Antenna swr

[Wickerd]

Hi I just got a cobra 29 lx and a Wilson little will antenna and I’m trying to get my swr down it is passed 2.5 on all channels I don’t know that much about cb radios just learning but I have tried adjusting the antenna up and down with the set screw and checked the cable I even bought another antenna to see if mine was bad some how but still nothing could the radio be bad? Or do I need to get a different type of antenna? Would like to stay with a magnetic mount if I could thank you

 

[K4EET]

Hi I just got a cobra 29 lx and a Wilson little will antenna and I’m trying to get my swr down it is passed 2.5 on all channels I don’t know that much about cb radios just learning but I have tried adjusting the antenna up and down with the set screw and checked the cable I even bought another antenna to see if mine was bad some how but still nothing could the radio be bad? Or do I need to get a different type of antenna? Would like to stay with a magnetic mount if I could thank you

Hi @Wickerd,

What vehicle is the antenna on and where is it located on the vehicle? What SWR meter are you using? The built-in meter to the Cobra 29 LX or an external meter (please state make and model)?

Before you start messing too much with the whip length, try placing the antenna on different parts of the vehicle (roof, hood, fender, etc. and select the center of the metallic location as well as corners of the metallic location). Measure and record the location used and the SWR readings. For the whip, have it bottomed out in the base to create the shortest possible whip. You will probably find that the SWR readings will be somewhat different.

Please report your findings here and we can go from there using your findings.

Thanks my friend and welcome to Radio Reference!

Dave K4EET

 

[niceguy71]

as K4EET said... we need a lot more info to help
as he said you need a lot of metal under the antenna for it to work... I once hoped I could put a metal plate on my pick-up truck bed rail and get my K-40 magnet mount to work... but a 3 inch wide bed rail will not have enough of a ground plane to work,.... you need the center of the roof, ....hood or trunk.
the ANTENNA IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART of the system...... you could have the best CB in the world but with a LiL WiLL you will be lucky to get 3 miles.... and placement of the antenna is everything also... if it's near the glass or a wall it will not work well.... it needs to be in the open.
the LiL Will is not a very good antenna,,, once tuned it may get up to two to three miles range..... not very good really.... so I would return it and get a minimum 60 inch tall antenna....

I use an El-cheap-o Tram 3500 ( kind of a Wilson 1000 clone made by the same company) ...not known for being a great or quality antenna but many people have had them for 7 plus years and they work well........ works great for me, always over 10-15 miles range.... it can be ordered on-line and delivered at your Walmart for $74.00 or shipped to you for FREE

..... the Sirio Performer 5000 with magnetic mount is said to be a fantastic antenna and it should be at 79 inches tall!! WOW but it is said to be one of the best..... Italian made and one of the top antenna companies $135.00

I hear fantastic things about the Stryker AR 10 antenna... people love them $118.00

the Wilson 1000 has always done very well.. you just have to put some silicone on the top of it as they seem to get water in them and fail... but it is a proven winner for years. ..... $128.00

so for $75 bucks I would try the Tram 3500.... but if you have your heart set on the LiL Will you can make it work.... buy a SWR meter to see what the SWR really is..... the secret is you may have to cut the whip... cut it on the bottom.... only cut a tiny bit each time say a 1/8" each time then test it again... many people have to cut 1/4" to an inch off the antenna....
If your SWR (standing wave ratio) reading is higher on channel 40 than on channel 1 when using a CB antenna, it could mean that your antenna is too long. To fix this, you can try lowering your antenna and may have to cut the whip.

I'm going to link a video of a guy getting 18.5 miles using a Tram 3500 with a 4 watt radio and he has it on a itty bitty trunk lid... the taller it is ( think roof) and the more metal around it ( think roof) the better it works!!!! I have chatted with him and he has had it for close to 7 years now and it's still working GREAT!

Tram 3500 $74.00

Robot or human?

Sirio Performer 5000 with magnetic mount $135.00

https://www.amazon.com/Sirio-Performer-Mobile-Antenna-Mount/dp/B01621DVBA/ref=sr_1_2?crid=33DFHLFDAIOHV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.REIKCgajjR883BGe5ITvIl1ZWXJqgysiQS5JpkU7AcZtF8tXs3mJCgZvEWpZdlgR0GgR_zKNPgQ9EMUkeoRxrT52_SqG8SioTn5DNdRhrLjd3R_27Jj6npwJtdlMcWYwuLDBpCrXvhc5Y1pnnrtwaRxzfxcBBix02xKuC4eoE4PNvfNQXiMfOGPGYrLuXbpdM3BoWs4oMDnybHarMXz-vfUIvPkx3eNXWHCDzHw6bD5VYLxT1GsBhEls6Ra_zDONJjcrjqVVqPcDDWiW_X3W4YqUu7ELbMNd1s5gVz_4eQ4.3ycuurblbnQIMbsJkydsnfsN6iyoqvdIqLBSbeo81f8&dib_tag=se&keywords=sirio+performer+5000+CB+antenna+with+magnetic+mount&qid=1722277940&s=electronics&sprefix=sirio+performer+5000+cb+antenna+with+magnetic+mount%2Celectronics%2C100&sr=1-2

Stryker AR 10 $118.00

https://www.amazon.com/Stryker-SR-A10MM-Magnetic-Mount-Antenna/dp/B01MRA7U9Q/ref=asc_df_B01MRA7U9Q/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693276021741&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11993049208843896087&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002042&hvtargid=pla-570116115290&psc=1&mcid=faecae86e0053ba785ca5549122aabc9&gad_source=1

Wilson 1000 $128.00

https://www.amazon.com/Wilson-Magnetic-Mount-Antenna-Removable/dp/B003H3L3U8/ref=asc_df_B003H3L3U8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693290978811&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8416972422773184781&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002042&hvtargid=pla-870290128054&mcid=dfe6c53ff6be3b9d9bf8889d57b66dd2&gad_source=1&th=1

video of a good CB antenna and what it can do... he has a GREAT CB Radio also.. not a cheap CB... that certainly helps and he installed it correctly meaning he ran the power wire from the positive battery terminal to a fuse then to the radio... don't take power from anyplace else... don't use the cigarette lighter!

look forward to your pictures of what your vehicle is and where your antenna is

this is NOT a great SWR meter.... but I have two of them and they are always pretty close to the reading's of my very, very expensive RigExpert $300.00 SWR meter
so for $46.00 this will work

CQV-SWR120 SWR Power Meter 1.8M-54MHz LCD Display Digital Standing Wave Meter | eBay

High standing wave alarm function. Power fine-tuning function, standing wave fine-tuning function. Customized standing wave alarm setting function. Standing wave range: 1-99.9 (the default alarm is greater than 2.0, and the alarm point can be manually set through the hidden function).

www.ebay.com

 

[KI4ZNG]

The Tram 3500 is what I would be interested in for my work car. My base station easily hits my work location with no problem.

 

[niceguy71]

The Tram 3500 is what I would be interested in for my work car. My base station easily hits my work location with no problem.

it's not the BEST one out there but it works very well for me...
I used to be able to buy them for under $50.00 bucks... then they discontinued it and were selling them at discount prices like $30.00 bucks...... ( bought a couple for $31.00 with free shipping!) then people started finding out they couldn't get them anymore and the demand went up.... so now there is still a lot of them in warehouses but the price is CRAZY .... $75 bucks for an antenna you could buy for $ 40 or $50 dollars 6 months ago.
but it is a good antenna even at $75.00

 

[slowmover]

Sirio PERFORMER P5000 6.8 Foot CB and 10 Meter Antenna

Check out this Sirio P5K38 at www.WalcottRadio.com

www.walcottradio.com

$69.00

On aftermarket 44” shafts.



Next truck is a new version Kenworth T680.
Back to shorter original shafts. Best antenna location of the fleet trucks.



It’s hard to beat a SIRIO. Becomes a “maybe”.

On the last T-680. Still working in the D-E mount & tuning using 7’ Skipshooters after P-E feedpoint chokes (under arm).



OP, it’ll come to you. Stick with it.
While SWR ain’t everything it’s an important basic.

.

 

[slowmover]

Just remembered I’d never measured them with those shafts. Stock height was 6.8’. They’re laying across the bed as I re-organize gear. Turns out I had them close to 8’. But that was what SWR demanded with close proximity on a Freightliner.

Nearly 15’ tall. No wonder I had Dumbos’ ears!
Good thing I almost never got off the Great Plains.

Will be back nearer a safe 14’ this time as I’ll be running most of the 48 again.

.

 

[slowmover]

Hi I just got a cobra 29 lx and a Wilson little will antenna and I’m trying to get my swr down it is passed 2.5 on all channels I don’t know that much about cb radios just learning but I have tried adjusting the antenna up and down with the set screw and checked the cable I even bought another antenna to see if mine was bad some how but still nothing could the radio be bad? Or do I need to get a different type of antenna? Would like to stay with a magnetic mount if I could thank you

You’ll want an external meter. A short jumper. Test with doors closed, away from other vehicles and structure. Follow directions. (Built-in meters can be off).

As above, more info would be good.