i have a question

[Ricky]

first off im new here. Ok, the radio i have is a radioshack trc-503 min moble cb. The antenna i have is a radioshack 36 inch whip mag mount. I installed Them in my car and i keep getting electrical interferance, sometimes when i key up it squeels, and i have very bad SWR readings no matter how i adjust the antenna. what could be the problem?

[ww228kidd]

what type of meter are you using? are you using a power mic? what brand mag mount antenna? and what is you SWRs with the mic gain off?

[Ricky]

Im using the radioshack SWR/Power Meter. I dont have a power mike, I have a radioshack Mag mount CB/HAM. mY radio dont have a mike gain. it only has volume and squelch

[ww228kidd]

what SWRs are you reading on channels 1 & 20 & 40

[Ricky]

1= 2.5
20=3.3
40=3.0

[ww228kidd]

you need to set the antenna all the way down until it hits the bottom then slide it up just a smigit...just enough to clear the the antenna from touching the bottom...check your SWRs on channel 1 & 20 & 40....you have got a really big problem....dont key it up like that much or you will kill your radio

[Ricky]

i had the antenna whip adjusted every way. on other thing i forgot to mention was that i tried mesuring swr with the coax out of the car and the radio not mounted, just sitting on the seat, then i adjusted it and checked the swr and it was good. but then when i put it back int he car it was back to the way it was. around 3.0-3.5

[ww228kidd]

so you checked the SWR standing outside of the car with you radio outside too and with the door open? I hope you didn't cut any of the antenna off yet....wiggle you coax at the back of the radio while you are checking....you may have something loose or shorted...

[Ricky]

well, i cut just about almost a 1/2 inch off. i knew it would bite me in my **Censored** for doing so. it made the swr when i was out of the car have very good, if not exellent readings.

[ww228kidd]

wiggle the connection on the back of the radio...first

[BtyMONSTER]

did you pinch or put a very tight turn on your coax when putting the radio and coax in the car after checking your swr ? inspect your coax for damaged and pinched spots . also you should check your swr when you are in the car with the radio and antenna mounted where they will stay at and with all doors and hatches closed . what did you do with your excess coax ?

[Ricky]

i did not bunch up the coax, i had just enough. i have the antenna on the roof of the car, and i put the coax inbetween the door and door seal. there is a little indentation in the cable, and it does bend a little. i did not know that could cause bad readings. i wiglled the connections around and still nothing

[bullet]

It could be a short in the antenna or coax.

[Ricky]

ok, ill have to mess with it tomm. thanks for the help everybody

[LordDragr]

You should pick up some grounding straps and ground everything on your car, doors, hood, trunk, frame.... that can usually eliminate most all common problems.

[crazytruker]

I would start in 2 areas. Ditch the rat shak antenna. and get good coax if you don't have good coax. rat shak coax is NOT good coax in the event that is what you have. rat shak is good for 1 thing... getting a 102" stainless steel whip antenna and that's it. IMHO

[BtyMONSTER]

be careful with just grounding everything in site . you can create a ground loop .