zopperman
Moderator
So this mount actually isn't grounded and the pl259 connector grounds the antenna
CB Install in a useless pocket
- Thread starter zopperman
- Start date
So this mount actually isn't grounded and the pl259 connector grounds the antenna
WillK
New member
Okay, so after reviewing the antenna you're using, it's a 5/8(th's) wave antenna, which is traditionally a 3db gain antenna, which is good.
So, if you started at 4w, lost 2 through cabling, antenna, then you've gained that back by using the 5/8 wave antenna, and you're pretty much right on with your tuning.
So, you're putting out 3.84 watts. That's not bad. Now, I wonder if a ground plane 1/4 wave would do better though. How much money did you set aside for this project....??:bump2:
So, if you started at 4w, lost 2 through cabling, antenna, then you've gained that back by using the 5/8 wave antenna, and you're pretty much right on with your tuning.
So, you're putting out 3.84 watts. That's not bad. Now, I wonder if a ground plane 1/4 wave would do better though. How much money did you set aside for this project....??:bump2:
zopperman
Moderator
Cost me just about 130 IIRC, I have a parts breakdown in the title post
WillK
New member
I was just messin'-I don't want to spend your money. Well, I do, but I won't. :rockthrow:
WillK
New member
Sorry, I missed this post. Yes, it goes between the two. Then you're able to generate a signal to the antenna and see what's coming back,correct.
Then you receive a signal from the radio to see what it's putting out, right....
zopperman
Moderator
having fun
New member
[MENTION=55855]zopperman[/MENTION], [MENTION=69484]WillK[/MENTION], Dayum, been so long from me researching and trying to understand what I read years ago. I'm no electrician expert so trying to compute wasn't easy. I'll try to put in terms to understand for you and me both.
1.1 on swrs is optimum 100% sinal comes out and returns, each number you go up, 1.2/ 1.3/ 1.4 you loose a % of return.
(Okay, so say your radio is transmitting at 4 watts. You have loss in your cable, antenna and connections so in the end you're probably transmitting 2.5 watts.
The general rule of thumb is 3 db of loss, or almost half of your power.
What you can do to help get some power back is to get an antenna with some gain between 2-5 db)--- I'm not sure how that works, I never got a grasp on it as stated above comment I made. It seems you have a better under standing in this department and would be able to edumacate me to understand. Laughing at myself there. HAHA.
As far as the spects on the antenna you would have to look up tunable tip firestick's.
Our radios are a 11 meter radios, look that up and it will give you the 24.120 what ever number mhz.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help, and being serious, WillK, if you can educate me a little more on your understanding side of your dept, would be more knowledge for us and understand.
All I know is, what I have, what it produces, and what it requires for maximum performance (antenna) with swr meter numbers.
WillK
New member
Sorry man... lol I get crazy with this stuff. I do it all day at work, so again- sorry.
Your set-up looks good. I was just trying to understand that antenna because the antenna is the most important part of your system. It can make or break things. And if we/I could get some power back from the antenna, it would help you out in the long run. But again, I wouldn't sweat it...
BUT! If you ever need help with it, just let me know....
Your set-up looks good. I was just trying to understand that antenna because the antenna is the most important part of your system. It can make or break things. And if we/I could get some power back from the antenna, it would help you out in the long run. But again, I wouldn't sweat it...
BUT! If you ever need help with it, just let me know....
having fun
New member
It's all good, everyone trying to respond at the same time you know, EDUMACATE this old fart PLEASE. Being serious there also.
having fun
New member
You all ganging up on me at the same time remind me of what my kids do to me, it's almost time start popping kids on the back of the head time.:jk:
Your mound should be mounted on a solid part for structure to hold, which usually is metal, and that is creating a ground for the bracket. The antenna mount that went on it and the antenna had a plastic piece to keep the natural design of the antenna to be grounded. Without that plastic piece would not complete the circuit like in electricity.
On my antenna, it's mounted on the metal roof to complete the ground, I also ran a wire from the battery to the base to make sure it will be grounded.
Side not, the antenna you have states 650 watt, if it was on the roof, I wouldn't put more than a 25-50 watt radio to it.
having fun
New member
I never understood all of this listed above. How to determine and come up with the answer. You know, the formula.
WillK
New member
Understand though, there's a difference between electrical ground plane and a telecommunication ground plane.
Ground plane - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In a telecomm ground plane, it refers to using a ground of some type as a plane to help propagate the radio signal. It could be a vehicle and in some cases, the earth. On infrastructure antennas, you use buildings, water towers, and some have elements that are used for ground plane.
Some antennas don't require a ground plane. Marine//motorcycle are two things that come to mind as they don't have a ground plane. The ground plane is built in in the bottom of the antenna.
Again, it's all to help with creating a radiating pattern for the radio signal.
Ground plane - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In a telecomm ground plane, it refers to using a ground of some type as a plane to help propagate the radio signal. It could be a vehicle and in some cases, the earth. On infrastructure antennas, you use buildings, water towers, and some have elements that are used for ground plane.
Some antennas don't require a ground plane. Marine//motorcycle are two things that come to mind as they don't have a ground plane. The ground plane is built in in the bottom of the antenna.
Again, it's all to help with creating a radiating pattern for the radio signal.
WillK
New member
Okay, there is a formula, but it's not necessary to know the formula, just a good rule of thumb. Let the engineers worry about the formula. I follow a rule of thumb of 6 forward, 1 back. The means for every 6 watts forward (watts being transmitted), you want (at most) one watt reflected (coming back). I set up a repeater earlier this summer and when I tuned the antenna using my watt meter, I had 6 forward and 1/4 coming back. That was really tight! And that was on both transmit and receive.
If you think of a transmitting power like water.
When you're spraying a garden hose to water your flowers, you want all the water to hit the flowers. Just like transmitting a radio signal. You want all of the signal to get out to a repeater, another radio, etc... Now, let's say you're spraying the hose, but hitting the nice stone wall you put because you're not aiming (or in the case of the radio, tuned right), you're getting some water splashing and not getting on the flowers. You're still getting the flowers some, but not completely- that's what we call "reflective power". To correct that, you adjust the hose (antenna) to get more water (or in the radio's case-power out), and less coming back. Same with the water hose.
Does any of that make sense...
having fun
New member
I read that a while back and just scratch my head trying to understand, I appreciate the help though.
As a dumb truck driver, and use the radio for work and found it usefull at off roading, this is how I learned what I needed to know with the CB.
And needing to know enough to not to fry my massive wattage radio I run. To dam expensive to be replacing.
zopperman
Moderator
So how do I do CB slang? Lol.
All i hear is a bunch of dudes talking in spanish and some static :mad2:
