out of the 3 range. Obviously anything in the 3s is not good for your radio.

 

Maybe you can take a video of how you're testing it and of some of your wire connections. It's hard to diagnose electrical problems in FL from NJ lol

 

I know lol. I'm testing ground between the bottom of the mount/cable and the frame. I have signal there. When I do the same test from the top of the mount/antenna, I have no signal. Meaning my antenna isn't grounded, but my mount is.

 

It's a firestik. when I checked on channel 1, the meter pegged, and on channel 40, it was well above 3

 

@Pirhett i still haven't sent it. I'll get it out today. I actually forgot about it this weekend

 

Are you using a nylon washer between the antenna and the mount?

 

Yep

 

All good man take your time

 

How long is your cable? Is it kinked anywhere?

 

18ft. And no

 

Where is your radio itself grounded?

 

You mean for the power wires?

 

Yes

 

A bolt under the dash that goes to the body

 

Ground Directly to the Neg, post on the Battery then there's no question ! I've had all kinds of "Bad" grounding problems due to Body not being totally grounded.

 

Can you add me to the pass?

 

Could be your problem, I'm having a hell of a time dealing with a shit connection for my aux reverse lights. Pretty sure the ground point on the bumper is no good. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Very annoying.

 

Very first "Bad" ground problem I had was with the Tail lights , turn signals & Brake lights -Drove me F'n insane - " Good" ground" fixed all!

 

What ground did you end up using?