Sal-XK's Garage

[AJeepZJ]

Let me know when you plan to put the stuff on - I'll make a trip down and help out.

[IamJEEP]

Nice work Sal, clean install.

[Sal-XK]

Let me know when you plan to put the stuff on - I'll make a trip down and help out.

I still have all the paint sitting here to finish painting the bottom of my XK. I also have parts for finishing my spare battery install I just need to make or purchase a fuse box to get all my accessories plugged into the spare battery. I got both jeeps CB's fixed up just need to get a cable so I can plug my SWR meter in then I'll be done with that. Need to get those bars from you so I can get that installed to. I think that's about it aside from so little things I want to do it's been crazy around here lately I haven't even washed my Jeep in about two months. Maybe we can meet somewhere so I can get those bars and I can see if I can wheel with those things.

Edit: I'm going to make it on the 12th for Uwharrie

[Sal-XK]

I think I destroyed my firestik antenna LMAO. Waiting for the rain to stop to get back outside to get a proper reading

[Holaday07 4.7]

How did you do that. I had two of them for years without trouble.

[Sal-XK]

How did you do that. I had two of them for years without trouble.

I was trimming it got down below 2 on the meter took another coil off went to 3 on the meter now so not sure what happen there.

[superacerc]

Firestick has a nice tunable antenna. Much easier than chopping the silly thing. Make sure that ground is good as well.
My usual path of tuning involves seeing what the SWR is at CH1 and CH40. They are diff freqs and depending on the resonant length of the antenna, one will be better than the other. If CH 1 is better than 40 that means its too long and could be shortened some. If 40 is better ..... well good luck on making it longer if it's not tunable (has the screw in the end). If it just won't tune than it could be a bad ground (and if you're already chopping away it might not work very well starting over with a great ground. If you buy cheap Coax (some of this stuff is of the poorest quality) than that can possibly cause you some issues as well. A good RG 8 type is great stuff. 213(i think thats the right number) is good stuff. RG58 is low end (high loss, low shielding) Mini anything is not very good.
I'm sure you know all that but i figured for the rest of those sitting around reading your wonderful post it might help them.
I'm one of those geeky Extra Class Ham Operators who sits around building antennas for fun.

Hope it works out, i guess 20 bucks or so isn't too bad a loss if it's too short now.

[Sal-XK]

I put a jumper cable to the antenna mount to insure I had a good ground to the bracket. I've used top of the line parts except for my cable I just used the existing cable I had installed already and I'm betting that's my issue. I'll have to order a new antenna and connectors now I think.

[superacerc]

Did you just jump out the antenna mount to the bracket? If so Is the bracket really grounded well? I had to run a #10 wire down underneath my XK to a major chassis bolt to get a real good ground. There is one right underneath your rear bumper almost exactly underneath the bottom of the antenna. That's the one i used. Just put a crimp lug on that had the bolt mounting prongs and backed off on the chassis bolt and put it under there. I can put just about any antenna in my mount and it's always nearly a perfect match.

The bracket by itself is nowhere near enough counter balance for a CB antenna so the bracket needs to be grounded really well.
I keep editing this forgive me. You need as much continuous and bulky metal as possible for a great ground. Cause a vehicle is never really ground, right? Unless you don't have tires?

[Sal-XK]

I put the jumper to the bracket and came off the same ground my lights are on. I thought about running the ground to the antenna stud but didn't know where to tie it in on there. I had to look up just to figure out where the nylon washer goes LOL