very high swr

[natureboy757]

I have a problem that I need some help with- normaly when I measure my swr its flat, the needle barely moves. But today after having a hard time getting out I pulled over and checked my swr- it was way above 3 and almost to the set line.so I changed out the coax to a spare and this did no good,then I changed my ground wires and this did nothing, I then moved the whip up and down and this had no effect at all, I don't know what else to try, does this sound like something with the radio?the last person that I talked to b4 I pulled over to check it was a basestation 17miles away who told me that I was hitting him with a strong signal but had very low modulation. Any ideas any1?

[Foxhunter]

Do you have a backup or spare antenna that you can substitute, to tell if the current antenna you are using is bad or not?

[natureboy757]

Yes I just got done trying that, I just put on the 2ft antenna that this truck came with and the swr was the same threw the roof

[Foxhunter]

If you switch to another radio (do you have a spare?) and the problem is still there----then you'll know it isn't the radio's fault. If it's okay----then you'll know the radio has to go to the shop.

I don't know what type of antenna you are using. I'll tell you one thing. I played h@ll one time for hours & hours last year in the winter up way up by the great lakes in freezing temperatures trying to find a similar problem. I switched & swapped all kinds of things and spent nearly the whole night (5HRs) trying to find this problem when I should've been sleeping.

In the end it was simply: a shorted antenna mounting stud. It had a small spot where it arced (hehe) and created a burnt spot not easily visible. Because the stud was a heavy-duty one and only 2-months old, it was the very last thing I checked. I could have kicked myself for not looking at it very closely and much much sooner.

[jessejamesdallas]

Think I would vote with what foxhunter is saying about the mount being shorted. I would take the mount off, and check for shorts, or try a different antenna mount.

[Part Time]

I'm with JJD and Foxhunter. Something has to be shorted out.

[natureboy757]

I'm running a single coil 10k on my truck which I brought home with me witch also has my general lee in it, my 929 is in my 4wheeler at the. Terminal.the antenna stud is the last thing I would have thought of and its about the only thing that I didn't check and why do I get the feeling that u just hit the nail on the head,that would explain the high swr I will put a new 1 on tomorrow, hey thanks a million for your help foxhunter!

[Foxhunter]

I'm running a single coil 10k on my truck which I brought home with me witch also has my general lee in it, my 929 is in my 4wheeler at the. Terminal.the antenna stud is the last thing I would have thought of and its about the only thing that I didn't check and why do I get the feeling that u just hit the nail on the head,that would explain the high swr I will put a new 1 on tomorrow, hey thanks a million for your help foxhunter!

You're quite welcome and I remember clearly what I went thru missing an entire night's sleep, over that one little (yet very important) part. Check that nylon washer/spacer too that is beneath the stud and make sure it's not split or flattened!

Let us know what you find out.....

[natureboy757]

Will do!

[natureboy757]

foxhunter u were right on the money, i replaced the mount and everything went back to normal-swr is flatline and all is well i was talking with some locals down in livonia on channel 20 which is 95% base stations and they were giving me bigtime props on how good the lee was sounding so the radio is fine. i have been inspecting the old mount looking for a problem but i cant see any, it just doesnt work anymore- good thing u suggested it or i would still be over here scratching my head at the problem so thanks again buddy- just another example of why this is the best radio talk forum on the net--757 im gone :D

[Foxhunter]

foxhunter u were right on the money, i replaced the mount and everything went back to normal-swr is flatline and all is well i was talking with some locals down in livonia on channel 20 which is 95% base stations and they were giving me bigtime props on how good the lee was sounding so the radio is fine. i have been inspecting the old mount looking for a problem but i cant see any, it just doesnt work anymore- good thing u suggested it or i would still be over here scratching my head at the problem so thanks again buddy- just another example of why this is the best radio talk forum on the net--757 im gone :D

You're welcome. Studs can even appear ok but will have a bad spot not very visible if at all. I keep a spare with me always as a result of what I went thru! If anything switching it real quick will eliminate/rule it out as the problem maybe.

I know I'm "an appliance operator"-----but try to help. Glad it worked and you're still not trying to take it all apart or paying to have the radio looked at.

Foxhunter