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trying to get a good CB ground plane

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by TOYOTA 09, Nov 4, 2014.

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  1. Nov 18, 2014 at 5:56 AM
    #61
    maineah

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    maineah Well-Known Member

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    Just because the SWR is off does not mean it's too long you need to know the point of resonance it may well have been not long enough.
     
    maineah, Nov 18, 2014
    #61
  2. Nov 18, 2014 at 7:03 PM
    #62
    TOYOTA 09

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    TOYOTA 09 [OP] Kicking Ass Since 1981

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    I was under the assumption that if SWR IS HIGHER ON channel 40 then on channel 1 the antena is too long...and vice versa ...too short. I found this on right channel radios website
     
    TOYOTA 09, Nov 18, 2014
    #62
  3. Nov 19, 2014 at 4:52 AM
    #63
    maineah

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    maineah Well-Known Member

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    An antenna is resonate over a range of frequencies it is best to tune it in the middle of the band not at either end that way the SWR will be correct at both ends of the band. If you tune the antenna on ch 1 to the lowest SWR ch 40 most likely will suffer unfortunately you can't have it both ways. If you achieve a flat SWR in the center of the band both ends should be 2:1 or less. Don't stress over a 2:1 match that's fine. The cheap SWR meters are not overly accurate so you do the best you can with what you got and it will be close enough. Think about this the most popular CB frequency is 19 and that's about as close to the center as it comes so that would be where you want the antenna to work the very best. It is correct the higher the frequency the shorter the antenna but you need a starting point other wise you'll be chasing the SWR all across the band. If you haven't moved the antenna and you plan to once it's moved away from the cab you'r SWR will change.
     
    maineah, Nov 19, 2014
    #63
  4. Nov 23, 2014 at 3:17 PM
    #64
    TOYOTA 09

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    TOYOTA 09 [OP] Kicking Ass Since 1981

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    Moved the antena from the center to far left drivers side....it's still up against the cab....antena mount is grounded but my SWR is higher around 5. I probably should have just left things the way they were when I first connected everything...at that point I had an SWR of 2.5

    I think buy cutting 1/4 inch off the antena I f'd it up or made it too short. I'm gonna buy a firstick tunable tip and see if that helps.
     
    TOYOTA 09, Nov 23, 2014
    #64
  5. Nov 23, 2014 at 3:19 PM
    #65
    LUSETACO

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    LUSETACO Here for the Taco Pron

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    Yes
    Fixed. :)
     
    LUSETACO, Nov 23, 2014
    #65
  6. Nov 23, 2014 at 3:30 PM
    #66
    username

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    Being a radio tech, I have never understood why people spend so much money and effort even messing with CB band. Even a $32 chinese handheld ham will outperform almost any legal CB radio. Why even mess with it?
    $18 BAOFENG UV-5R Dual Band Two Way Radio (Black), 144-148MHz & 420-450MHz
    http://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-UV5R-136-174-400-480-Dual-Band/dp/B007H4VT7A

    I've noticed CB is really only good for line of sight up close even under the best conditions, even if you don't want to do the Ham thing there are cheap motorola FRS radios that will do that... I use these for hunting and road trips, 35 mile rated range is a bit of a stretch, but five miles car to car LOS no problemo. http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-MR350R-35-Mile-22-Channel-Two-Way/sim/B001UE6MJ8/2
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2014
    username, Nov 23, 2014
    #66
  7. Nov 23, 2014 at 3:39 PM
    #67
    LUSETACO

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    LUSETACO Here for the Taco Pron

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    My CB gets out just fine. :notsure:
     
    LUSETACO, Nov 23, 2014
    #67
  8. Nov 23, 2014 at 3:53 PM
    #68
    TOYOTA 09

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    TOYOTA 09, Nov 23, 2014
    #68
  9. Nov 23, 2014 at 3:54 PM
    #69
    TOYOTA 09

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    TOYOTA 09 [OP] Kicking Ass Since 1981

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    Just order a regular fire stick cable and tunable tip firstick II antena....I'll post updates when done.
     
    TOYOTA 09, Nov 23, 2014
    #69
  10. Nov 23, 2014 at 3:59 PM
    #70
    maineah

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    maineah Well-Known Member

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    maineah, Nov 23, 2014
    #70
  11. Nov 23, 2014 at 4:00 PM
    #71
    LUSETACO

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    LUSETACO Here for the Taco Pron

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    Yes
    .
     
    LUSETACO, Nov 23, 2014
    #71
  12. Nov 23, 2014 at 4:08 PM
    #72
    maineah

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    maineah Well-Known Member

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    I've noticed CB is really only good for line of sight up close even under the best conditions, even if you don't want to do the Ham thing there are cheap motorola FRS radios that will do that... I use these for hunting and road trips, 35 mile rated range is a bit of a stretch, but five miles car to car LOS no problemo. http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-MR350R-35-Mile-22-Channel-Two-Way/sim/B001UE6MJ8/2[/QUOTE]

    Be careful of flying pigs.
     
    maineah, Nov 23, 2014
    #72
  13. Nov 23, 2014 at 4:21 PM
    #73
    username

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    username, Nov 23, 2014
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  14. Nov 23, 2014 at 5:45 PM
    #74
    bobank

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    bobank Well-Known Member

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    bobank, Nov 23, 2014
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  15. Nov 23, 2014 at 6:15 PM
    #75
    TOYOTA 09

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    TOYOTA 09 [OP] Kicking Ass Since 1981

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    And thread has been derailed!
     
    TOYOTA 09, Nov 23, 2014
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  16. Nov 23, 2014 at 6:20 PM
    #76
    username

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    username, Nov 23, 2014
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  17. Nov 23, 2014 at 6:21 PM
    #77
    username

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    It's TW, I thought that was encouraged. My bad. :D Fwiw, I have my antenna center mounted on my roof. Also, the bedsides have ground wires behind the tail lights that connect to the frame.
     
    username, Nov 23, 2014
    #77
  18. Nov 24, 2014 at 5:20 AM
    #78
    maineah

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    maineah Well-Known Member

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    maineah, Nov 24, 2014
    #78
  19. Nov 24, 2014 at 5:38 AM
    #79
    maineah

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    maineah Well-Known Member

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    Not really CB outlaws cause all kinds of problems on numerous forms of communication. Every so often they get caught and receive fines that resemble a down payment on a nice house.
     
    maineah, Nov 24, 2014
    #79
  20. Nov 24, 2014 at 5:59 AM
    #80
    maineah

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    maineah Well-Known Member

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    maineah, Nov 24, 2014
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BAOFENG UV-5R Dual Band Two Way Radio (Black), 144-148MHz & 420-450MHz
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