SWR's

[JeepN4kc]

Hey, dudes. Just installed a Cobra 19DX IV with an 18' Firestick Firering coax, 3" hd stainless spring, and 3' Firestick II w/ tuneable tip. I hooked up the SWR meter to it this afternoon once I had it in and the best I could get was channel 1 SWR 1.7; ch 40 SWR 1.7; ch20 SWR 1.4-1.5ish. These standing wave ratios seem high when all my research said I'm looking for values under 1.5. Is this gonna be a problem or will I be just fine? Any suggestions?

[bbtj]

I'm not an expert, but the way I understand it, is that you want to get as close to a 1 as possible and anything less than 2 is acceptable. Anything over 3 is bad and could damage the radio.

[JeepN4kc]

^^^Thanks. That's what I've been reading as well since my post. I found alot of info saying that the goal is to get as close to 1 but real world application anything between 2 and 1.5 isn't uncommon. I'll keep researching as there is a ton of conflicting stuff out there - especially when it comes to what to do with the excess coax between antenna and radio.

[spunebil]

make sure hou have good ground at that attenna is above roof ( if xj or wj / zj) wranglers dont have a steel roof so attenna hieght not as critical :)

[bbtj]

^^^Thanks. That's what I've been reading as well since my post. I found alot of info saying that the goal is to get as close to 1 but real world application anything between 2 and 1.5 isn't uncommon. I'll keep researching as there is a ton of conflicting stuff out there - especially when it comes to what to do with the excess coax between antenna and radio.

Yeah, I understand. Back in the 70's, we used to just cut the coax to length. Now, they say to spread the extra cable and not to overlap it over itself.

[JeepN4kc]

So I recoiled my excess in a figure8/infinity; shaved off a little more powder coat off the antenna mount/coax junction; seated the threaded post for the spring all the way to the mounting nut; then seated the spring to the threaded post; then the antenna to the spring. My resulting SWR's:

Ch 1 SWR = 1.6
Ch 40 SWR = 1.6
Ch 20 SWR = 1.1

I'm calling that dialled in !

[bbtj]

Looks good.

[JeepN4kc]

Yeah, it's crazy how the smallest adjustments can effect the SWR's by more than ya think.

[spunebil]

yea it can change just by moving antenna mount and the wind ( at highway speeds) can affect it to!
Thats why I like me cobra 29 ltd :)
I can adjust swr while driving to get best performance for conditions ;)