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Jay Kash
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - 4:42 am: | 
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The swr on my a99 Im tying to install is way too high. It is a new antenna I purchased from copper. I also used new Rg8 (50Ft) coax from radio shack, new ground wire that is solid alluminum and a new 5ft mast, and pitch (side mount) bracket for the house. I have an 8ft copper ground rod, however I was not able to pound that thing in all the way do to all the rocks that are in this area, its about 4 1/2ft in. I have mounted the antenna at the highest point of the garage, on the side, not the roof. it is on the pitch, this may be th problem as with the short 5ft mast I used only got the base of the antenna up 1 ft or so over the roof, this dose not meet the recommened height of 9 ft off the roof. Also, when I got this a99 the tuning rings were loose, sinceI did not have the swr that I needed I tried to tune it with those damn rings , which by now have been up and down that a99. do I need more mast, how can I find the correct postion for those rings??? I have been off the cb for 2 or so years now, however this is hte 3rd a99 I have owned, i bought it becaus I liked the others Ive had. I do not remember having this problem before, can anyone suggest a solution or two? Can I test my ground some how? SWR has been at 4: Tuning with the rings yielded little movement in swr. |
jyd
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - 9:41 am: |
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well they come ready to set up no adjustments needed unless you are going to talk on another band besides 11 meter,also i would recomend geting some coax from copper,that stuff will not hold power bleeds alot.if you messed with the factory setting on the antron i hate to say it but,you messed it up.just remember they come preset from factory. |
Pcovington
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - 9:42 am: |
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Hello,
In testing I have mounted an A99 only 6 feet above the ground and the SWR was less than 1.5:1 across all 40 channels. Placing the rings at mid position together should give you a SWR of less than 2:1 on the CB band no matter the height above ground. How old is the A99? Could it be defective? Have you tried using a different SWR meter to verify that your meter is correct? The poor ground does not account for the high SWR, so disregard the ground for now. It is probably a defect in your antenna or coax (or SWR meter). |
Dx431
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - 10:42 am: |
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Jay Kash, a longer mast wouldn't hurt, but I would check for a short in the ant. and the coax. As for the tuning rings, they should be in the middle of the threads. The ant. is soppose to be tuned for the middle of the 11 meter band. i.e. 27 mhz. Be sure you have the same number of threads above and below the rings.The ground, try using sheilded cable.The ground rod, try saturating the ground real good and use a BIG hammer, like a sledge. Hope this helps. |
Tech671
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 - 5:26 am: |
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There's 4 variables in your system.
1. Check and verify (as said above) your swr with another meter
2. Try another piece of coax...even shorter if necessary just to verify your coax isn't shorted
3. Does your shed have a metal roof? If so the antenna may react to it
4. Defective antenna |
Jay Kash
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 - 6:06 am: |
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Great info there Dx431, I got that antenna up another 5 ft off the roof today and the SWRs were history. the mast I was using was really only getting the base of the antenna just off the roof. 5 foot made all the difference, I put my back up SWR meter on it also, and it confirmed a low reading. They said I was the loudest thing they heard up here in maine. However, my reception was very poor on that antenna last night for some reason. know it was the a99 because I run a back up radio with a smaller antenna so I can monitor other channels or get more talk-back ect.. Maybe it has something to do with the rings, although I doubt it. I did not even have to adjust the rings after I raised it, it was like magic. The receive is very choppy, if anyone has an idea why, let me know. thanks for the help thus far. Also this is a cool web site, and copper is something I got turned on to by some other cb'ers from arizona who swear by it, now I see why. Thanks |
Jericho
| | Posted on Sunday, June 02, 2002 - 6:43 pm: |
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Radio Shack coax is nothing but junk. Try a good piece of coax and enjoy the difference. |
Taz
| | Posted on Sunday, June 02, 2002 - 8:45 pm: |
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I would have sayed its your coax. I have never had good luck with rad shack coax. Try some different coax from copper or somplace else.
Next is probly your antenna.
Next is probly your meter.
But I was wrong.
Where in arizona were these cb operators? |
Marconi
| | Posted on Monday, June 03, 2002 - 11:59 am: |
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JYD says "...if you messed with the factory setting on the antron i hate to say it but,you messed it up.just remember they come preset from factory." I doubt that you messed it up.
Regarding the choppy receive. Check all fitting, make sure everything is good and tight. Check the squelch and RF gain settings on you radio as well. Sounds like a breaking squelch to me.
Marconi |
Bigbob
| | Posted on Monday, June 03, 2002 - 8:43 pm: |
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If you have radio shack coax made prior to 1996 it is junk.All their coax marked type cl-2 is of utmost quality,but dealers can sell any junk they want and tell you it is R.S. products,have run in to this.But not so with franchises they must sell only R.S. products and their quality has improved but not their selection. |
Jay Kash
| | Posted on Sunday, June 09, 2002 - 5:42 am: |
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Hey Taz, it was the east valley. I was down ther with all those big radios dropping the HAMMER on guys. You know the area? Anyway its new coax from the shack and I dont much like it, however I tested it and I think its working fine. My radio worked fine for a few weeks, perfect swr, below 1:5. But now the swrs are all srewed up. The reading is good, and then all of a sudden it starts swinging like crazy. It just jumps all over te place then goes back to 1:5. Any ideas? i can not figure this out and Ive never seen readings like that. Please somebody help, the a99 is new from coppeer. |
Grumpy8220
| | Posted on Sunday, June 09, 2002 - 6:47 am: |
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Jay Kash,
Maybe you should try another swr meter, you may have a problem with the meter itself! If that is not the case then you may have a short in the antenna. I had this problem one time along time ago and it turned out it was the meter that was at fault, hope things work out for you!!! |
Apachee
| | Posted on Sunday, June 09, 2002 - 8:02 am: |
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I use radio shack RG8U does better than rg58 59,or the mini 8 gray color. Glad you got your SWR down. RG8U i have is 6 years old still does the same as when it was new. |
Taz
| | Posted on Sunday, June 09, 2002 - 1:35 pm: |
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I know them somewhat. The big dogs are out west. Does t-bolt ring a bell?
Are you talking about like channel nazi or wolverine? Messanger? |
Jay Kash psycho radio
| | Posted on Sunday, June 09, 2002 - 11:48 pm: |
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Yeah TAZ I know those dudes. Dose Messenger still drive that white F150? Is he still hanging around old Hogcaller? Ask messenger if he remembers Strait Jacket. By the way, I did not live on the west side. Yes I was from the east valley and had to put up with "stupids" from time to time that were out there.
Now about my antenna guys. I have two meters, they both work. Its not the coax. After about two hours of testing today Ive come to the conclusion that it is indeed the antenna. I took it off the roof today and setup a test in the back yard here (its a BIG yard). I grounded the antenna, and got the base about ten feet off the ground. When the radio keyed the needle was below 1:5 and steady. Now for the next test. When the radio was keyed and the needle was steady, I rocked the mast a litte. This caused the antenna to move and shake (like from wind) and at the same time the swrs went nuts. They spiked all over the place. I checked the coax connection to be sure there were no shorts and discovered it was the antenna. I have never seen any stuff like this. What the heck is going on? Water? Short? What? Someone hook me up with some info before I set fire to this antenna. Thanks. |
Dx431
| | Posted on Monday, June 10, 2002 - 12:54 am: |
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Jay Kash, you have had the ant. less than 30 days, I would contact Copper and see what the warranty is and see if they will send you a new one. Thats the first I have heard of an A-99 having a short in it. I never had a problem with mine.
I did have the middle section come apart.The adhesive that holds the fiberglass in the part that screws into the bottom section errode away. that will cause some major SWR problems.I ordered a knew one and taped all the joints with white elecrtical tape and have'nt had a problem since.The 'ole A99 is still up and working like new. The ant. is almot 10 yrs old.OBTW, if you're using RG8U from R\S,I would suggest getting better coax, like the RG8X (mini 8).It works well and not as bulky. I use the mini 8 on everything and it works for me. |
Taz
| | Posted on Monday, June 10, 2002 - 1:04 am: |
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Yeah he drives the white ford f-150, with a connex and a wilson 1000. By the way, is your handle straight jacket? I will ask him. Hogcaller dosent ring a bell. I will ask him these questions for you.
What did you think of thrasher? |
psychoradio
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 3:06 am: |
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I contacted solarcon and am a sending the antenna back t Ohio. Its under warranty so what he hell.
Thanks for all the help guys.
Hey Taz, dont know much bout thrasher. Is Easy money still out there on that stupid hill in scottsdale? |
Taz
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 1:54 pm: |
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Hes still around, he gets out here about once a year. lol. |
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