Ok so I checked my SWR today on my cb and I have no SWR on channel 1 no needle movement at all other channels 20 and 40 work fine. I did notice that when I moved my mic around around or squeezed the mic button hard the needle did move once. All SWR reading were under 2.0. Not sure if its my mic or antenna. Im using a Cobra 29 LTD Classic night wathcer with a Wilson 5000 antenna.
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SWR Channel 1
- Thread starter Mattb12
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majoco
Stirrer
Have you tried really giving the microphone PTT a reaally hard squeeze?
freqs
Member
You could have a slight short in the mic .What does channel 2 do the same thing as 1 ? if so you should be fine as longs as 1 reads lower than 2.0 and 40 reads lower than 2.0 theWilsom website has a good how to section on SWR adjustments
RadioDaze
Member
Don't be so hard on Majoco. You yourself said, "...when I moved my mic around around or squeezed the mic button hard the needle did move once." He was suggesting that you focus on the mic as the problem, and the possibility that the switch has an intermittent contact problem.
majoco
Stirrer
OK so you want a sensible answer!
If your microphone works fine on other channels I see no reason for it not to work on Channel 1.
When you say the needle doesn't move - I assume (careful!) that you mean the SWR meter, not the Power meter.
If the Power meter is set full scale and the SWR reads zero. then you have a perfect match.
What SWR do you get on the other channels?
The fact that you're using a power mike has nothing to do with the push-to-talk switch - trying another mike may show that your PTT switch is suspect but that doesn't explain why the other channels are good.
If your microphone works fine on other channels I see no reason for it not to work on Channel 1.
When you say the needle doesn't move - I assume (careful!) that you mean the SWR meter, not the Power meter.
If the Power meter is set full scale and the SWR reads zero. then you have a perfect match.
What SWR do you get on the other channels?
The fact that you're using a power mike has nothing to do with the push-to-talk switch - trying another mike may show that your PTT switch is suspect but that doesn't explain why the other channels are good.
All other channels are below 1.5 the only channels I have check are 1,20, and 40. Im still very new with working with CB Radios. I have had one for over 5 years just havent really messed with one. I also have a talk back not sure if that is my problem. Now when I say the needle doesnt move is when I key the mic on channel one I hace know needle movement at all im not sure if this is normal or not. I also not sure what my RF Gain should be? And I cant figure out why I seem like I can never hear much talking. Maybe it cause know is talking but my CB seems alot more quiet than it used to be. Thay may sound stupied but sometime I think my CB is broke. Back when I first got my CB I used to hear chatter all the time now it just dead quiet. All I want is some help and I would love to work on my CB myself and not rely on a local CB shop that is scaming people.
Try checking that SWR on channels 1, 19 and 40. That's a very common method of giving you some idea of where that SWR 'range' is centered. Is there anything else that makes you -think- you have a problem? 'Cuz from what you've said so far, you may not have one.
- 'Doc
- 'Doc
majoco
Stirrer
Could you please give us a rundown on how you are checking the VSWR?
Do you know how to set the forward power meter to full scale?
It may be that your antenna cable has gone short-circuit at the very length that makes zero SWR at the channel 1 frequency.
Do you have a dummy load that you can connect instead of the antenna?
Do you know how to set the forward power meter to full scale?
It may be that your antenna cable has gone short-circuit at the very length that makes zero SWR at the channel 1 frequency.
Do you have a dummy load that you can connect instead of the antenna?
I have the Radio Shack SWR meter and I hook it up between the antenna and radio. I Calibrate it to each chaneel with the dail and switch the meter over to SWR and then key the mic. And then look at the meter.
No sure what you mean by forward power meter
No sure what you mean by dummy load
Sorry im pretty new at this
No sure what you mean by forward power meter
No sure what you mean by dummy load
Sorry im pretty new at this
vdubb16
Member
YouTube - How to use a SWR meter - CBradiomagazine.com
If you speak, cough, breath hard, shat yourself, or any other electronic in the background can cause the needle to jump on the swr meter. if you squeeze the ptt button and it has alittle play side to side the grinding of the plastic together, so close to the mic element can cause the needle to jump. you key the mic hold it adjust to CAL and flip the switch without letting go. the need should fall down to give you a reading,
you say it doesnt move...it doesnt move DOWN from the CAL position? or doesnt move UP from the -1- position?
if it doesnt move up from -1- then id be inclined if everything is hooked up right, that its great swr. little reflect back. on my base my 1 is 1:1 which amazes me, and my 40 is 1:3
If you speak, cough, breath hard, shat yourself, or any other electronic in the background can cause the needle to jump on the swr meter. if you squeeze the ptt button and it has alittle play side to side the grinding of the plastic together, so close to the mic element can cause the needle to jump. you key the mic hold it adjust to CAL and flip the switch without letting go. the need should fall down to give you a reading,
you say it doesnt move...it doesnt move DOWN from the CAL position? or doesnt move UP from the -1- position?
if it doesnt move up from -1- then id be inclined if everything is hooked up right, that its great swr. little reflect back. on my base my 1 is 1:1 which amazes me, and my 40 is 1:3
roadranger
Member
Sounds good...
Process:
Plug in meter,
Tune to CH.1,
Select AM, not USB, or LSB,
Set meter switch to Calibrate,
KEY radio, gently depress mike switch and adjust calibrate knob to infinity,
Release mike key and switch meter to SWR,
KEY radio in AM mode and read meter.
1-3 is OK, the lower the better. If the needle DOESN'T move, SUCCESS! Check with same process on CH 40. With any luck, you will get the same result. Leave the other channels ALONE. You are simply matching the antenna and coax to the radio. The two channels are far enogh apart for measurement, and all should avereage out on 19 and 21. Good Luck!
Process:
Plug in meter,
Tune to CH.1,
Select AM, not USB, or LSB,
Set meter switch to Calibrate,
KEY radio, gently depress mike switch and adjust calibrate knob to infinity,
Release mike key and switch meter to SWR,
KEY radio in AM mode and read meter.
1-3 is OK, the lower the better. If the needle DOESN'T move, SUCCESS! Check with same process on CH 40. With any luck, you will get the same result. Leave the other channels ALONE. You are simply matching the antenna and coax to the radio. The two channels are far enogh apart for measurement, and all should avereage out on 19 and 21. Good Luck!
roadranger
Member
Ooops!
I meant to say that! Actually, not 1-3, but anything less than 3-1 is okay, so long as you aren't pushing more than four watts! Much higher power, you might want to look into obtaining a better ground, or tune the antenna(s).
I meant to say that! Actually, not 1-3, but anything less than 3-1 is okay, so long as you aren't pushing more than four watts! Much higher power, you might want to look into obtaining a better ground, or tune the antenna(s).
Sounds like you have a slightly long antenna you could leave it cause you readings appear fine or if you have OCD, like me, you will probably go out to the vehicle again and hook up the SWR meter and loosen the antenna mast (stinger) and lower it ever so slightly to get your SWR readings even across the board...haha
Allan_Love_Jr
Member
When you check your SWR. You do it on Channel 40. Then switch over to channel 1 and then you match the SWR with channels 40 and 1. Both SWR's on channels 1 & 40 should be very close. Then you switch to channel 19 or 20 (The middle of the band) and your SWR should be right at 1.1:1 Anywhere below 1.1:5 is considered as perfect/good. Just make sure it doesn't go over or you'll be running into problems.
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