Weird Radio Issue

[Falkon MX-5]

Okay, just the other day my General was working just fine, getting out there as usual. Today, I flip it on, and the static doesn't seem as loud. Okay, so I call for a radio check and someone returns. I still don't hear as many people as usual. So, I flip off the populated channels and dead key. Usually this would swing the meter to ABOUT half way. Now, it's going maybe a quarter way. I try whistling in, and it doesn't even get into the red. Power is on high, mic gain all the way up.

The only thing I've changed is moving my antenna over about 1 1/2 feet. I checked the connectors - all good, my 2 meter radio works perfectly. I checked for bad spots in the coax - none found. I checked the antenna mounting surface - just fine.

So, why is this radio suddenly not putting out the power it should?

[Punkin Head]

did you recheck the swr when you moved the antenna I know moving it 1 1/2 feet dont seem like much of a change but to the antenna it could have affected it. you may need to reset them. just a thought

[Falkon MX-5]

Can't say I did. I'll do that today.

[Falkon MX-5]

SWR is slapping the side of the meter. This antenna is screwed. I took it off, so now I'm just running on my 2-meter rig. I think I'm going to sell my rig or just try to run it as a base.

[Mr RadioActive]

Weird how antennas go huh!

[Falkon MX-5]

I honestly don't know how it happened. I checked the full length of that coax for so much as a nick, not there. I quickly mounted up my friend's antenna, and the radio worked fine. I think I'm just going to build myself a horizontal dipole or a horizontal v-beam and strap it to my balcony. That's a good amount of money that just went nowhere with this Wilson. If I have the urge to get another mobile antenna, it'll be a Predator 10k most likely.

Oh, and what about what you were saying about antenna interference. The 7/8 2-meter antenna is ALMOST the same height as the 11-meter antenna, so I probably would have gotten some nasty reflection!

I have a mobile 102" whip strapped to my balcony, but I really need another one for a complete dipole, or pound in a grounding rod below. Right now, I'm looking into a couple of hamsticks with a homebrew dipole mount.

[231]

Sure is odd. Not sure I buy that the antenna is bad though. I'd be more inclined to believe that the center lead or shielding got pulled at either the PL259 or the magnet. I'm not sure what they send those with anymore, but I'm guessing RG58U...which the center lead sucks on. I'd be very surprised to find out the coil broke loose. My Trucker series (1k & 2K) have been hit pretty darn hard and many hundreds of watts run through them over the years and still work fine.

My guess is you'd find something simple if/when you look a bit closer at it. Just my $.02

[Falkon MX-5]

I figure that's the case. Usually an SWR that just smacks the side of the meter on that antenna would mean a short in the wire. I just don't have the time to fool with it. If I could just buy a replacement coax, that would work.