swr ???

[tonyhatchetman]

OK guys i just checked my swrs with my beam horizontal to the ground about two feet off the ground with 3.5 watts dk they where 1.1 and with 17watts dk they where 1.3 when i raise them in the air will go up down or stay the same just wondering any help would be great thanks

[80 meter man]

You might get lucky and they will stay that good but most likely they will change. When checking SWR your antenna should be at the height it will be permanently mounted. If you can't do this and SWR must be adjusted before the antenna gets it's permanent home the antenna should be at least a 1/4 wave length off the ground. For CB that would be about 9 feet. The higher the better but a 1/4 wave seems to work well enough for most antenna builders.

[Big Kahuna]

Couldn't have said it better 80 hit it on the head!!!!

[DX_MONKEY]

When assembling an antenna on/near the ground like this, as most of us naturally do, you can trust the test results of the MFJ Antenna Analyzers. Every time I've used one for initial antenna assembly, what the meter said on the ground is what the antenna did up in the air.

They're pricey but worth it. MFJ 259B or 269

good luck!

[linx]

I adjusted my beam like 80mm said, at about 10 ft off the ground. 1.1 across the board on vert and horizontal. I put it in the air, and it's the same. I never looked back.