Antenna issues
- yankee2500
- Super Mud-Duck
- Posts: 8
- Joined: October 28th, 2015, 8:49 pm
- Real Name: John
- Antenna: Wilson K1000
- Radio: Cobra 75 WXST
Antenna issues
I got everything hooked up today (Wilson K-1000 ant, Cobra WXST radio) and the SWR readings are all in the red when set to FWD (channels 1, 19 & 40) also there seems to be no movement of the needle when turning the knob to get the meter adjusted to SET. What I've red says that indicates a short in the coax cable, is this something that would happen in a new antenna/ cabe setup or could the meter be bad? I switched it to the weather station and it came in fine.
I used the short load antenna and tried the 102" whip and there was no difference.
Kind of disappointing.
I used the short load antenna and tried the 102" whip and there was no difference.
Kind of disappointing.
- drdx
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Hello there. What kind if swr meter are you using? Are you sure the meter isn't hooked up backwards? Can you describe the mount? Since you put a 102 whip on there I assume it is a 3/8 mount so if the meter is hooked up fine and the whip has the same result then maybe the coax has a short or the mount insulator is installed incorrectly. Tell us more.
-drdx
-drdx
Yes it's me, Dollar-98, drdx, the original all maul, shot cawla on workin this no-fade technology.
-drdx
-drdx
- yankee2500
- Super Mud-Duck
- Posts: 8
- Joined: October 28th, 2015, 8:49 pm
- Real Name: John
- Antenna: Wilson K1000
- Radio: Cobra 75 WXST
The meter is a Astatic PDC1 SWR /RF W/3' jumper and the mount is the Wilson magnetic mount on center of the roof of a Subaru Crosstrek. The antenna coax is hooked up to the terminal marked ANT.
- drdx
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Ok, how was the 102 inch whip hooked up? I'm just trying to help you figure out what the culprit is.
-drdx
-drdx
Yes it's me, Dollar-98, drdx, the original all maul, shot cawla on workin this no-fade technology.
-drdx
-drdx
- yankee2500
- Super Mud-Duck
- Posts: 8
- Joined: October 28th, 2015, 8:49 pm
- Real Name: John
- Antenna: Wilson K1000
- Radio: Cobra 75 WXST
I appreciate your trying to help.
I first had it lowered 1" into the part of the antenna with the two allen head screws, then closed all the car doors and keyed the mic on each of the three channels, when all went into the red I loosened the allen screws and bottomed out the whip tightened and repeated the procedure. (I also did this with the short load antenna with the same results both times.
I first had it lowered 1" into the part of the antenna with the two allen head screws, then closed all the car doors and keyed the mic on each of the three channels, when all went into the red I loosened the allen screws and bottomed out the whip tightened and repeated the procedure. (I also did this with the short load antenna with the same results both times.
- drdx
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The antenna could have a coax issues indeed but on those it would be hard to confirm as I think they show a short from center to shield even when working properly. I'm assuming you are doing this testing with it out in the open. Do you have any other antenna and coax you can use to test? You may post your area and maybe have a member on here close enough to help in person. Or to confirm, you could always just go buy another locally and try it out. At this point I'm not sure or if you are sure what is bad- jumper, meter or antenna.
-drdx
-drdx
Yes it's me, Dollar-98, drdx, the original all maul, shot cawla on workin this no-fade technology.
-drdx
-drdx
- The DB
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If you know someone who has access to an antenna analyzer, many will have a distance to fault function that can tell you about how far down a coax a problem is. Unfortunately, doing said test is difficult without such or other more expensive equipment...drdx wrote:The antenna could have a coax issues indeed but on those it would be hard to confirm
Have you tried a second antenna on the mount as well? That is the first step I would take in that situation, mind you I tend to have multiple extra antennas just lying around that I can just pop on a mount and test with...
The DB
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MDYoungblood Verified
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I'm not sure what a K-1000 is but I'm guessing it's a base loaded magnet mount. If I remember you bought the short loaded 36" whip with the Wilson 1000, did it come with the 62" whip also? Where are you checking the SWR, you need to be in a clear area, nothing close or overhead.
The short load whip has two adjustments the set screws on the base load and the set screws on the whip load. Try to set the base first, get the SWR close and then tweak the SWR with the whip load. Check the coax at the point where it enters the vehicle, there is the spot that damage to it will occur.
If you tried the 102" whip in the Wilson load it wouldn't work, way too long.
Like DB said, find someone with an antenna analyzer, best way to adjust an antenna or find a problem, a local might, local truckstop might.
3's
Greg
The short load whip has two adjustments the set screws on the base load and the set screws on the whip load. Try to set the base first, get the SWR close and then tweak the SWR with the whip load. Check the coax at the point where it enters the vehicle, there is the spot that damage to it will occur.
If you tried the 102" whip in the Wilson load it wouldn't work, way too long.
Like DB said, find someone with an antenna analyzer, best way to adjust an antenna or find a problem, a local might, local truckstop might.
3's
Greg
- yankee2500
- Super Mud-Duck
- Posts: 8
- Joined: October 28th, 2015, 8:49 pm
- Real Name: John
- Antenna: Wilson K1000
- Radio: Cobra 75 WXST
I don't know why I said 102" it's the stock 62" that comes with the Wilson K1000. Maybe I'm not far enough away from the garage, tomorrow I'll drive to an open area and see what I get.
- drdx
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With the antenna plugged directly into the radio is it receiving a lot of signal? If not can you unplug the antenna and just make it to where just the center is connected? Does it receive a lot better in that position rather than it all plugged in? If so then it sounds like it is a short issue. Based on your early post it almost seems as something is backwards based on your fwd and set descriptions but this mode of communicating can be limiting for sure.
-drdx
-drdx
Yes it's me, Dollar-98, drdx, the original all maul, shot cawla on workin this no-fade technology.
-drdx
-drdx
- 1206FL
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Make sure the meter isn't hooked up backwards first of all. IN goes to radio or actually is from radio. OUT goes to the antenna. Look at these meters for reference. Both of these are labeled as follows:
Transmitter = from radio
Antenna= to antenna
Then you have a calibrate and swr switch. That or set and swr.
Here are picks of 2 both the front and back. [img][Please login or register to view this link][/img][img][Please login or register to view this link][/img]
Transmitter = from radio
Antenna= to antenna
Then you have a calibrate and swr switch. That or set and swr.
Here are picks of 2 both the front and back. [img][Please login or register to view this link][/img][img][Please login or register to view this link][/img]
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- Slim Pickins
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Do you have a dummy load? Nothing worse than trying to set an antenna up and finding out you have a bad jumper or meter.
73,Slim
Insanity is hereditary......you get it from your children.