Radio Discussion Community

make sure the swr is below 1.5 before using the amp.

ie connect just radio and then swr meter then antenna. Check swr is less than 1.5
then check again with amp and swr meter in.
use good quality coax and try to be gentle with it when installing.

Make sure you have a good ground on you antenna

If ...

a cheap solid state high powered overdriven cb amp will normally cause a fair amount of interference or 'TVI' . Normally causes TV interference though (as in TVI)
google TVI.

by the way, I didn't tell you this.....

Chris

been having quite a few problems myself with the latest CBs that are coming out.

In the tractors, the volume coming out is just rubbish.... (can't hear much at all, by the time tractor is revving flat out and stereo on above that, the CB needs to be fairly loud)
Have to use an amplified speaker ...

Using a conti meter:
I'd check there is no shorts on the coax (between the centre and shield)
Check conti to earth on the light bar, ie 1 lead to cb mount location, the other to a door hinge or somewhere, to make sure that the light bar isn't isolated or something daft.

after that... not sure, take ...

have to say that I really like the sound of the gainmaster, no nasty radials etc. Bet the vector isn't much of an improvement over the gainmaster and you have a high risk of it coming down.

Think I'll run the 827 for now and sometime, move to a gainmaster, perhaps after it's been out for a year or ...

Simon,
have you (or anyone else for that matter) had any experience with a sirio vector 4000. They do a 'new' version, what's new about it.(apart from it being better :? )
In terms of performance in relation to an 827 and gainmaster.
Also is very tall, will the wind bend or snap it off....

Thanks ...

yeah, have been following you and others on this one.
I have an 827 on one of my farm buildings and really hate the sight of the long radials, the height doesn't bother me at all.

Do you have an idea of how much better it is than the 827

Thanks
Chris

try calling 'one nine a rig check' on channel 19

chris

try on eu band, should be slightly worse.
if so then you probably just have a good(balanced) setup.

chris

make really sure that you have connected the antenna to the ant socket and not the other way around.
then set meter switch to fwd and press the mic buttom and move knob around until needle on the gauge is on the 'set' on the swr side. (let go of mic)

now switch to ref and press mic and read the swr ...

personally... for that kinda a money I'd probably import a nice galaxy radio from the US, they look loads better to me and some have quite high power outputs.

Like the Galaxy DX95T2 50watts AM/FM and 150watts ssb £234

or maybe wait till this is released:

http://www.cbradio.nl/Maas/Maas_DX-5000 ...

nice job.
Just shows you/us all you do have to check and recheck when you have bad swr...

Chris

could be a problem with the radio... don't think they can be turned up. May need to have it checked,
is the radio picking up noise from the waggon (interference into the antenna)? might show on s meter.

after that, you might need an amplified speaker...

chris

i would not do any cutting until I was sure that proper ground plane contact is made and coax cable tested as these will affect swr loads.

also you must swr on channel 1 and 40 and see which is worse then shorten or lenthen accordingly.
worse on 40 than 1 means antenna too long and vice versa.

chris

seems odd. have you done all the usual continuity checks on the coax, mount, ground and antenna?

chris