Can't figure out SWR adjustment....

[hillie16]

I've had CB's in lots of different vehicles, but never bothered with SWR or even good antennae. Just slapped on a magnetic one somewhere and it worked. Even had a base station set up with a giant linear in the yard that I found in my dads garage, that I just plugged it in and it worked. After years of not having one, I just put a CB in my 2020 F150.

I installed an older Uniden PC68XL
Firestik II (FS4) Antenna
Wired directly to the battery
Used this mount

https://www.walcottradio.com/ford-fender-cb-antenna-mount-for-2015-f150-trucks-p-3024.html

Sanded where it bolted on to the fender to ensure a good ground.

Once it's all hooked up, and turned on, I hear nothing switching through all the channels on the band.
Hooked up an SWR meter. Set it to FWD, key up, and roll the knob, and the needle lands at about 2 1/4 when the knob is turned fully, never even makes it into the set zone.
I know next to nothing about electrical, so I'm not sure what to do next?

 

[prcguy]

Sounds like the coax might be shorted at the antenna end. Did you place the white washer on the topside of the mount between the mount and whip adapter? The white washer should have a shoulder that creates a space between the hole in the grounded mount and the bolt that is hot and eventually connects to the antenna. Do you have an ohmmeter to check for a short across the coax connector?

 

[hillie16]

I did put the washer in. I don't have an ohmmeter but I'm assuming I can get one at Lowes/Home Depot.

 

[prcguy]

I did put the washer in. I don't have an ohmmeter but I'm assuming I can get one at Lowes/Home Depot.

For what you’re doing you can probably find a digital multimeter on eBay for $5 and test away.

 

[mmckenna]

Harbor Freight sometimes gives them away for free with a purchase, if you watch their ads. If not, they sell them for the above mentioned $5 bucks.

All you need is a simple continuity tester to confirm it is all installed correctly.