SWR Help Needed

[StlouisX50]

So I got my new radio and tuned it to Ch 1 and set the calibration and the switched to SWR and got a 1.4-1.5 great, so then I went to channels 20 and 40 and noticed that when I switch the meter to calibration mode and then key up and try to calibrate. I get the SWR meter to go in the red zone , but I can not turn the calibration far enough to the set mode to calibrate.

What am I to try ?

[speeddemon]

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[StlouisX50]

Someone said turn the power up so I did. To the MAX setting. I noticed now on CH 1, I could get a 1.6 SWR . On CH 20 and 40 I could finally get the SWR Meter on the CAL Tune level, but when I switched to SWR Mode it gave a 3.0+.

*Note this time I was right next to a car port and an apartment building. So I don't know if that would really though off the reading that much because of it...?

[Arvetus]

You need to be in an open area, away from buildings and especially metal...a good rule of thumb is at least 2 wavelengths. CB has a wavelength of approximately 11meters, so you would want to be at least 22 meters away from anything that would have an effect on your SWR such as buildings and especially metal buildings/carports

If you have a good SWR on 1 and the SWR on 40 is greater than what it was on 1, your antenna is too long.
Take about half an inch off the bottom of the whip and measure again. I look for the best SWR to be on CH19, which is in the center of the band. Once you get a decent SWR, the law of diminishing returns will come into play and cause your SWR to go back up again because you're now too short. So, cut little, measure often. You don't want to go too short. If you do, you only have about 1/4 - 1/2 inch to play with and lengthen it back out.

While they are significantly more expensive than a plain jane SWR meter, I generally use an antenna analyzer...it tells me the resonant frequency of the antenna, so you will know if you need to lengthen or shorten it just by looking at the resonant frequency in relation to where you want it to be resonant.

[StlouisX50]

You need to be in an open area, away from buildings and especially metal...a good rule of thumb is at least 2 wavelengths. CB has a wavelength of approximately 11meters, so you would want to be at least 22 meters away from anything that would have an effect on your SWR such as buildings and especially metal buildings/carports

If you have a good SWR on 1 and the SWR on 40 is greater than what it was on 1, your antenna is too long.
Take about half an inch off the bottom of the whip and measure again. I look for the best SWR to be on CH19, which is in the center of the band. Once you get a decent SWR, the law of diminishing returns will come into play and cause your SWR to go back up again because you're now too short. So, cut little, measure often. You don't want to go too short. If you do, you only have about 1/4 - 1/2 inch to play with and lengthen it back out.

While they are significantly more expensive than a plain jane SWR meter, I generally use an antenna analyzer...it tells me the resonant frequency of the antenna, so you will know if you need to lengthen or shorten it just by looking at the resonant frequency in relation to where you want it to be resonant.

Thanks for your reply, I thought everyone forgot about my question. My wife and I ended up cutting some of the antenna and noticed the SWR on channels 1 -30 were below a 2.0. However once you got above 31 the reading went to a 2.1-2.6.

Should I cut more or should I leave it alone? I know you said cut till 19 is the best, but as it is now CH1 is at a 1 swr.

[Arvetus]

Do you use channel 1 exclusively or at least, the majority of the time?

It's up to you really, anything below a 2:1 is decent. If it were me, I'd shave a bit more off, but I'm anal about that sort of thing. I like my antennas resonant in the center of the band.

My CB antenna is tuned to a 1.2:1 SWR on channel 19. 19 is the mathematical center of the CB band (27.185 MHz), and also the channel of which I use the majority of the time, when I use the stupid thing at all .
However, if you're happy with it as is, you don't have to be as anal as I am...

[StlouisX50]

Do you use channel 1 exclusively or at least, the majority of the time?

It's up to you really, anything below a 2:1 is decent. If it were me, I'd shave a bit more off, but I'm anal about that sort of thing. I like my antennas resonant in the center of the band.

My CB antenna is tuned to a 1.2:1 SWR on channel 19. 19 is the mathematical center of the CB band (27.185 MHz), and also the channel of which I use the majority of the time, when I use the stupid thing at all .
However, if you're happy with it as is, you don't have to be as anal as I am...

No I do not plan on using 1 often at all. SO what I need to look for is a drop in CH 40s swr and a rise in CH 1's swr as well as the best reading on 19. Is this all I need to use to figure out what I need to trim and what I don't?

[Arvetus]

Pretty much... If you have a good SWR on 19, it should be < 2:1 across the entire band...
I just trim of the bottom of the whip...unless you don't have a little bead on top and it doesn't matter

[compu44]

You need to be in an open area, away from buildings and especially metal...a good rule of thumb is at least 2 wavelengths. CB has a wavelength of approximately 11meters, so you would want to be at least 22 meters away from anything that would have an effect on your SWR such as buildings and especially metal buildings/carports

If you have a good SWR on 1 and the SWR on 40 is greater than what it was on 1, your antenna is too long.
Take about half an inch off the bottom of the whip and measure again. I look for the best SWR to be on CH19, which is in the center of the band. Once you get a decent SWR, the law of diminishing returns will come into play and cause your SWR to go back up again because you're now too short. So, cut little, measure often. You don't want to go too short. If you do, you only have about 1/4 - 1/2 inch to play with and lengthen it back out.

While they are significantly more expensive than a plain jane SWR meter, I generally use an antenna analyzer...it tells me the resonant frequency of the antenna, so you will know if you need to lengthen or shorten it just by looking at the resonant frequency in relation to where you want it to be resonant.

Thanks for your reply, I thought everyone forgot about my question. My wife and I ended up cutting some of the antenna and noticed the SWR on channels 1 -30 were below a 2.0. However once you got above 31 the reading went to a 2.1-2.6.

Should I cut more or should I leave it alone? I know you said cut till 19 is the best, but as it is now CH1 is at a 1 swr.

Keep cutting until you are getting the same SWR reading on channel 1 as channel 40. By doing so, you'll end up with the best SWR throughout the middle of the band.