CB antenna tuning
07-18-2007, 08:33 AM
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CB antenna tuning
Just bought a firestik II, and I need to tune it to my cb. Does anyone know of any shops or stores in the hampton roads area that does tuning? I called radio shack, they said they don't know how to do it. Am I better off just buying an SWR meter?
07-19-2007, 12:24 PM
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Re: CB antenna tuning
If you have somebody with a SWR meter that should do, but a spec-an would be best. I "might" be able to borrow a spectrum analyzer from work and tune it to your freq range. 26.965-27.405MHz. Where are you located?
Last edited by Jay; 07-19-2007 at 12:26 PM.
07-19-2007, 12:44 PM
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Re: CB antenna tuning
i don't know if they are still around, but Signal's out @ Frank's truck stop out near chesapeake/suffolk should have one. i loaned-out my SWR meter quite some time ago.
not to cross you, jay, but how does the spectrum analyzer tune antennae? does it/would it require the use of a sig gen in order to test the SWRs anyway? just wondering...did years of CB tuning, just never used a spectrum analyzer.
not to cross you, jay, but how does the spectrum analyzer tune antennae? does it/would it require the use of a sig gen in order to test the SWRs anyway? just wondering...did years of CB tuning, just never used a spectrum analyzer.
07-19-2007, 01:03 PM
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Re: CB antenna tuning
Our spec-an's have a built in tracking generator and you run that through a bridge that is tied back into the input. The output of the bridge hooks into the antenna. Of course, I would use a 6db attenuator pad in-line to the output of the spec-an's tracking generator so that any reception from stray RF doesn't blow out the spec-an.
Basically, you set the 1:1 2:1 and 3:1 VSWR reference levels with 50, 100, and 150 ohm resistors at the end of the cable to calibrate the entire line up to the antenna connection.
Shooting antennas is fun.
I even have a HP 7475A Plotter so that you can keep the sweeps on paper. Sort of like a dyno-plot, haha.
Basically, you set the 1:1 2:1 and 3:1 VSWR reference levels with 50, 100, and 150 ohm resistors at the end of the cable to calibrate the entire line up to the antenna connection.
Shooting antennas is fun.
I even have a HP 7475A Plotter so that you can keep the sweeps on paper. Sort of like a dyno-plot, haha.
Last edited by Jay; 07-19-2007 at 01:07 PM.
07-19-2007, 01:58 PM
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Re: CB antenna tuning
yeah, i like that kinda stuff, but have never used a configuration as such. i just used meager little SWR meters to calibrate WIlson 1000's and K40's and such. never had the need to run that much equipment for CB...even when i've talked with 'heat'.
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