Antenna warning light

[ThunderboltKBOX-6047]

Hello, I just started getting back into cb, I started with a uniden PC78LTX and a brand new lil will magnet mount antenna on the trunk of my 2005 Buick LeSabre. The swr was 1.1 at best, and 1.3 at worst and everything was fine. Then I bought a brand new Cobra 29 LTD NW and everything was still fine. One day the antenna warning light began to come on Everytime I key up. I switched back to the Uniden and the same thing, ant light on. I checked the antenna and coax with a multimeter for shorts, opens and continuity, and all checked out fine. I then bought a Stryker SR A-10 magnet mount and the same thing is happening with both radios and both antennas. I just don't know what to think about my situation...

 

[slowmover]

A search is always one’s friend.
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[WA0CBW]

Since both antennas are magnet mounts how did you bring the coax into the vehicle? Have you checked to see if the coax has been damaged by shutting the door on it.
Bill

 

[kc2asb]

Hello, I just started getting back into cb, I started with a uniden PC78LTX and a brand new lil will magnet mount antenna on the trunk of my 2005 Buick LeSabre. The swr was 1.1 at best, and 1.3 at worst and everything was fine. Then I bought a brand new Cobra 29 LTD NW and everything was still fine. One day the antenna warning light began to come on Everytime I key up. I switched back to the Uniden and the same thing, ant light on. I checked the antenna and coax with a multimeter for shorts, opens and continuity, and all checked out fine. I then bought a Stryker SR A-10 magnet mount and the same thing is happening with both radios and both antennas. I just don't know what to think about my situation...

Do you have an SWR meter? Since the Stryker is a new antenna, it may have to be "tuned" to get a lower SWR reading for your particular installation.

There are numerous older threads on the topic of tuning antennas

Do I have to tune an antenna on a Cobra CB handheld

I have a handheld 50WXST Cobra CB radio. I need a better antenna for my vehicle as the one that came with it doesn't work well. I was looking at the Cobra HGA 1500. Do I need to tune the antenna for this particular radio? Thanks for your help.

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[EAFrizzle]

The video from the thread @slowmover posted.

The Stryker antenna is about as plug-and-play as you get. They're tuned from the factory, so actual resonance isn't a problem, it's usually ground plane deficiencies or damage. I think it's going to be a poorly set VR6 as mentioned in the video.

 

[ThunderboltKBOX-6047]

Since both antennas are magnet mounts how did you bring the coax into the vehicle? Have you checked to see if the coax has been damaged by shutting the door on it.
Bill

Hey Bill, thanks for your response. Originally I brought the lil wil's coax in by closing the back door on it, but it was still working fine... at first. Then I routed it through the trunk to under back seat (properly), and the Stryker coax has never had a door closed on it or been tweaked in any way. Is it possible that the radios are damaged in some way from...? Thanks again!

 

[ThunderboltKBOX-6047]

BTW, I have checked the coax everyway possible with a multimeter

 

[WA0CBW]

Todays radios are less likely to be damaged by high SWR. As the SWR goes up they reduce the power. SWR can be caused by everything beyond the radio (connectors, coax, the antenna, the mount, the vehicle, etc.). SWR is the ratio of the power going to the antenna vs. the power being reflected back to the radio. Maximum power is transfered to the antenna when the impedance of the radio (50 ohms) is equal to the impedance looking into the coax, connector, antenna impedance (50 ohms).

I'm assuming you know what impedance is......if not I can explain.

So SWR only tells you the ratio of forward to reflected power which is caused by a difference of radio to the antenna "system" impedances.

Bill

 

[niceguy71]

that Stryker is a great antenna and 99% of people find the SWR perfectly fine right out of the box.

I like to rule out all possibilities.... have you tried the vehicle in other area's? it is best to set the SWR in an open field ....
just wondering if something has happened where you normally park /use the radio..
I would try to get the car in an open area and then place the antenna in different places.. move the antenna around on the truck area... try placing it on the roof and the hood... if it always gives the high SWR warning on both antenna's in multiple locations???? and on both radios????
you have an interesting mystery