How to mount cb antenna feed through adapter SO-239. High swr ?

A lot of people seem to be mounting this feed through adapter the wrong way, which directly shorts the antenna to the ground. Put the plastic washer on top of the mounting bracket. There's other things you can check for high swr problems as well. A cheaper multi-tester with "continuity" function can help out a lot to find out shorted coax cables, mounts, verifying your antenna is grounded, etc. Type of antenna, length of whip, position of antenna, badly soldered/shorted PL-259 connectors, length of coax cable...lots of things can make a difference, but usually can be worked out.

[@davidcaloca2448]

I gave up on CBs 6 months ago because I couldn’t figure out why the swrs were so high and I couldn’t talk to anyone. This was the video I needed to see! Thank you so much. Today I got my first ever response when I called for a radio check

[@douglasbollinger3626]

David - glad it helped!! Radios are a fun hobby. Sometimes things work great and sometimes it's trial and error and you have to figure out an issue or two, but don't give up! Glad you got a response for your radio check. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask, I'll try to help.

[@cormaccrawford6366]

Finally someone who knows what there talking about

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Thank you!

[@Howy_TV]

Yes that helps a lot. Thank you for being one of the very few to explain it like that in depth.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome, Tristin! If you need help with a radio/antenna set up and have any questions let me know. I will certainly try to help.

[@willeddleman4132]

Thanks for the good explanation. I'm new to this, and the insulator was on the bottom side of the bracket in the packaging, so that's where I put it when I set up the antenna. That could be why others are making the mistake that I made. Thanks again.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome! If you have other questions while making your installation feel free to ask, I'll try to help if I can. They shouldn't put it in the packaging like that, it definitely can be misleading!

[@fv17782]

Thank you. Now I need to check out my antenna mount. Mine came unassembled with no instructions so I probably assembled it incorrectly. Great tip.

[@agoraphobicadam1171]

Thanks, Mr.Douglas Bollinger. All I did was put the washer in the correct location and it fixed my swr problem. 697 Nashville,T.N. or c.b. handle 'The Old Fart."

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome! Have fun on the air!

[@jerryrobinson8861]

Thanks excellent job I was trying to tell someone they had it hooked up wrong and they told me no so I thought I was wrong excellent job for explaining how it works again thank you

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome, glad it helped!

[@nickscustoms269]

I didn’t even think to check this on my new truck! This was the issue, thanks

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome! Glad you got it working! I'll try to help if you have questions. Take care!

[@rubenlemus6736]

Exactly the video I was searching for!! Thank you for your time and great explanation.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome, Ruben! If you have any questions feel free to ask! I'll try to help.

[@toddsignal4514]

Appreciate the info and very good demonstration! This is the info that’s not mentioned in instructions! I’m going to a mount like yours soon. I’ve been using magnetic mount.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome! If you have questions feel free to ask. I'll try to help.

[@jaymiecordero8474]

Thanks. So many videos don't even mention the plastic washer and where it's supposed to go. Thanks for confirming.....

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome! If you have other questions or whatever feel free to ask, I can try to help!

[@aaronlayes4485]

Thanks for the video the shop installed it wrong I corrected it thanks to you.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome! Glad it helped and hope you're on the air!

[@mikebolton5577]

Excellent video. Very helpful to all beginners installing whip antennas.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Thank you, I appreciate that!

[@tunafish3216]

Great video I’ve seen this from beginners all the time.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Thank you!

[@alonsomarquez6087]

Thanks i was wondering about the rigth way now i pulled it on my antena mount installed to this video.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome, hope it helps. If you have any questions let me know and I can try to help.

[@brianjames3753]

It did hep, thank you! I had no plastic bushings in my antenna.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Glad it helped!! You're welcome!

[@MrEzplay]

You deserve more likes, but I could only give you one!

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Thank you so much! I appreciate that!

[@raimey2929]

Wow I'm glad I found this video It helped a lot I had already bought a new coax cable and then I thought it was my radio or the meter but that's all it was I just made a rookie mistake thanks for making a video about this

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome! Glad it helped! If you have any questions as you get your set up installed feel free to ask, I'll help if I can!

[@tonyalejandro6309]

What was your radio doing before you did this ?i have a problem where I can’t hear nobody but everybody can hear me

[@douglasbollinger3626]

@@tonyalejandro6309 Is your speaker working? Have you tried an external speaker? Have you checked your microphone wiring because sometimes no sound will happen if a wire came loose in the microphone connection. (Mic has to be plugged in on some radios for sound to work.) Do you have a video of what it's doing??

[@tonyalejandro6309]

Douglas Bollinger il thanks for replying ,my cb radio use to work ,and out of nowhere it went silent at a quarry ,everybody can hear me ,but I can’t hear nothing ,everything on the cb works,needle and lights ,I switched cbs to see if that was the problem along with the my friends mic and it still had no static coming threw the antenna ,changed the cable yesterday (coax) and nothing still ,it’s driving me crazy

[@douglasbollinger3626]

@@tonyalejandro6309 You're welcome. Just curious, what kind of antenna and mount are you using? I know you said you replaced the coax, but are sure the coax is good and not shorted? How's the power wire hooked up? Just trying to "see" what's going on. Can you take any pictures and email them possibly?

[@masonplantadis6425]

So much help thank you so much outstanding

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome, glad it helped!

[@veggiepowered]

I'am Your Newest Subscriber Great Videos

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Thank you and welcome! I'm glad you like them and I'm hoping to post more!

[@JoseVazquez-ev9jl]

Yes Sr. Thank you

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You are welcome!

[@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee]

Simple and to the point 👍

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Thank you!

[@waltsmith6515]

Great video

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Thank you!

[@mima5089]

Thank you. good explanation.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome, glad it helped. If you have any questions feel free to ask!

[@viccruikshank2441]

Great job.

[@JoseOrtiz-iv9db]

Good information. Thanks dude. 73’s.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome!

[@sourpatch478]

That's exactly what I did I did exactly that damn it you know what I'm glad I watched your video because the last one I watched that's the reason why I did that and ended up where I'm at right now so thank you

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome! If you have any questions or need help, ask away! Glad it helped!

[@sourpatch478]

@@douglasbollinger3626 actually I do I don't know if my antennas bad or what

[@douglasbollinger3626]

@thepatchthatissour What kind of antenna is it and how is it mounted? Are you using an SWR meter? If so, what are the SWR reading?

[@sourpatch478]

@@douglasbollinger3626 I got a hundred and twenty inch whip on there now it's working it was the antenna I got it figured out

[@sourpatch478]

@@douglasbollinger3626 and I got a Cobra 29 classic not stock I think I'm just starting out in all this so radio friend of mine said I was coming in at a 7 and it's a mobile cuz I guess it's everybody's it's badass actually

[@mitch3424]

excellent ! 👍

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Thank you!

[@bobo-wf1jv]

Lots of people can't get a good SWR reading with the L bracket while using a spring and full length 102" 1/4 wave whip. The antenna and spring and standard "ball mount" actually make up the pre-tuned low SWR "trio," .. when using the L mount instead of the standard ball mount, the spring and antenna and L mount are too short to tune properly. This can be remedied in four ways, 1. using an inline coax tuner .. or 2. switching to a top loaded fiberglass tunable whip .. or 3. switching the L mount to a ball mount .. or 4. construct a "capacitance hat" on the whip of the 1/4 wave 102" antenna. This would be to mount a small extension of metal mass on the tip of the whip to allow for additional length and to tune it to a very low SWR. The capacitance hat also radiates higher on the whip so you send and receive a slightly stronger signal. Ham Radio operators design capacitance hats of all styles and shapes .. they all do the job. You can also solder a small V made of 10 gauge on the top of the whip to lower the SWR. This radiates higher and also makes up for not having a ball mount while you use the L mount bracket.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Interesting. You're talking for CB/11 meters? I've never had an issue with swr's using a 102" stainless steel whip, large spring, L-bracket and 50 ohm coax cable if it's all properly grounded. The swr for me has always been almost "flat" when I use that particular combination. (I normally use 20 feet of coax.) If someone is trying that same set up and have swr issues I'd say the problem is something else. When I've helped people with high swr it's usually found to be something like they have a bad antenna ground, using some different ohm coax (not 50 ohm), the feedthrough adapter mount installed incorrectly (shorting out), they're using miles and miles of coax or something like that. I am a ham radio operator (Amateur Extra) and I've never built a "capacitance hat", but I am aware of them. I've used the luggage mounts since, gosh, 1989, 1990? I've never had a problem with that type of mount. In fact, I've never used a ball mount. Some swr issues come from the type of vehicle, too. (Fiberglass body, etc.) Each vehicle's a little different to try and figure out. Thank you for your comment, I appreciate everyone's experience and knowledge -- this is how we learn and get better with the hobby!

[@MrEzplay]

You’re 💯 % right

[@Elchiaroscuro]

Good video!

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Thank you, I hope it helped!

[@JaVAPicard]

Aghhh that's why meters in the red area haha thanks, very helpful indeed.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Yup, it'll go to the red every time if this adapter is mounted wrong. Glad it helped. If you have questions about anything let me know, I'll try to help.

[@mayhem8334]

Thanks buddy thanks 😊

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome! I hope it helped!

[@houuboii808]

I had mine with isolation washers on both sides and had a lower swr than with the isolation washer on the top. How? (Everything is brand new)

[@douglasbollinger3626]

I honestly have no idea how that's possible. If you had an insulator washer on top and bottom of the lower half of the feedthrough adapter then your antenna would not have been grounded. You are talking about both insulators you had being on the bottom half of the feedthrough adapter?

[@chirik1985]

Thanks ! ✌🏼

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome! I hope it helped!

[@rickringer]

What stud mount are you using at 2:35 in the video? Where did you get it?

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Hi, Rick! I think the stud mount at 2:35 was either made by Workman or from Radio Shack. I've bought so many over the years I can't remember where I got all of them from, but here is a link to one on EBay that's similar made by Workman: www.ebay.com/itm/400372268350?epid=1403477563&hash=item5d380bfd3e:g:g-kAAOxyo-9Q1mDO The bracket to hold the mount is the luggage/mirror mount. You can find these items at places like Love's gas stations (some Love's have cb radio stuff for truckers), Flyin' J or any trucks stops, Ham Radio Outlet online, EBay, Amazon, etc. Let me know if this helps or if you need more information!

[@chriscruz1829]

Can I make a bracket out of any old piece of 90 L shaped metal And drill big enough whole through itWith no problems just as long as that rubber piece can make it through the hole?

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Yes you can. The hole needs to be 1/2" to fit this feedthrough adapter. Just make sure the L shaped metal is the correct thickness where you can tighten it properly without the L-bracket touching the center stud part. Also make sure on the bottom side of the L-bracket there's no paint or anything where the adapter mounts so it grounds properly to the bracket. Let me know if you have other questions and I hope this helps!

[@geofftubeyou]

Thank you

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome! Any questions feel free to ask away!

[@DJTPA007]

👍thanks

[@alfy234]

Helpful

[@douglasbollinger3626]

I hope it helped! If you have questions about setting up an antenna or CB radio let me know and I can try to help.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

I got a comment notification this morning from "Craftsman S", but can't seem to find the actual comment. Maybe the comment was deleted? In the notification bell the comment/question is: "I have a met handrail across the back of my Mack semi cab - I have the same bracket as you in your video - a lot is fiberglass, do I need a separate ground wire?" If I'm understanding the setup correctly, it's a metal handrail, but it's mounted to fiberglass cab? If that is the case, yes, you would probably need to run a ground wire from the cb antenna bracket to a metal piece of the truck frame. It sounds like the metal handrail is insulated from the truck frame and that will mess up the SWR's. Make sure the wire goes from the ground/braided wire part of the bracket to the truck frame. (Probably easiest to ground it where the bolts go on the bracket, you can bolt the wire tight to the bracket then run it to the metal truck frame.) I hope that helps! If you can, make a video of it and let me see what you're working with?

[@yankee7664]

Very good 👍 video for the newby's in Cb, you explain it very simple 👌but you take 5:18 minutes to do it..ok ( to may ditele's ) one very good one ( And yes they are some shut I coll then morons ,idiots or better yet people that don't read the instructions ) that will put the plastic insulator the Rong way 🙄 and yes that will be a bad SWR problem.🤯 .... make sure you have it the right way and you will be🤗..ok no more taking your time . Very good video 👍 and thanks for helping the newby's to Cb...73's and good DX's from KAHK4031 ( my old Cb license in 1975 )

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Thank you! I appreciate that! I needed help myself when I first started with radios so I try to help others. The hobby can get frustrating if you're not sure what you're doing and your radios don't work correctly. I hope you have a wonderful evening!

[@yankee7664]

@@douglasbollinger3626 what ever help you nead ...I will use some of my experience on Cb radios

[@douglasbollinger3626]

@@yankee7664 I appreciate it. I'm good with radios now, was just saying I try to help others. If I run across something I need help with I'll surely ask!

[@acebatman7024]

at what length of coax would you recommend?? installing dual francis 4.5 antenna's with 6ft 50ohm coax. please and thankyou.. aces...

[@douglasbollinger3626]

I'm being honest when I say I'm not real sure. I've seen dual antenna sets that come with different lengths of coax, 12, 16, 18 foot for example. Also, I've never tried using dual cb antennas, I've always used single antennas. There's a bunch of rumors out there about coax length and stuff, but I've always used 20 feet in a vehicle and had great luck. I used that length so I have some room to run the coax underneath carpets or whatever so it's not in the way and it's not too tight/short either. From what I've heard you want to use the same length coax for each antenna. I've also read that dual antennas change the "shape" of your signal compared to a single antenna. I've also heard that you have to have dual antennas a certain amount of feet apart from each other, like at least five feet apart from each other (some say 8 feet apart) so the antennas don't interfere with each other. When it comes to that, I'm not sure how far apart works the best. Again, though, I'm not much help in the dual antenna area, I'm sorry. If I was going to try dual antennas I would just try 20 feet to begin with, check the swr and go from there. I hope that helps. I'd check out some videos on "co-phase" cb antennas that will probably explain all that stuff above better than I did, but I hope I steered you in the right direction.

[@acebatman7024]

@@douglasbollinger3626 Mr. Douglas. Antennas are being installed on a semi. So I'm guessing at least 14 ft from one ant to the other. Both coaxs are 6ft in length. The new cb does have a swr meter. I'v never installed dual Antennas so I don't know what to consider during installation. Please and thank you

[@douglasbollinger3626]

@@acebatman7024 I found this video, from a trucker, talking about dual antennas and things. He mentions to use a coax that screws on to the back of the cb and is "split" to go to each antenna instead of using a T-adapter and two separate pieces of coax. Then he mentions to use 75 ohm coax instead of the normal 50 ohm. KZbin won't let me post a link to his video, but his channel is called J Rich and the title to the video I'm talking about is "Are 2 CB antennas better than 1 ? 2 cb antennas vs 1 cb antenna" Maybe his video will help you some? Worth a shot!

[@jfrphoto01]

@@douglasbollinger3626 I know that this is 3 months ago but the cable for dual antennas, also called "Co-Phased Antennas" is 75 ohms and is specially made and is called the "Co-Phasing Harness".

[@douglasbollinger3626]

@@jfrphoto01 Thank you! I tried to help him, but I've never really messed with dual antennas. I just use single antennas usually.

[@bleikrsound6127]

And the plastic washer is the first thing to fail. There are more durable insulating washers, I have made them of various materials that last many times longer than plastic. I often wonder why radio companies go to the trouble of designing a product, then base the whole thing on parts that are flimsy.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

I actually haven't had one of the nylon/plastic washers fail and I've been using radios since the late 1980's. I do agree they could make them out of something stronger, but luckily if one does break they can be replaced cheaply and they do last a long time unless someone over tightens the feed-through adapter and causes damage. Here's a 10 pack for $ 6.00. www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-10-Workman-CB-Radio-Antenna-Stud-Mount-Nylon-Insulator-Washers-Bulk/372480638563?epid=1558406410&hash=item56b9937e63:g:ULYAAOSwaXpb0SCB

[@DynoDieselWagon]

Correct

[@petmycat2720]

where do i find feed through adapters...

[@douglasbollinger3626]

Sadly, I used to get most of my stuff from Radio Shack which went out of business, however, you can still find the feedthrough adapters and "luggage/mirror" mounts online at sites like Amazon, EBay, Ham Radio Outlet. Also, if you have any truck stops/gas stations for truckers close by they usually have antenna supplies there, like "Pilot" gas stations, "Flyin' J "even "Love's" gas stations may have antenna supplies. Some "Love's" gas stations will have truck parking and showers for truckers -- if they do they will probably have cb antenna supplies. On a side note, if you order anything from Amazon right now there could be a delay since they are only shipping emergency/medical equipment stuff due to the virus situation in the world right now. Here are a couple ebay listings if it helps: www.ebay.com/itm/WORKMAN-SM1-3-8-24-to-SO-239-ANTENNA-STUD-MOUNT-ADAPTER/150593448104?hash=item231011a8a8:g:XqkAAMXQKtdQ1mAY www.ebay.com/itm/Radio-Shack-CB-Antenna-Mirror-and-Luggage-Rack-Mount-3-8-24-Thread-21-937/233381187025?epid=1600249327&hash=item36569a4dd1:g:TXgAAOSwdolderK6

[@petmycat2720]

@@douglasbollinger3626 Thank you very much...I will hit the truck stops.

[@done7352]

Thank you for the information. I just threw this away. I thought it was junk. No I know.

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome! Hopefully you can find another pretty cheap. If you have any questions let me know!

[@PhilipWahlbom]

That DID help. Thank you!

[@douglasbollinger3626]

You're welcome! Glad it helped!