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Call Sign : 26-CT-4242 Posts : 67 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-08-31 QTH or Location : Southampton U.K. Equipment Used : Nill at the moment. Age : 66
Subject: Fun and Games Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:28 pm
I guys, I managed an experiment today. I used four aluminium 6 foot poles that slot into each other ( on loan form a friend) and suspended my T2LT Antenna. I then connected the Antenna to the SWR meter and connected the SWR to the CB with a patch lead.
Now the fun beguines.
Using channels 1 and 40 to tune in the Antenna.
The problem is no matter what i do the needles on the SWR do not move in the slightest. I have seen the meter working so i know it is good. Tested the T2 Antenna for continuity and that is ok Tested the patch lead for continuity and that os ok too. But no matter what i do i cannot get any indication that the SWR is right or wrong.
As all i am getting is the hissing sound that can be cancelled using the squelch. And that is what i have always been getting. I am now beginning to wonder if the CB is working correctly. I am starting to lose the plot.
Has anyone come across this problem before or know what i need to do to get over this problem.
My journey back into CB's is definitely not going according to plan as i think most of you have seen.
[url=https://servimg.com/view/20361625/191][/url]
MM. 26-CT-4242
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Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220...MW7TTA Posts : 2509 Times Thanked : 69 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7300,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 150
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Fri Sep 24, 2021 7:42 pm
Does the needle on the cb move across when you key the mic.
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Model Maker Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4242 Posts : 67 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-08-31 QTH or Location : Southampton U.K. Equipment Used : Nill at the moment. Age : 66
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Fri Sep 24, 2021 7:47 pm
Hi Alan. Yes the needle moves and the TX light comes on just above the channel selector switch.
MM> 26-CT-4242.
GaryWilson CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-1836 Ham 2E0GGQ Posts : 4124 Times Thanked : 344 Join date : 2019-06-27 QTH or Location : Redcar, North Yorkshire. Equipment Used : Radios & Wires & Stuff! Age : 59
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Fri Sep 24, 2021 8:02 pm
Hello Martin,
I did tell you on a previous post that the T2LT must not be hung on or near to anything metal. You need to hang it in free space or on a fiberglass not carbon fiber pole then try testing again. The metal poles will have a detrimental effect on the antenna system. I should add that I would expect a high SWR rather than no movement at all so Perhaps the radio has faulty outputs (Final Transistors) not an uncommon problem.
73's Gary.
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Model Maker Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4242 Posts : 67 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-08-31 QTH or Location : Southampton U.K. Equipment Used : Nill at the moment. Age : 66
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Fri Sep 24, 2021 8:11 pm
Thank you Gary. Yes i do remember about the metal but i thought i would give ii a go. Perhaps if i suspend from an upstairs window as one of the other members mentioned but i have a ground floor extension on my house so it won't hang vertical.
Maybe i will have to suspend my experiments until i can get something else.
Thanks again Gary.
MM. 26-CT-4242.
GaryWilson CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-1836 Ham 2E0GGQ Posts : 4124 Times Thanked : 344 Join date : 2019-06-27 QTH or Location : Redcar, North Yorkshire. Equipment Used : Radios & Wires & Stuff! Age : 59
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Fri Sep 24, 2021 8:46 pm
No worries Martin,
There's is a real possibility that the metal pole's could cause enough reflected power to damage the radio power outputs. So I wouldn't keep testing in that configuration. See if you can get the antenna in free space and check if you actually have any power output from the radio. I suspect not. Make sure the power button is set to 4 watts on the front of the radio. Also if your feed line to the antenna is on that coil next to the radio unwind it it shouldn't be coiled up like that.
Good luck with your experiments!!
73's Gary.
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Model Maker Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4242 Posts : 67 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-08-31 QTH or Location : Southampton U.K. Equipment Used : Nill at the moment. Age : 66
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Fri Sep 24, 2021 8:55 pm
Thank you Gary, I did unwind all the coax in one experiment. I have tried all sorts of configurations and experiments as it was a nice sunny day. There was to many to try and wright down, and i did not want to put the members to sleep LOL!!
Is there another way i can test the output?
MM. 26-CT-4242.
GaryWilson CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-1836 Ham 2E0GGQ Posts : 4124 Times Thanked : 344 Join date : 2019-06-27 QTH or Location : Redcar, North Yorkshire. Equipment Used : Radios & Wires & Stuff! Age : 59
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Fri Sep 24, 2021 10:33 pm
Hi Martin. Your SWR meter is also a power meter. You can measure the output power using that.
73's Gary.
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Model Maker Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4242 Posts : 67 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-08-31 QTH or Location : Southampton U.K. Equipment Used : Nill at the moment. Age : 66
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sat Sep 25, 2021 7:22 am
Hi Gary, Thank you.
The SWR and the Power needles do not move at all. The only needle that moves is the one on the rig when i press the Mic Key.
MM. 26-CT-4242.
GaryWilson CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-1836 Ham 2E0GGQ Posts : 4124 Times Thanked : 344 Join date : 2019-06-27 QTH or Location : Redcar, North Yorkshire. Equipment Used : Radios & Wires & Stuff! Age : 59
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:21 am
Morning Martin,
I probably conclude that the radio has no output then. This is quite often a result of being used with a high SWR. It's also one of the reasons many radios are given away free.
If this is the case it's not a really difficult fix if You're handy with a soldering iron. Just a case of replacing the final transistors.
I would check all your connections again and if you still have no luck then decide what you want to do.
I could of course be completely wrong there are lots of reasons why this might occur but my guess is the finals. If you know anyone with a radio that can test your feed line and antenna that might be handy.
Best 73's Gary.
Model Maker Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4242 Posts : 67 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-08-31 QTH or Location : Southampton U.K. Equipment Used : Nill at the moment. Age : 66
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:42 am
Hi Gary,
I have come to the conclusion that it is the radio too, and as you say that is probably the reason it was given to me for free.
I will try and see if i can borrow or get a rig that is definitely working and try again. When that will be i don't know.
I would like to thank everyone for there time and help in this matter i really appreciate it.
MM. 26-CT-4242.
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220...MW7TTA Posts : 2509 Times Thanked : 69 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7300,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 150
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sat Sep 25, 2021 1:23 pm
Have you got a multimeter to check for short's on the patch lead and coax. Don't understand why the needles are not moving on the swr.
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Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 5752 Times Thanked : 349 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sat Sep 25, 2021 2:45 pm
Depends on which way the CB meter moves when keying up....
If it moves to the right then the only way it can do this is if there is RF power going out.
If it goes to the left, (drop from received signal even if noise), or stays still then there is no RF output.
If the former, then Alan's suggestion of checking the coax leads is valid.
If the latter then Gary's suggestion.
All the best, Victor
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Model Maker Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4242 Posts : 67 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-08-31 QTH or Location : Southampton U.K. Equipment Used : Nill at the moment. Age : 66
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:05 pm
Hi Alen and Victor,
I have tested the patch lead and the T2LT Antenna for continuity with a multimeter. The needle on the rig moves to the right and a light just above the channel selector lights up indicating TX.
When i use the external SWR & Power meter attached in-between the Antenna and the rig and go to see what the SWR readings are that is when none of the needles in the external meter move at all so there is no way i can get a reference as to the SWR so that it can be altered. And i know that the external SWR & Power meter works correctly.
MM. 26-CT-4242
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220...MW7TTA Posts : 2509 Times Thanked : 69 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7300,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 150
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:14 pm
Might sound daft and don't take it the wrong way. But have you wound the knob on the meter fully clock wise. Don't understand why the needles don't move as it sounds like the radio is transmitting power.
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Model Maker Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4242 Posts : 67 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-08-31 QTH or Location : Southampton U.K. Equipment Used : Nill at the moment. Age : 66
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:21 pm
Hi Alan.
I have tried all combinations on the external SWR & Power meter. And i can guarantee that the external SWR & Power meter is working as i have just had a friend test it on his Ham setup. I was lucky to get it tested this morning. Baffling!
MM. 26-CT-4242.
43CT016 Major contributor
Call Sign : 43-CT-016 Posts : 355 Times Thanked : 22 Join date : 2019-11-17 QTH or Location : Perth Equipment Used : iCom IC-7610/IC-9700/IC-705 Age : 55
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sun Sep 26, 2021 1:52 am
If you know the meter works, and have checked the patch lead for continuity and no shorts, grab a big 50ohm resister (Assuming you haven't got or can borrow a dummy load) and connect that across the SO239 on the antenna side of the SWR meter (ideally soldering it across a PL259, but if you don't have one, just keep in in place however you can while you test), and the radio to the radio side of the SWR with a patch cable, and then see if the SWR meter shows an output on it's power setting.
Don't key up for more than a second or two with no heatsink on the resistor though, and definitely don't key up without it connected properly!!
If you still get nothing, then you have no RF out from the radio.
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Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220...MW7TTA Posts : 2509 Times Thanked : 69 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7300,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 150
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sun Sep 26, 2021 6:48 am
Another daft one. It's an old radio you could take the bottom case off and just make sure that the wire is connected from the main board to the center pin of the antenna socket. Just a thought as i am out of ideas.
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Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 5752 Times Thanked : 349 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sun Sep 26, 2021 7:24 am
The CB meter cannot and will not move to the right unless there is RF output.....
....it is directly connected to the PA finals via a detector diode and trimmer potentiometer.
My best guess 'diagnosing from a distance' is to check your patch lead that goes from the CB to the SWR meter.
Very few people seem to be able to terminate a PL259 correctly, (including purchased/manufactured sources!), and quite often there is a short caused by the braid. Use the multimeter to check for a short on the patch lead.
Failing that, there must be a right bodge job on the radio.....
If the output transistor failed someone could crank up the trimmer potentiometer to show the TX output from the driver, (mere mW), and I've seen this done before by unscrupulous sellers.
The SO239 connector on the back of the radio could have a broken connection as Alan suggests, I've seen them twisted six ways to Sunday with people over tightening the PL259 coax connection so 'spinning' them in their mount.
Cracked and shorted RF decoupling capacitors on the output is another, usually by some 'rig doctor' scrapping the rig around their bench with the cases off.
I wish you the best with it, but at least check the first patch lead for a short from the 'outer' to the 'inner'.
73's Victor
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Model Maker Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4242 Posts : 67 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-08-31 QTH or Location : Southampton U.K. Equipment Used : Nill at the moment. Age : 66
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sun Sep 26, 2021 7:40 am
Thank's guys. I will try these and get back to you soon.
MM. 26-CT-4242
Model Maker Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4242 Posts : 67 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-08-31 QTH or Location : Southampton U.K. Equipment Used : Nill at the moment. Age : 66
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:05 am
Hi Guys,
I have re-tested the T2LT Antenna And there are no short circuits, also i have re-tested the patch lead and that has no short's ether.
I have opened the rig up and everything looks as it should and connected to the centre pin on the Antenna socket.
Unfortunate i do not have a 50ohm resister.
I don't want to wast your time guys and i really appreciate you all helping me but i think it is time for me to give up. I just don't have the money to be able to get anything or to continue chasing this ghost. I think i will have to forget about returning back into CB's.
Thank's again and sorry if i have wasted your time.
MM. 26-CT-4242
Last edited by Model Maker on Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:44 am; edited 1 time in total
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220...MW7TTA Posts : 2509 Times Thanked : 69 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7300,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 150
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:38 am
Wow Don't give up. There might be somebody local who could take a look at the radio for you. You are a bit far away from me in North Wales but i would have gladly sorted it out for you. Hopefully a member might see this who is local to you and offer a hand.
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Model Maker Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4242 Posts : 67 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-08-31 QTH or Location : Southampton U.K. Equipment Used : Nill at the moment. Age : 66
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sun Sep 26, 2021 11:01 am
Thanks, Alan I really do appreciate your's and every ones help.
I am 99.99% sure that the problem is the rig. One day if i manage to find a local fellow CB operator i will see if i can get it tested.
It's a shame if this situation happened about three years ago i would of just got a nice new rig with all the bells and whistles and ssb on it as i was working then. But now on a part pension i need to keep an eye on my outgoings.
Thanks again guys for all the advice and information and help.
I will keep my eyes open on the site and you never know one day you will hear from me again.
MM. 26-CT-4242
Savwafare10 New Member
Call Sign : 2-CT-351 Posts : 41 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2020-07-09 QTH or Location : Greeley / Evans Equipment Used : Kenwood TS450s TS440s Icom 706MK2 Sigma Venom 5/8 wave with home brew ground radials (8) Drake R 4B- T 4xB (twins) 4el LFA soon to go up in the air/
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sun Oct 03, 2021 5:29 am
I can't help it to say, I see 2 coax coils , one looks as to be the antenna coax coiled on the desk next to the radio, then a 1:1 balun possable down at the bottom of the mast. (2 different pictures ) But that would surley show something on the watt/swr meter, being that both those "coils" are after the meter set. Wish there wasn't a body of water between us, I'd be obliged to donate a radio to get you up and going. 2MW001/ 351 ( haven't been on this site in a spell so don't remember the CT numbers, sorry) give it a break and address it a bit later. Sometimes the simple things get the better of us. 73 Jeremy
Model Maker Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4242 Posts : 67 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2021-08-31 QTH or Location : Southampton U.K. Equipment Used : Nill at the moment. Age : 66
Subject: Re: Fun and Games Sun Oct 03, 2021 8:19 am
Hi Jeremy,
Thank you very much for your offer.
I see what you mean about having two coils.
The Balun is on the T2LT Antenna. The coil next to the Radio was after i packed it all away. I should of taken photos at the time but as usual forgot, that length normal reaches from the garden through the house to the radio.
I will definitely be giving it a rest for a while until i find out if there is much activity in my area. Thanks again.