29 LX Antenna Warning

[Redneck0410]

I bought a 29LX today and after hooking it up the antenna warning light comes on and the meter on the radio is showing an SWR of 2.5(ish). On 40 with the CAL control turned all the way counter clockwise it will not budge from about half-scale. Makes me think bad radio. So I bust out my external SWR meter and jumper and hook it up. That shows an SWR of 1.5 pretty much across the board and the antenna warning stays off. I'm at a loss. Is this a prime candidate for the VR6 tweak?

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[Redneck0410]

I bought a 29LX today and after hooking it up the antenna warning light comes on and the meter on the radio is showing an SWR of 2.5(ish). On 40 with the CAL control turned all the way counter clockwise it will not budge from about half-scale. Makes me think bad radio. So I bust out my external SWR meter and jumper and hook it up. That shows an SWR of 1.5 pretty much across the board and the antenna warning stays off. I'm at a loss. Is this a prime candidate for the VR6 tweak?

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To clarify, I calibrated/adjusted my antenna with another radio prior to hooking up the cobra, so it would seem the antenna is fine, just something out of adjustment on the radio itself. I dont trust the internal swr meters on these 29 series radios any further than I can throw them. I have a 29 Chrome that wont show jack on the meter on transmit, so I'm thinking something is burnt up. I recieved fine and have verified it is transmitting, but I cant even get it to budge my external swr meter at all.

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[RFI-EMI-GUY]

To clarify, I calibrated/adjusted my antenna with another radio prior to hooking up the cobra, so it would seem the antenna is fine, just something out of adjustment on the radio itself. I dont trust the internal swr meters on these 29 series radios any further than I can throw them. I have a 29 Chrome that wont show jack on the meter on transmit, so I'm thinking something is burnt up. I recieved fine and have verified it is transmitting, but I cant even get it to budge my external swr meter at all.

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Ground the radio chassis to the vehicle chassis....

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[jim202]

I am not saying this is the case on what is going on with your antenna, but I have seen this happen before on some antennas. The change in cable length between the radio and the antenna by adding the external SWR meter and jumper has caused a change in how the antenna behaves.

The only way to prove this is to have a jumper the same length as the jumper between the radio and the SWR meter, plus the added length of the SWR meter. Then remove the SWR meter and put in it's place the jumper to make up the length of cable your meter and the added length of the jumper you used. Don't forget to also compensate the length for the coupling adapter needed at the end of the original antenna cable.

Had a commercial transit antenna that did this to me on the VHF band. .

 

[kf4eyr]

have you checked the radio with a watt meter and dummy load,,, sounds to me like you have a radio that has been turned down so as to use a linear amp,,, those amp guys like their radios turned down to 1 or 2 watts to get that swing,,,,, when turned down the swr meter on the radio usually is worthless,,,

 

[Redneck0410]

have you checked the radio with a watt meter and dummy load,,, sounds to me like you have a radio that has been turned down so as to use a linear amp,,, those amp guys like their radios turned down to 1 or 2 watts to get that swing,,,,, when turned down the swr meter on the radio usually is worthless,,,

This was bone stock out of the box.

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[Redneck0410]

I did go through it again this afternoon and I did get the meter to calibrate up on the radio and now it shows a good swr of 1 to 1.5 across the band. Verified with external SWR meter as well. The radio check function shows RF Output fail. Any ideas? I'm thinking deadkey is too low. Also I have a 29 chrome that's basically a dead duck. Meter seems to work fine on recieve and dead on transmit. I'm thinking burnt final. Took the cover off and I think I've got a hack job radio. I'll take a picture of it tomorrow and post it here. I did notice a coil separated at the back of the radio. Any recommendations on who to send it to in order to get it working or if it's even worth it.

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[kf4eyr]

coil spread=truck stop hack snake oil to make it swang with lots of watts,,, its a shame radio was messed up,,,

 

[Redneck0410]

coil spread=truck stop hack snake oil to make it swang with lots of watts,,, its a shame radio was messed up,,,

So basically I've got a paperweight. Lovely. Last time I buy a radio from a pawnshop, I tell you what.

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[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I did go through it again this afternoon and I did get the meter to calibrate up on the radio and now it shows a good swr of 1 to 1.5 across the band. Verified with external SWR meter as well. The radio check function shows RF Output fail. Any ideas? I'm thinking deadkey is too low. Also I have a 29 chrome that's basically a dead duck. Meter seems to work fine on recieve and dead on transmit. I'm thinking burnt final. Took the cover off and I think I've got a hack job radio. I'll take a picture of it tomorrow and post it here. I did notice a coil separated at the back of the radio. Any recommendations on who to send it to in order to get it working or if it's even worth it.

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Send it to a tech who has an FCC GROL ( general radio operators license) not one who advertises "peak and tweak" for CB radios. Tell him you want it restored to factory and FCC specs.

You are more likely to find a good tech working at a mobile radio or marine radio shop than behind a truck stop.

CB radios do not need "peaking and tweaking". They are fine out of the box.

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