SWR question

[Darrel]

I have a 2007 Kountry Star MH with the built-in CB antenna. I got a CB and tried to use my SWR meter to adjust for best performance. It is in the 9-10 range on channels 1, 19, and 40. I had measured the resistance and found it to be 2 ohms. (an old magnetic mount antenna measured 12 ohms with the same meter.) As and old elictrical engineer, I always suspect connections and cleaned them with a wire brush the best I could.

I am the second owner of this unit and while cleaning the contacts noticed that the antenna had been in communion with tree branches. The rubber shroud had been ruptured and the internal coil had been exposed to the weather and had some rust. I straightened it up and applied some electrical tape to seal it up from the weather. I hesitate to transmit with the SWR that high. Do you have any Thoughts?

Have a nice day - Darrel

[Darrel]

I have a 2007 Kountry Star MH with the built-in CB antenna. I got a CB and tried to use my SWR meter to adjust for best performance. It is in the 9-10 range on channels 1, 19, and 40. I had measured the resistance and found it to be 2 ohms. (an old magnetic mount antenna measured 12 ohms with the same meter.) As and old elictrical engineer, I always suspect connections and cleaned them with a wire brush the best I could.

I am the second owner of this unit and while cleaning the contacts noticed that the antenna had been in communion with tree branches. The rubber shroud had been ruptured and the internal coil had been exposed to the weather and had some rust. I straightened it up and applied some electrical tape to seal it up from the weather. I hesitate to transmit with the SWR that high. Do you have any Thoughts?

Have a nice day - Darrel

[TXiceman]

My thoughts....time to get a new antenna. I had one old CB antenna that had the housing on the coil crack and it never would tune right after that.

Ken

[alvinc]

As soon as there is water intrusion, it is probably time to replace the antenna.

You are right to be cautious about transmitting into that much SWR. With an SWR that high there will be little if any signal making it out of the antenna. Second, the output transistors will fry themselves, or if the output stage is protected, the transmitter will shut down. Hopefully the radio has protection.

In any case; high SWR, fried transistors, or transmitter shutdown. No one will hear you.

[jayhade]

Darrel,

Firestik has a great area on their Site that covers just about everything that you need to know about CB antennas, SWR, etc. www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm.

Jay Adams....