CB parts list questions

Word of advice- unbolt the seat. 4 bolts- lay the seat back, you don't even need to unplug it, and it's very very easy to fish wires from the console to the sill. I messed around forever trying to get the wire through. With the seat out it takes all of 30 seconds. Learn from my mistake!
 
Well... the saga continues... I have everything in; I check my SWR; M*@#&*@^# it's 3.5/3.6 across the board. Both with the 2ft and the 4ft Firestik's.

I removed the plate between the lift-gate and the set screw, and that wasn't it, so it's likely not a ground issue. which leaves a coax issue and YES.. I know I built my own cable.

I F*%$!#@* HATE THIS CRAP! this is NOT that hard!
 
Antman said:
Word of advice- unbolt the seat. 4 bolts- lay the seat back, you don't even need to unplug it, and it's very very easy to fish wires from the console to the sill. I messed around forever trying to get the wire through. With the seat out it takes all of 30 seconds. Learn from my mistake!
Click to expand...

Fish tape made easy work of that... that's the least of my issues now.

I need to take a break from this project.
 
I checked with my dad who is an electrical engineer... I possibly made a mistake in building the cable as he had me measure is through... so I cut off the two connectors (I bought two spares just in case)... add new ones per his instructions... even higher SWR reading! Why the F*)(@#&@ don't they make a ready made cable that is frikking long enough?
 
There is a line of thinking that the cable length must be in 3 ft increments. Others call BS. Honestly I don't know but did hedge me bet and cut mine to the nearest 3 ft length.
 
It's also important to check SWR in a relatively open area- free from reflections.

Go to a big field in the country...
 
phillyd2 said:
There is a line of thinking that the cable length must be in 3 ft increments. Others call BS. Honestly I don't know but did hedge me bet and cut mine to the nearest 3 ft length.
Click to expand...

Changing the length of the coax doesn't change what your antenna puts out, it only changes what your SWR reads when you're tuning. So, cutting your coax to 1/12th increments of the wavelength is not useful.

The only place in RF engineering you ever hear about coax lengths from the antenna to the radio is in the world of CB...
 
phillyd2 said:
You know, its not too late..... :lmao:

31QH105WMKL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
Click to expand...

I was looking at the higher end version of this one the other day and thinking to myself, "Why didn't I just buy this?" Much easier than routing cable, drilling, bolting, and tuning a radio I'll only use on long road trips and for off-roading. If I were going to do it again I'd just get the Midland 75-822. Makes much more sense.
 
limamike said:
Changing the length of the coax doesn't change what your antenna puts out, it only changes what your SWR reads when you're tuning. So, cutting your coax to 1/12th increments of the wavelength is not useful.

The only place in RF engineering you ever hear about coax lengths from the antenna to the radio is in the world of CB...
Click to expand...

What am I missing here? He has crap SWR tuning and we are talking about a CB radio.
 
phillyd2 said:
What am I missing here? He has crap SWR tuning and we are talking about a CB radio.
Click to expand...

My point about the only place you hear about coax length was in CB is because no one cares about it anywhere else because it's largely irrelevant in all realms of RF engineering - CB included.

I spoke to Okki on the phone a little while ago, and his crap SWR was due to a short in the cable he made. He accidentally linked the copper to the shielding. Once he buys/makes a new cable he should be alright.
 
limamike said:
I was looking at the higher end version of this one the other day and thinking to myself, "Why didn't I just buy this?" Much easier than routing cable, drilling, bolting, and tuning a radio I'll only use on long road trips and for off-roading. If I were going to do it again I'd just get the Midland 75-822. Makes much more sense.
Click to expand...

I just ordered the Midland with the external antenna. I figured it would be good enough for what I need. At least i'm hoping so. I should get everything in time for this Saturday's trip to Hollister to test it out.
 
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