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Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: silver rod swr Sun Nov 06, 2022 12:33 pm
well i seem to be having trouble swr'ing my silver rod i have the ant at the moment poking out about four feet out of the tree and though it has it's own ground planes i have fixed an earth wire on to the ant and on a steel bar in the ground and i cant get the swr down even when i loosen the bottom jubilee clip and drop the ant down , do you think im dropping it too much at a time ? the ant is a venom high gain silver rod 1/2 wave 4.5 db gain
Tonyvic Senior contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4013/M7DVQ Posts : 172 Times Thanked : 7 Join date : 2021-02-24 QTH or Location : Brighton, East Sussex Equipment Used : Yaesu 450at - Imax 2000 - CRT Space-U with unknown antenna. Age : 76
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Sun Nov 06, 2022 12:46 pm
I have had two in the last 2 years and they both had a mark (Marker pen) on each section, I used the marks and both gave a reasonably swr reading. Good luck.
rekibrepus likes this post
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Sun Nov 06, 2022 4:30 pm
yes this one does on every section but after i have tried to set the swr it just swings into the red (over 3)
Tonyvic Senior contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4013/M7DVQ Posts : 172 Times Thanked : 7 Join date : 2021-02-24 QTH or Location : Brighton, East Sussex Equipment Used : Yaesu 450at - Imax 2000 - CRT Space-U with unknown antenna. Age : 76
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Sun Nov 06, 2022 8:06 pm
In that case Lionel, I would say either a bad antenna or Coax/pl259 connections.
Steve k likes this post
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Sun Nov 06, 2022 9:31 pm
ok the coax is new with factory fitted pl259's and the antenna is new also so here is the thing , do antennas have to have a pole at the base as i have screwed my ant directly to the tree and the screws are through the holes where you would normally fasten the pole hoops, but as i have said before i have put an earth wire on the ant/ pole fixing and into the ground , have i done wrong ?
John Patrick New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4515 Posts : 31 Times Thanked : 6 Join date : 2022-05-11 QTH or Location : Brighton Equipment Used : Baofeng UV5R - Midland 2001- President Mc Kinley & President Randy III, GT-3TP Age : 52
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 8:47 am
Good Morning Skyrider
Just a question . what is the coax type and length. Sometimes going back to basics can help. Can you take off the ground plane you fitted and put the antenna on a fence post temporarily on its own , does not matter at this stage its just for testing purposes .It just takes out any possible problems. I think the tree may have adverse affect surrounding it etc. A silly question on the swr meter that you know forward and reflected switching . sorry to ask . Yes the antenna on a pole does help, but the outer shield of the coax can be a counterpoise it self. Hopefully no offence is taken with these questions etc. Hope this is a start into fixing your issue. Please keep us informed as you go along.
Kind Regards John CT4515. :D:D
chazwozza Senior contributor
Posts : 102 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2020-02-15 QTH or Location : England Equipment Used : Radios
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 8:49 am
Id start by removing the earth wire
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 11:41 am
right the coax is RG58 and it is 22ft (7m) is that too thin and too short ?
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 11:57 am
a few years ago when i sold my midland radio i also sold the guy my proper home base coax and my silver rod , so moral of story keep all your old stuff because someday you are going to need it
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 12:05 pm
ps good morning John and no offence taken
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 12:11 pm
morning chazwozza one thing i did notice the swr problem was exactly the same after i had put the earth lead on as it was in the first place so i don't think it's doing any good anyway
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220...MW7TTA Posts : 2122 Times Thanked : 52 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 : 149
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 3:49 pm
Have you got a multimeter to test the coax pin to pin and outer to outer and so on for a short. Can't see the tree giving you end to end bad SWR. My money is on the coax. You do the set/fwd and get it to zero then flick the switch to ref and it goes to the red ?????.
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 3:59 pm
now then just been outside in the damp and cool weather to have another go at the ant/coax and i discovered that the pl259 wasn't screwing into the ant because the threads are knackered , the threads on the ant are ok because i tried with a patch lead which worked so i have just got in touch with rocket radio that i bought the coax off to see if they will send me a replacement so now waiting for an answer
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 4:03 pm
Hi Alan we wait with baited breath and see if we get a favourable answer i hope so seeing as i got the silver rod off them as well
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220...MW7TTA Posts : 2122 Times Thanked : 52 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 : 149
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 4:04 pm
You got anybody local to you that could fit you a new pl259. Just a thought as well you will need to tape then up after to stop any water getting in they aren't water tight the fitted plugs.
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 4:43 pm
im thinking of taking the coax off as it's no good as it is, and no cb shops handy perhaps a tv shop could help me out anyway see what happens with rocket radio
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 4:44 pm
plus i would still like to know if the rg 58 is good enough
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220...MW7TTA Posts : 2122 Times Thanked : 52 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 : 149
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 4:50 pm
rg58 is where we all started i bet. It will do the job but you can get better. I use 8x not the best but does the job for me plus i only have shortish run's it's the next one up fron rg50 but a tad thicker.
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 4:53 pm
at the moment im on a 7 metre length and i think i will get some thicker stuff anyway
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220...MW7TTA Posts : 2122 Times Thanked : 52 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 : 149
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 5:31 pm
The 8x is plenty good enough plus easy to work with.
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 5:49 pm
great that's the stuff i will go for then thanks Alan ps is that the RG 8X thanks
Last edited by skyrider on Mon Nov 07, 2022 7:53 pm; edited 1 time in total
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 5:52 pm
rocket radio have been in touch and Mark says he will sort it
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220...MW7TTA Posts : 2122 Times Thanked : 52 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 : 149
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 6:08 pm
Hope they are quick. I hate waiting lol.
skyrider Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4654 Posts : 280 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2022-09-26 QTH or Location : Preston, Lancs. Equipment Used : UNIDEN 100, PRESIDENT MC KINLEY + mag mount , silver rod Age : 63
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 7:37 pm
so do i
John Patrick New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-4515 Posts : 31 Times Thanked : 6 Join date : 2022-05-11 QTH or Location : Brighton Equipment Used : Baofeng UV5R - Midland 2001- President Mc Kinley & President Randy III, GT-3TP Age : 52
Subject: Re: silver rod swr Mon Nov 07, 2022 7:56 pm
Hi skyrider
Thank you for update . Turns out to be possibly the coax , well you would think from a radio shop that it would be checked . Hope you get a new one soon with good coax plugs on. RG58 is a good for shorter runs , but as everyone has said you can get better. Good luck .