I purchased a used motorhome that has a factory installed CB. It's
lousy! Can't transmit or receive more that a half mile. I have tried
to tune the SW on the antenna but no matter if I lengthen or shorten
it the SW stays pegged at the top of the arc. I installed a new, thru
the glass mount antenna, and the same thing happened. I just brought
home a new radio and tried it with both antennas, but no luck.

Any suggestions?

sounds like the coax might have a dead short in it
OR the PL-259 connector has a short in it.
See if you can get a mag mount antenna to try.
73

Gary Chenier wrote:

I purchased a used motorhome that has a factory installed CB. It's
lousy! Can't transmit or receive more that a half mile. I have tried
to tune the SW on the antenna but no matter if I lengthen or shorten
it the SW stays pegged at the top of the arc. I installed a new, thru
the glass mount antenna, and the same thing happened. I just brought
home a new radio and tried it with both antennas, but no luck.

Any suggestions?

Hello, Gary

It could be a bad solder joint in the connector. Bend the coax back and
forth where it connects to the radio while you transmit and see if the SWR
jumps down (and back up). The coax might be bad or the connector(s) may be
bad. Check the connection at the antenna as well.

Good luck!


Best regards from Rochester, NY
Jim

"Gary Chenier" wrote in message
om...
I purchased a used motorhome that has a factory installed CB. It's
lousy! Can't transmit or receive more that a half mile. I have tried
to tune the SW on the antenna but no matter if I lengthen or shorten
it the SW stays pegged at the top of the arc. I installed a new, thru
the glass mount antenna, and the same thing happened. I just brought
home a new radio and tried it with both antennas, but no luck.

Any suggestions?


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Steve;

Most motor homes are manufactured using Aluminum so a mag-mount won't work.

--
Leland C. Scott
KC8LDO

Wireless Network
Mobile computing
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to you by Micro$oft

"Steve" wrote in message
...
sounds like the coax might have a dead short in it
OR the PL-259 connector has a short in it.
See if you can get a mag mount antenna to try.
73

Gary Chenier wrote:

I purchased a used motorhome that has a factory installed CB. It's
lousy! Can't transmit or receive more that a half mile. I have tried
to tune the SW on the antenna but no matter if I lengthen or shorten
it the SW stays pegged at the top of the arc. I installed a new, thru
the glass mount antenna, and the same thing happened. I just brought
home a new radio and tried it with both antennas, but no luck.

Any suggestions?

If they're not aluminum, they're fiberglass..

get a "no-ground" antenna, or build yourself a dipole out of Wilson
SilverLoads to hang off the mirror, if you have "west coast" style
mirrors..

-SSB

Leland C. Scott wrote:

Steve;

Most motor homes are manufactured using Aluminum so a mag-mount won't work.

"Gary Chenier" wrote in message
om...
I purchased a used motorhome that has a factory installed CB. It's
lousy! Can't transmit or receive more that a half mile. I have tried
to tune the SW on the antenna but no matter if I lengthen or shorten
it the SW stays pegged at the top of the arc. I installed a new, thru
the glass mount antenna, and the same thing happened. I just brought
home a new radio and tried it with both antennas, but no luck.

Any suggestions?

Through glass antennas, on CB, are extreme compromise antennas. Even when
they are working perfectly, they are about as effective as a toothpick.

When you tried both antennas, did you use the same cable? If so, I'd think
that the cable is likely the problem.

If you have a dummy load, attach it at the end of the cable, then read the
SWR from the other end of the cable. If it's not 1-1 then the cable has a
problem. If you don't have a dummy load, then about all you can do is read
resistance from end to end in the center conductor (should be zero) outer
conductor (should also be zero) and from the center to the outer conductor
(should be infinite) but that's not a really good test for RF carrying
cables.

Physically inspect the cable for any "dents" or pinches, if it has any, then
replace it.

From: (Gary=A0Chenier)
I purchased a used motorhome that has a factory installed CB. It's
lousy! Can't transmit or receive more that a half mile. I have tried to
tune the SW on the antenna but no matter if I lengthen or shorten it the
SW stays pegged at the top of the arc. I installed a new, thru the glass
mount antenna, and the same thing happened. I just brought home a new
radio and tried it with both antennas, but no luck.
Any suggestions?
_
Yep...buy a no-ground fiberglass marine mount antenna such as Radio
Shack sells. Problem solved. I used one for this exact purpose on a
camper.

I have installed many antennas on motor homes, they are not much fun, but it
can be done.
You need to run a seperate ground from the metal studs of the motorhome to the
mounting bracket of the antenna, this will usually take care of the problem.
Make sure you do not attach the ground to the center load of the antenna, as
this will short the system out and damage your radio. If there is a CB shop
near you, they should be able to help you out.
Take your time to get it done right, then you will have years of good use out
of both.
Hope this helps...


""Don't shake my tree, if you don't like what comes down""
:-) **** Life Is Too Short...*** (-:
****Enjoy The Ride...***

On 10 May 2004 18:36:57 -0700, (Gary Chenier)
wrote:

I purchased a used motorhome that has a factory installed CB. It's
lousy! Can't transmit or receive more that a half mile. I have tried
to tune the SW on the antenna but no matter if I lengthen or shorten
it the SW stays pegged at the top of the arc. I installed a new, thru
the glass mount antenna, and the same thing happened. I just brought
home a new radio and tried it with both antennas, but no luck.

Any suggestions?


You didn't indicate whether you used the came coax cable when trying
both antennas. If so, I'd suspect that the cable connections are
faulty. Try again with new cable.

Thru-glass antennas are notoriously poor performers on CB frequencies.
They're just not efficient. What I did on my RV, was to mount a mirror
mount antenna on the luggage rack on top of the roof. A 3' fiberglass
whip works well, although it will hit low bridges and trees, so I use
a shock spring. Most RV's have an aluminum metal roof so the ground
plane is excellent. It's just not a steel roof, so you can't use a
magnet mount antenna.

Good luck!

Dave
"Sandbagger"
http://home.ptd.net/~n3cvj

It's just not a steel roof, so you can't use a magnet mount antenna.

Sure you can. Mount another magnet on the other side of the aluminum, with
silicone caulk.