How to Tune your CB Antenna, A Detailed Step-by-Step Guide

[@madbadger-x1k]

Pat's instructional videos are the best - short, sweet, and to the point ... thank you !

[@janegerrard1073]

All How To videos should be like this, no waffle and no time wasted. I haven't SWRd a CB since 1991 so needed a refresher.

[@hughh.8075]

Holy cow! Best and easiest to understand video on the subject. You are a natural instructor and I thank you for your hard work.

[@geirha75]

there are qrp ant tuners which work at cb band. with a tuner and those smal differences in swr you can get it down to 1:1 flat and make your radio happy.

[@mariovozzo3321]

Excellent video. Straight to the point.

[@williamblow8279]

Thanks for your help I have just started ☺️

[@RightChannelRadios]

Best of Luck, you got this!

[@williamblow8279]

Just learning about set radio mate thanks 🙂

[@charliebarber479]

Videos are a invaluable help for a beginner thank you!

[@RightChannelRadios]

Thanks for the kind words. We're happy to help!

[@Cubasenet33]

Great vid. Super useful. Thanks for it!

[@Keith-b5u]

Awesome Video 👍👍

[@Aint_no_senators_son]

What if it's very high on both but they are about equal?

[@redmesa2975]

I bought a set of Predator dual coils. So far, trimmed 5” off and SWR are at 3. The reading came down some, but this is getting time consuming. The Wilson 2000’s I’m currently running are at 1.5. But the Predators are sky high.

[@Kiddro22]

This is why I like Francis antennas. They usually give you a reading around 1.5 with most radio's. I have a hard time with the Predator 10K/K-1-27 with a 27in shaft. It reads 3 on Ch1 & 40. The coil should be above the roof/cab? Correct?

[@bz6741]

wish me luck I just ordered a SWR meter and I have to do this on my truck's new cheap antenna LOL

[@tytycascadia]

I tried doing this last night but the needle on the SWR meter doesn't move at all no matter what I do. Any tips?

[@RightChannelRadios]

Be sure that the radio is hooked up to a good power source, we recommend a fuse tap or direct to the battery. If the radio's transmitter isn't getting enough power from the vehicle, the needle on the meter will not move. Also, make sure the calibration knob isn't all the way to one side, as the needle could stick on the sides.

[@rowetroop8322]

do i have to leave the swr meter in the truck with it hooked up like that to keep it tuned?

[@johnlea1179]

Just to make sure I understand, I see you "key" the mike when it's on FWD and set the needle. So, do I keep the mike "keyed" when I flip the switch to REF, or "un-key" the mike first?

[@apuertorican1773]

Keep it keyed. U let it go after u get the reading

[@johnlea1179]

@@apuertorican1773 thanks dude.. sorry for the late reply! 😜

[@sardonic_smile_8752]

How do you lenghen the antennae? Idjet.

[@jar407]

some antennas have a thick shaft with a thin metal center (stinger) and a tiny screw you loosen slightly and pull up slightly don't move more than 1/4 inch at a time. retighten and measure again . 1.5 or lower don't sweat it it good to go.

[@sardonic_smile_8752]

@@jar407 Thank you

[@B.91.10]

1.1 is best anything above 1.3 or so is risky.

[@Pioneer936]

Think there's a misunderstanding on this subject, we shouldn't be tuning our antennas for low swr ,we should be tuning antennas to resonance which could mean swr will be higher, then we match to allow power transfer, can't do this with an swr meter need an analyser

[@jar407]

do want the least power reflected back to the transmitter 1 to 1 no reflected back 4 to 1 good way to burn out finals

[@Pioneer936]

​@jar407 reflected power isn't the problem, it's the impedance that causes equipment to heat up and blow

[@Pioneer936]

​@bill-2018 where did he mention that ? He also didn't mention groundplane which is key to tuning a mobile antenna

[@bill-2018]

@@Pioneer936 As this is from one day ago, I will tell you it was supposed to go to @jar407. It was a mistake you got it.

[@bill-2018]

@@jar407 Only one dipole here at 75 Ω which is about correct and 1.5:1 SWR as expected. Impedance of the others are 43 Ω, 49 Ω and 57 Ω with SWR values of 1.4, 1.1 and 1.3 respectively. I have no problems with these 'wrong impedance' values as stated by Pioneer and never had anything heat up and blow. H/b radio 30+ years and FT817ND since 2017, nothing has blown. My tx is happy with low SWR values and I do get out. I asked him what frequency his perfectly resonant ¼λ vertical was on. No answer. He's using text book values and no experience of real aerials in real situations. G4GHB.