What makes things like this better is when you don't give a sh*t what other people think/say about you
CK5
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Trail communications
- Thread starter muddysub
- Start date
What makes things like this better is when you don't give a sh*t what other people think/say about you
I'm borrowing a hand held midland CB with a Wilson magnetic antenna. I should be fine for trail runs right?
Should work good if the antenna is tuned right.
I'm installing my setup soon. I read a little about adjusting the length of the antenna but you need a gizmo to show strength. I will search for someone nearby who can tune but am wondering if any BB attendees are good at this.
You need an SWR meter. Unfortunately I don't have one. I used my CB several years without tuning and it worked fine. Just had mine tuned at the local shop a few weeks ago. He only had to cut 1/4" off.
SWR meters are fairly easy to find. Check your local truck stops, if they don't sell them I'm sure one will have a cb shop close by. Most modern radios will cut back the power if SWR is high but very few will allow themselves to be damaged. You just lose TX power and if it's bad enough your RX will suffer too.
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My SWR meter is built into the CB, However a few years ago I hit the CB shop in Moab and bought an antennae and they tuned it for me for a few bucks.
Local shop charged $10 for tuning.
I can't find a place local to tune a CB, everyone points at another shop and I've come full circle. Still trying to find an SWR meter. Probably should have ordered it online days ago 
I'd like to see if the antenna can be cut/tuned in such a way that I can easily remove it from the base, then put it back in (bottoming out into the hole) and have it still tuned. Otherwise, tuning would be a waste once I remove the antenna from the base. (unless I scribe a mark on it)
I'd like to see if the antenna can be cut/tuned in such a way that I can easily remove it from the base, then put it back in (bottoming out into the hole) and have it still tuned. Otherwise, tuning would be a waste once I remove the antenna from the base. (unless I scribe a mark on it)
I don't think removing and reinstalling will cause an issue. I think relocating the antenna all together would be what causes a problem.
As long as antenna isn't moved you should be fine I don't generally leave my radio in if I'm not using the k5 as I don't have windows and what not
Watched that already thanks
The instructions that I have talk about adjusting the amount of antenna rod that goes into the mount. There are two set screws used to hold the actual rod that is the antenna. It talks about moving 1/4" up or down. Even mentions for the novice to cut off 1.25" off the antenna and tune for blah blah blah. This adjustment is done with the SWR meter.
Now, if I leave the magnet mount on the roof, which I plan to do, but need to remove the rod, well I just messed up the tune. If I can tune it to where the rod bottoms out in the mount, that would be dummy-proof for re-installation.
For now and probably BB, the rod is bottomed out. According to the instructions, that's probably 1" too far in
Whatevvvvvs 
thanksThe instructions that I have talk about adjusting the amount of antenna rod that goes into the mount. There are two set screws used to hold the actual rod that is the antenna. It talks about moving 1/4" up or down. Even mentions for the novice to cut off 1.25" off the antenna and tune for blah blah blah. This adjustment is done with the SWR meter.
Now, if I leave the magnet mount on the roof, which I plan to do, but need to remove the rod, well I just messed up the tune. If I can tune it to where the rod bottoms out in the mount, that would be dummy-proof for re-installation.
For now and probably BB, the rod is bottomed out. According to the instructions, that's probably 1" too far in
Whatevvvvvs 
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
Can get one tomorrow.
Astatic PDC1 100 Watt SWR Meter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ULN610/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Wde6vbMWN8EPB
Astatic PDC1 100 Watt SWR Meter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ULN610/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Wde6vbMWN8EPB
If you got the wilson, it will be fine bottomed out. That's how I run mine.
If you get the roof mount wilson you can unscrew the whole thing from the base which doesn't mess with the tune. It also comes with a nice cap to put over the mount to keep it from getting water in it.
If you get the roof mount wilson you can unscrew the whole thing from the base which doesn't mess with the tune. It also comes with a nice cap to put over the mount to keep it from getting water in it.
Watched that already
The instructions that I have talk about adjusting the amount of antenna rod that goes into the mount. There are two set screws used to hold the actual rod that is the antenna. It talks about moving 1/4" up or down. Even mentions for the novice to cut off 1.25" off the antenna and tune for blah blah blah. This adjustment is done with the SWR meter.
Now, if I leave the magnet mount on the roof, which I plan to do, but need to remove the rod, well I just messed up the tune. If I can tune it to where the rod bottoms out in the mount, that would be dummy-proof for re-installation.
For now and probably BB, the rod is bottomed out. According to the instructions, that's probably 1" too far in
If it's a mag mount, just pull the entire piece magnet and all and as long as you get it back in a similar spot on the roof each time the tune will not change enough to worry with. If you want to leave the mount, drill a hole and put in an actual mount.
