davidrfeeney
Member
Just setup my first CB radio. I am using a mobile CB radio as a base station in my home office. Getting very high SWR (over 3.0) with my preferred antenna. Here's the components:
RADIO: UNIDEN Bearcat 980SSB setup inside home office indoors on 2nd floor of home.
POWER: MegaWatt® S-400-12x 36 Amps 430 Watts 9.5 to 15 Volts Adjustable Ham CB Radio Power Supply 13.8V 12V https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LIBRKQM/ref=od_aui_detailpages00
CABLE TO ANTENNA: MPD Digital 18-Feet Double Shielded Coleman RG-213/U Cable with Silver PL259 Connectors https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00II76EDO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00
SWR METER: Driver's Product SWR Meter for CB Radio Antennas https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06VW7N5Q5/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00
ANTENNA: RADIOWAVZ DBZCB CB Double Bazooka 5KW CB BASE ANTENNA
USING DOUBLE BAZOOKA: Indoor mounted. SWR above 3 or higher no matter where positioned. SWR will go down to 2 if I am holding the SWR meter in my hand. Otherwise, 3 or higher. This antenna does bring in signal, and I have had contact with other CBers who confirmed they can hear me.
ALTERNATE ANTENNA: I hooked up a Wilson 1000 Series Magnetic Mount CB Antenna https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003H3L3U8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage Same SWR (3 or higher). When I hold the magmount antenna in my hand, the SWR goes down to 1 to 1.5. When I put magmount antenna on a metal base, SWR goes down to 1.5 to 2. BUT I cannot hear CBers, and have not gotten any confirmation that CBers can hear me transmitting with the Wilson.
FYI, the BEARCAT 980SSB internal SWR matches the external SWR readings 100%.
I'd like to find a way to use the RADIOWAVZ DBZCB CB Double Bazooka antenna since I paid for it, and with it I can actually hear local CBers and have confirmation of transmission. But I can't get the SWR down to safe levels, no matter where I have positioned it today.
I can get the WILSON Magmount down to safe SWR (1.5) but can't get the same reception, and haven't gotten anyone to confirm they can hear me using it.
Any/all feedback is appreciated! I took the plunge and I hope I can get these problems worked out soon.
David
RADIO: UNIDEN Bearcat 980SSB setup inside home office indoors on 2nd floor of home.
POWER: MegaWatt® S-400-12x 36 Amps 430 Watts 9.5 to 15 Volts Adjustable Ham CB Radio Power Supply 13.8V 12V https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LIBRKQM/ref=od_aui_detailpages00
CABLE TO ANTENNA: MPD Digital 18-Feet Double Shielded Coleman RG-213/U Cable with Silver PL259 Connectors https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00II76EDO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00
SWR METER: Driver's Product SWR Meter for CB Radio Antennas https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06VW7N5Q5/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00
ANTENNA: RADIOWAVZ DBZCB CB Double Bazooka 5KW CB BASE ANTENNA
USING DOUBLE BAZOOKA: Indoor mounted. SWR above 3 or higher no matter where positioned. SWR will go down to 2 if I am holding the SWR meter in my hand. Otherwise, 3 or higher. This antenna does bring in signal, and I have had contact with other CBers who confirmed they can hear me.
ALTERNATE ANTENNA: I hooked up a Wilson 1000 Series Magnetic Mount CB Antenna https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003H3L3U8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage Same SWR (3 or higher). When I hold the magmount antenna in my hand, the SWR goes down to 1 to 1.5. When I put magmount antenna on a metal base, SWR goes down to 1.5 to 2. BUT I cannot hear CBers, and have not gotten any confirmation that CBers can hear me transmitting with the Wilson.
FYI, the BEARCAT 980SSB internal SWR matches the external SWR readings 100%.
I'd like to find a way to use the RADIOWAVZ DBZCB CB Double Bazooka antenna since I paid for it, and with it I can actually hear local CBers and have confirmation of transmission. But I can't get the SWR down to safe levels, no matter where I have positioned it today.
I can get the WILSON Magmount down to safe SWR (1.5) but can't get the same reception, and haven't gotten anyone to confirm they can hear me using it.
Any/all feedback is appreciated! I took the plunge and I hope I can get these problems worked out soon.
David