CB Install - Maxed out SWR

Ok all, I thought I'd open this up to TW for some solutions. I looked around on the interwebs, and tried various things, and have still not been able to fix it. Even found a post on here that was almost exactly what I was dealing with, but ended up being reversed leads on his SWR meter. Not my problem.

I have a Wilson Flex antenna, cobra 75 wx st CB, and the kit that comes from right channel radios (mount, coax, SWR meter, etc.).

I CANNOT get the SWR reading down. It is nearly maxed out with everything that I do.

Things I have tested:
-Coax continuity checks, both shield and internals
-ground checks on the mount, it's appropriately grounded
-ground checks on the antenna to make sure the stud isn't grounding out, it is not
-adjusted the adjustable tip, makes no difference
-swapped leads on SWR meter, just makes it worse (opposite direction when swapping to "REF")
-moved antenna toward cab, away from cab
-grounded the antenna grounding wire to the grounded mount
-Recite every cuss word I know
-Lots and lots of staring

I receive fine, and can listen on conversations. But I cannot transmit. I haven't TRIED to transmit to anyone yet, as I didn't have any friends with CBs available.

HEEELP ME

First pic is the mount, and the antenna ground wire (not the MOUNT, I have that grounded separately). I've tried it grounded, and not grounded.

The second picture is the meter when transmitting on channel 1. You can see it's way high.

 

Tried and work it over again at lunch. This sucker will soon end up on the pavement. All of it.

 

So I have a similar issue to you and I'm almost certain it has to do with the grounding of the antenna. For the life of me I can't figure out how the antenna should be grounded and I've even checked it with a multi-meter to make sure everything was connected correctly. My only thought would be to completely redo the grounding and see if it helps, that's my plan of attack anyways.

 

Similar issues here, I am going to go for the grounding issue right now, even grid off some paint to make sure. damn thing pissing me off

 

I thought the same thing, but I tried 4-5 different ground places now from bed locations to the cross member frame bolts. Nothing helps.

 

I have decided CBs are stupid.

 

So I also had something similar. When I would go to tune it, the freaking meter would be maxed out and I couldn't get it down after checking a bunch of stuff, I ordered another coax cable because the one I originally got was the Firering that you terminate yourself. After hooking up the new cable I was able to actually tune my Cobra75. Hope this might help

 

Is the cap on the antenna?

 

I'll have to try a new coax if using another antenna doesn't work. I checked it with a meter and it all seemed fine, but you never know.

I've tried it with the tunable tip down, up, everywhere in between, and off. No change in the tuning.

 

I can't tell by the picture but is the antenna isolated from the mount? i.e. is the washer sitting between the antenna stud and the mount a plastic or metal washer? If it is metal, it needs to be plastic. Otherwise, you're attempting to drive the whole truck as an antenna.

http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/Stud_Smarts.htm

 

Yes, there is a nylon washer. I double checked it with a meter too just to make sure I wasn't getting contact.

 

SAME problem! Tested everything ! Even swapped coax and same problem

 

not to insult intelligence, and I may have just missed the details in write up, but that meter being "pegged" out is not good. you want it around 1-1.5 or as low as possible. Most antennas (if its a brand name one) has an adjustable tip to "tune" the antenna to xmit. Firesticks have the red tip that comes off, then you twist that screw looking tip to get the SWR meter to read a low as possible. I was going to mention the ground aspect also, but it looks like you covered that one. good luck.

 

I mentioned the rubber cap, because on firestiks if you leave the cap off the swr is effected in a negative way. You have to adjust and then put the cap back on to check swr. I wasn't sure if the Wilson's like you have come with a rubber top cap or not.

 

I actually noticed that my picture was misleading and hoped no one would catch it. So good eye. I snapped the picture quickly just to show an example that it was pegged out, and what meter I had. The switch is indeed in the wrong location for the sequence of tuning. I just turned it on and keyed it, not paying attention to where it was. The sequence you mention is in fact how I tried to tune it.

 

You are correct. From what I've read, means something is wrong. Usually seems like it is a grounding issue, but I've done everything I could think of. So I was hoping someone had an AH HA moment for me from their own experience and testing that would relate to mine. Doesn't seem that way. Looks like I"m going to have to just swap out parts one by one until I figure out what the weak link is. I'm think maybe antenna at this point.

And yes, the Wilson also has a rubber cap and an adjustable tip. All changes have made no difference thus far.

 

Let me know if you find anything that works. I'll be swapping antennas with a buddy's to see if that was the problem. My coax tested that it works, so I want to change that last as it's already routed under the seat, under the chassis, and up through the bed. Should've tested it first. DOH!

 

FINALLY! No solution, but I at least got confirmation that someone heard me a few minutes ago.

 

Now time to head to the Overland Expo

 

That's a place you should be able to find someone who can help you with a sanity check on your setup and methodology.

Lord knows I had plenty of sketchy temporary ham radio setups in my Subaru. I was always borrowing gear for rally races, and a couple times, no matter how confident I was, a second set of eyes caught something obvious.

That said, you sound like you did all the right things.