SWR reading...is this bad?

**SteadySpeedin** · 10-20-2010 09:11 PM

Is this SWR reading bad?

**Google Adsense** · 10-20-2010 09:11 PM

**Motor On** · 10-20-2010 10:20 PM

It's not great. 1.5 or less is typically the standard if you're going to be doing some talking.

What channel is that on?
What is SWR on CH1? Ch40? CH19? 19 is the important one for the majority of CB use.

**SteadySpeedin** · 10-20-2010 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by Motor On

It's not great. 1.5 or less is typically the standard if you're going to be doing some talking.

What channel is that on?
What is SWR on CH1? Ch40? CH19? 19 is the important one for the majority of CB use.

It's on 19. What can I do to improve it?

**AirMoore** · 10-20-2010 10:26 PM

You were in an open parking lot with no buildings/cars/trees within 100+ feet correct?

Often times this is one of the biggest reasons for false (high) readings...

That is not good IMHO, and I would not use anything over 1.5, though you can get away with 2.0... especially if it isn't peaked/tuned.

I did see you made your own coax (wasn't that you)... if so... you might want to recheck your connections.

**Motor On** · 10-20-2010 10:28 PM

Well this is where 1 and 40 come into play, higher on 40 and you need to trim a little off the antenna, higher on 1 you need to slide it up a little on the set screw.

**SteadySpeedin** · 10-20-2010 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by AirMoore

You were in an open parking lot with no buildings/cars/trees within 100+ feet correct?

Often times this is one of the biggest reasons for false (high) readings...

That is not good IMHO, and I would not use anything over 1.5, though you can get away with 2.0... especially if it isn't peaked/tuned.

I did see you made your own coax (wasn't that you)... if so... you might want to recheck your connections.

I thought it was 15 feet. There were a few trees within 15 feet when I first did it, got the same reading. I took the reading at my house in the video. Definetly some houses within less than 100 feet. How do you peak and tune it? I thought this was it >.>

**AirMoore** · 10-20-2010 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by SteadySpeedin

Originally Posted by AirMoore

You were in an open parking lot with no buildings/cars/trees within 100+ feet correct?

Often times this is one of the biggest reasons for false (high) readings...

That is not good IMHO, and I would not use anything over 1.5, though you can get away with 2.0... especially if it isn't peaked/tuned.

I did see you made your own coax (wasn't that you)... if so... you might want to recheck your connections.

I thought it was 15 feet. There were a few trees within 15 feet when I first did it, got the same reading. I took the reading at my house in the video. Definetly some houses within less than 100 feet. How do you peak and tune it? I thought this was it >.>

Standard issue is 50feet. I say 100... because I am retentive about my SWR.

Peak and tune... essentially takes your radio from 3.5watts and bumps it to 15-20watts on TX.

Google it to find more info you want (or search here)... it has various aspects to it, but that is essentially the big gain (no pun intended)... it allows for further TX. Also it can improve RX if done by a professional who it apt at the procedure... main gain is TX though.

**snowman017** · 10-20-2010 11:53 PM

Yeah generally any sort of meter in the red is a bad thing

**SteadySpeedin** · 10-20-2010 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by snowman017

Yeah generally any sort of meter in the red is a bad thing

It's not in the red for the SWR reading. It was in the red for the Microphone adjustment. You have to turn the dial and get the needle to line up with "CAL". After I did that, I switched it to SWR.