CB Antenna Tuning fiberglass Cobra 29 LTD SWR checking 4x4 toyota 4x4

This video is to give you an idea of what you have to do to a fiberglass antenna to get the best performance out of it. When you tune your CB make sure your in a clear area wth no buildings or walls near by. In this video i show how to extend your antenna. if you have to shorten it, it requires you to cut some of the wire and fiberglass off. Take your time and do one or two loops at a time. if you cut to much your out of luck. The objective is to get channel 1 and channel 40's SWR the same or verry close to each other. My SWR readings where good when i started this video and did not realy need any further adjustment. If you have tried to extend or shorten your antenna and its looks like its not doing much, try to buy the next size up or down antenna. 3ft 6ft and 9foot. if you use a spring under your antenna like i have, you can remove it to shorten the antenna or add one to make it longer before you cut or extend it out.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• CB
• radio
• cobra
• 29
• LTD
• how
• to
• tune
• Fiberglass
• antena
• 4x4
• toyota
• jeep
• xj
• offroad
• off
• road

[maddmark1]

@2ndstreetbluesband thats great you can make it work with any size cable but reality is the longer the cable the more resistance to it and the same goes with having more connections can have a effect to your SWR. It can be to your favor or not or maybe not noticeable. Of course it depends on the type of vehicle,antenna and location.

[cortinag]

Hi, i noticed when you keyed the mic on channel 1 at 4.00 you didn't calibrate the needle to the set position, if you had you might have gotten a lower reading on it, Good explanation on the adjustment though, thanks Gerry.

[maddmark1]

@cortinag True! when checking to see if you need a longer or shorter antenna its best to calibrate first then check SWR, switch channel then calibrate, then check SWR and compare to see if you have a higher or lower reading between channels 40 and 1. It was bad editing. I had a friend showing me how to edit the video when this was made. Thanks for the input.

[pointman6382]

Question - My dial doesnt swing all the way to calibrate indicator even with the calibrate knob all the way to the right. Any ideas? Its just shy landing on the +30 db mark. I still continued through the process though and the swrs are reading really high. Channel 1 is on 3 and Channel 40 is on 2.5.

[maddmark1]

@pointman6382 i dont know what setup you have but i would check your coax cable for the SWR issues. Its rarley a defected antenna problem also most of the time its a bad ground on the CB or antenna bracket. If this is good then try using a 18ft high quality coax cable if not already doing so. if the 18ft cable is to long dont loop it up in a tight circle, go back and forth to take slack off of it and if you need to tie it in the center to make a bow tie figure.If this does not help let me know.

[chevyon22joe]

what if you have a cobra ltd 25

[RedEagle1970]

Just a tip to @pointman6382, make sure your antenae isn't near a bunch of aluminum or power lines... Preferably an open field... Amazing what metal can do to an antenae! I used to work at the port, when out there, if you park by the shed, you got high SWR's.... Park by the ships and you got a great big antenae!

[ricapache1]

Man thanks bro that was very helpful...i cant believe how easy that was...

[riverdave7]

My cobra isnt even playing any static. I have a mag mount antenna on my trunk lid. When i press the mic button the red antenna light comes on. My antenna looks fine so what could be the problem? Good video thanks!

[Mikegracie1]

hey how do you tune a cobra cb ultra iii

[scotty623]

Nice video ..thanks man

[jakeasinsnake]

I have the same passenger side window handle in my toyota. Thanks for the lesson in tuning cb ill let you know how it goes

[2ndstreetbluesband]

@maddmark1 I don't care if the coax is 1 foot or 100 foot, it makes NO effect on the SWR of the antenna. This 18 foot of coax is urban myth. If you want to really tune an antenna you need a real SWR meter.(not on radio) Then hook that as close as possible to the antenna. ideally use a female - female connector directly to the antenna. Then follow this guys method to set the SWR of the antenna. Once the antenna is tuned you can use ANY length of caox you wish. (of the right type of course)