<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by rodster:
Thanks! I'm pretty pleased right now.
Tested two more times with no gear, then two times with. Still have done no tuning.
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Rodster, Dick, anybody else,
I just got mine all hooked up and went outside and tested it. With the antenna up, I got my SWR tuned to:
<table border="1">
<tr><th>Channel</th><th>1</th><th>19</th><th>40</th></tr>
<tr><th>SWR</th><th>1.1</th><th>1 - 1.1</th><th>1.2-1.3</th></tr>
</table>
But for kicks I decided to check it with the antenna folded down and the SWR jumped way up into 3+ range. I didn't expect it to be so bad.
I know that Glenn on
this thread said he had "good range" with the antenna down. But with my SWR so high isn't it bad for the radio to transmit?
Rodster,
Did you check your SWR with the antenna down? If so, what was it?
Dick, anybody else,
I've got a Firefly 3' antenna, it didn't have the little ground wire like some antennas do. I do have a left over eyelet/lug from the mounting plate because I got the plate to ground on the roof rails really well. Should I try inserting this between the antenna and the Valor foldover and then running a wire to the stud above the insulator but below the foldover to improve conductivity? Or will this not help at all.
BTW, once I figure out the handset mount for my Midland, I'll do some picts on a new thread. Even though it's like a lot of other people's mounts, I took a few pictures of the process that I haven't seen elsewhere.