Radio Calibration/SWR Tuning (Picture heavy 56k be prepared)

[Glorfendill]

Ok my Cobra 29 has a Calibration Function and SWR "meter" I guess. I've got some pics, the first three will be of running the calibration, it's suppose to Calibrate to the red Arrow mark at the extreme top right of the meter, as you see even with the Calibration knob all the way up, i don't even get close.







The next pictures I have are of the SWR meter, which frankly I think is broken... because I'd be amazed to believe that my SWR's are really all that low across the board.

[BobOstro61]

:06-23tti: LOL

[Glorfendill]

I use crappy free web hosts ok... here's some Angelfire pics... I can't display directly here, but at least you can see the pictures.

Calibration Photos
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SWR Photos
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[BobOstro61]

Here's the site I use. Its free...
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[Glorfendill]

I'll check that out, but until then, here's the web page I set up, at least know everyone can see those photo's

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[BobOstro61]

WHOA BOY! THEY'RE WORKIN' NOW!!!

[HI-TECH]

anglefire and photobucket dont like hotlinkd images...

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[Phaze91460]

If you cant get your baseline set you will not get a real reading on SWR..
Could have an antenna problem.

[SmallTruckBigRadio]

What language are you guys speaking? anglefire...photobucket...whew I must be getting old. Maybe I should change my age to 97 like RA.

Anyway, I have heard to distrust the on board meters. Can you do a separate SWR and Power meter?

Awesome pictures by the way!

[SmallTruckBigRadio]

Just checked the date of this post, You've already resolved this right Glorfendill?

[Working Cowboy]

Oaahhhh how sweet did yall see da little baby radio? Its soooo cute.

Just kidding did you fix this prob yet bud?

[Glorfendill]

Well I'm sorta in Limbo with this problem. I have a SWR/Power meter now just waiting for the 3' jumper I ordered along with my Galaxy 99v, I'll then test the SWR's with the old radio and see If I can get it set up better before putting the Galaxy in.

[SmallTruckBigRadio]

Well I'm sorta in Limbo with this problem. I have a SWR/Power meter now just waiting for the 3' jumper I ordered along with my Galaxy 99v, I'll then test the SWR's with the old radio and see If I can get it set up better before putting the Galaxy in.

Sounds like a good plan to me.

[Working Cowboy]

Thats the way 2 go!

[oknaz]

Guy's

I've noticed on my 29ltd it does the same thing . but my calibrate goes to the arrow . but when i switch to swr it flat lines at 1 . i can't figure out why it does it . maybe a bad switch or a crappy antenna who know's .

[Working Cowboy]

Man 2 be honest radios with the cal built in are the one thing I have had bad luck with I learned along time ago to not mess with the bult in and go buy a meter.

[oknaz]

Cowboy

I've got a meter but still yet it does the same thing . maybe i need to have it checked . since it's never seen a bench yet for any work to be done . but I'm going to hook up my external meter 1 more time just to make sure before i decide what to do .

[Working Cowboy]

I know this is a waze to drive but if ou take it to the Radio shop at the Triple T (TTT) truck stop down south on I-10 in Tucson They will hook you up they are the only "Radio Shop" ( RA is not a radio shop)in AZ I would ever go to and the Only Radio Shop Besides RA of course that never screwed me. The guy specializes in Cobra type radios and he is honest. Take the drive down there, Hey at least it will be a reason to talk abunch on the radio. LOL

[Glorfendill]

Oh one more thing... I didn't realize it was a bad idea when I did it, but I do have the Coax looped probably 2-3 times under my truck carpet.. I intend to straighten that out before I put the meter on it and try to see what's going on. I'm just curious if it matters how I take those loops out? I think I'll probably have to zig zag it across the floor a bit there because I've got a 12' Coax running about an 9' length. I'm just curious if having the wire zig zag a few inches from each other causes the same problem as looping it?

[Working Cowboy]

No matter as long as its not looped up but the straighter the better.

[Phaze91460]

Dont coil the cable. zig zag is ok if needed.

[Glorfendill]

Ok, I just got my package from RA in tonight, and while I haven't done the full radio swap I did run out and check the SWRs while it wasn't bad It wasn't good either, but now I'm running 1.3 on 1 and 40, and 1.08ish on the 19/20 range. Mind you these numbers are with those Coils still in place, tomorrow when I toss in the radio I'll pull the carpet back up and straighten the cable out.

[Working Cowboy]

You should have little prob after your straight RA (s) radios wrk bestat 1.3 and under so as of now you r headed in the right direction. Your gonna love that radio.

[Glorfendill]

OK, took the coils out of the coax and got my Galaxy in and kicking, First radio Check came back too "Check's in the mail"

I will have to do a bit more tuning with the antenna again, after taking out the coils and swapping radios I'm running 1.2 on 1, 1.5 on 40, and 1.11 on 20. Not bad at all considering I Mostly run 19, but once it stops raining I'll get out and re-tune the antenna.