CB arial and light bar.

cableliquid · Sep 18, 2014

Hi guys, I've mounted by CB arial on my light bar, when i use my swr meter it reads at the top of the red.
Its a bolt on light bar and I've attached a photo of the arial mount.

I've ran cable from the bolt holding the light bar on, the bolt that holds the washer bottle to the bulkhead but this hasn't improved it. has anyone any ideas how to make it work!?

blue beasty · Sep 18, 2014

You've fitted it upsidedown...

Some lovely decorative cable tie work there

but how is the aerial bracket earthed to the lightbar?

KevAmiga · Sep 18, 2014

Show me a photo of the full antenna, and also have you checked your coax?

When you flick from FWD to REF on the SWR meter, does the needle move at all?

KevAmiga · Sep 18, 2014

Also where in the country are you?

cableliquid · Sep 18, 2014

I'm new to all this, so,

the meter moves from set to 10 when you flick the switch - so yes it moves
how do you mean check the coax?

cableliquid · Sep 18, 2014

having now followed this guid - Thunderpole Forum • View topic - Fitting a Snail Mount I've rewired it, now i can't set it as the dial doesn't go far enough and when i swr it its off the scale - I've done something wrong somewhere!

im in Nottingham btw, going peterborough this weekend so was hoping to sort it!

Jonnyb1990 · Sep 18, 2014

Hows the light bar mounted ?

Might be the bar isnt earthed

cableliquid · Sep 18, 2014

the bar bolts to the gutter with 4 bolts, on one of those bolts I've ran a cable to it which links directly back to a bolt that holds the screen wash bottle on.

should i move that earth to come direct from the battery?

Jonnyb1990 · Sep 18, 2014

Scrape some of the gutter filler out till you get to metal, then earth it to there, less hassle

Thats how mines done and my SWR is minimal

Then fill area around bolt with gutter sealant

cableliquid · Sep 18, 2014

what type of cable/mount did you use?

Jonnyb1990 · Sep 18, 2014

CTE Stainless Steel Gutter Mount | Gutter Mounts | THUNDERPOLE.co.uk

KevAmiga · Sep 18, 2014

STOP before you blow your radio's finals!

With the SWR that high, i doubt its a grounding issue. Thats either a busted antenna, broken coax, something along those lines.

Ok - so lets start with the coax.

Unscrew the antenna from the mount

Set a multimeter on resistance.

One test lead on the tip of the plug. The other on the screw the antenna goes into.

Should show continuity. Now do the outer plug to the same place. Should be no continuity.

Let me know what happens.

For the record... i have been using CB/Radio for years....

cableliquid · Sep 18, 2014

got continuity on centre pin to mount, outer plug to mount nothing.

The Mad Hat Man · Sep 18, 2014

Ground problem or broken screening - unlikely - check solder joints at both ends.

cableliquid · Sep 18, 2014

what is unlikely?

KevAmiga · Sep 18, 2014

Ok so the coax seems good. Next check. is there Continuity between base of antenna (screw thread) and tip. Should be on that style of antenna.

KevAmiga · Sep 18, 2014

Sorry forgot to add, should be continuity between the outer plug (radio end) and the earth point of the mount. Check that too.

channi · Sep 18, 2014

i stuggled to get mine down on a lightbar (just under 2) biting the bullet n going back to a gutter mount had it down to almost 0 last time

KevAmiga · Sep 18, 2014

Nothing's as good as drilling a hole in the roof and fitting a stud mount

If you were local id come take a look... long way to go though

Zigster · Sep 18, 2014

If you can get yourself to Clay Cross, I will sort it out for you

I would come to you but it's a long walk from here

CB arial and light bar.

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