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Antenna Mayhem

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KMG54

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So I have a Sirio 5/8's GPE ground plane. I have been chasing my SWR for weeks. Finally got to take the antenna down today and found the the upper tuning element has been sliding down. Last night my SWR jumped to 3 plus. When I took it down today I found it retracted all the way down. Now this antenna is mounted on my second story deck with a 10 foot mast and the antenna is 21 feet long. Not easy for a person who lost their vestibule nerves 40 years ago [ I have no balance other than my eyes and joints], but anyway got down to 1:1 on the 1 through 24 but, 1:3 on 40. So one more try, but the head of the set screw is stripping out Going to give a shot tomorrow and shorten it a little bit. Wish me luck that I can get the set screw loose and tightened again. the set screw is real soft like it might be aluminum also.
 

KMG54

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Is there any other way to be heard on 11 meters? On a good day 80 watts might get you heard. A 100 watts is baby talk on 11 meters. You could report me to the FCC, since you seem to be the new Sheriff in town.
 

prcguy

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So cut the antenna slightly short, key down with a huge carrier for a few minutes until the antenna heats, expands and comes into resonance. Then send your brief message before the antenna stretches, becomes too long and the SWR goes sky high.

The heat will increase the element length making your VSWR on the high channels worse. Tap it out for a bigger setscrew and try again. Don't fall on your head seeking perfection.
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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So cut the antenna slightly short, key down with a huge carrier for a few minutes until the antenna heats, expands and comes into resonance. Then send your brief message before the antenna stretches, becomes too long and the SWR goes sky high.

I am sure I am exaggerating but some microwave Yagi constructors have commented that heat from a Dremel grinder lengthens the rod noticeably.
 

slowmover

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FWIW, across the country the best sounding (distance + clarity) are MARS MOD amateur radios (about 100W) being run on 11-Meter base antennas.

Cleaner is Meaner some dope-a-saurus on AM-19 likes to repeat ad infinitum, but it’s quite clear in that the level of details carefully covered is worth the trouble.

A good ol’ boy out your way who can’t be beat for s & giggles (the spirit of experimentation):

Mower Junkie
.
 
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slowmover

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I am not concerned enough to bother with that, but I have no intent to be an accessory to your violation.
This is my last comment on this topic.

Wow.

The moral cowards at ARRL or FCC did nothing during the CV-19 hoax to demonstrate how 11-Meter could be leveraged by ordinary men to buy, sell & trade when the story being pushed was to maintain physical distance.

Instead, they cancelled events.

I’ve not ever seen nor heard of any such organization demonstrating to the largest group of radio users — truck drivers — HOW to get good performance from todays composite body tractors.

“The compliant believe themselves virtuous”
(The hoax blew that lie clean out of the water).

That conditions in society are worsening by every social metric — and the NEED of Radio to perform to potential is great — ain’t nothing like an excuse given from above, right?

Not to worry OP, you have a Citizen Band Radio. Looks like you’ll have to rely upon citizens. No matter how deplorable we may be, at least we’ll try.

To that end: too much power is a crutch.

The better my mobile rig, the more likely I am to meet brothers and cousins heretofore unknown. X-power is only part of it. The action is in the antenna system (hey, betcha never heard that before)

As someone whose livelihood and life can and does depend on solid CB performance, don’t sweat power too much. Last thing on the list.

Next time you hear someone deride CB, just think of this image. Those doomed to repeat the lies, . . live the lie.
4CA41226-4772-49D1-B367-AF3C1175E778.jpeg
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I’ve been helped with reconnoitering an area by base station operators more than once after successful distant early warning. Brothers and cousins heretofore unmet.

.
 
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slowmover

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For those new:

Keep a copy handy. Know the air-mile distances your rig can reach. If that’s to an Interstate or US Highway, get the Mile Marker or waypoint noted

BCFD2AA6-3133-4F22-B95A-DD95D959D86B.jpeg
The base operators I’ve talked with sometimes had been truck drivers. But some of the best never were.

The best have a good understanding of local routes. The geographical space.

Two men intent on problem-solving on-air gain the attention of others. The larger group tends to problem-solve, but,

it’s the ones who can Hear, and Get Heard are the only ones who can stay long enough while moving who benefit.

And that’s on AM-19. About 120 other channels where by selflessness a citizen makes himself known
 
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