Copper Talk » Ask The Tech » Amplifiers » Swr goes wild when amp on and engine cracked.... « Previous Next »

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Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms

Post Number: 663
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 8:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well, I have a amp situation in my 1996 Cavaliar car. When my amp is on, low or high, with the engine running my swr goes beserk. With the engine off it is okay. I have a Wilson 1000 mag mount on the roof, tried it on the trunk as well. I hope I haven't made a mistake buying this mag mount. Any thoughts?
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Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808

Post Number: 6190
Registered: 8-2002


Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 9:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mikefromms,

Silly Question here but what does your SWR do with out the Amp being connected in line with the radio and antenna?

If your SWR is OK without the Amp being in line/connected then without being able to check your system, I would guess the problem is in your jumper for the amp or your amp or the SO-239 connector's on the amp.

You can also CLICK on the LINK below to find out how to Check/Test your Antenna to make sure it is operating properly.

Wilson Technical Support Testing the Antennas

It will walk you through Testing your Antenna Step by Step to make sure that there are no problem's with your antenna.

Hope this help's,

Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Crackerjack
Advanced Member
Username: Crackerjack

Post Number: 680
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 9:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Does the engine actually have to run, or will it act up when the ignition key is turned to the ON position? Before you start the car>
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Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms

Post Number: 664
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 8:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think the engine has to run. Thanks Lon, I'll puruse the antenna information.

mikefromms
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Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms

Post Number: 665
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 9:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

In the topic heading I meant to say cranked instead of cracked. I guess everyone knew what I meant.

Well, I eliminated the Wilson 1000 mag mount as the problem. What a relief. It 's brand new. I ran my cable from the house outside and ran the car setup off the Imax 2000--same high swr but only with the engine running. So, I'm guessing the jumper or the so-239, as has been suggested, as the problem. Maybe a cold solder on the connections.

mikefromms
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Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob

Post Number: 2011
Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 5:05 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Or a loose inner connector on any of the so-239s radio and amp ,I suspect the radio.Bigbob
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Rover
Intermediate Member
Username: Rover

Post Number: 198
Registered: 2-2004
Posted on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 10:50 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If the amp is OFF and the SWR is normal, then what is happening is, the amp's internal circuitry causes a false reading to your meter. If the antenna is OK with the amp OFF, it is not the antenna or radio. Most CB amps have dirty circuitry anyway, so getting a "false" SWR is not uncommon. Try it with the amp off and also out of the line (direct from radio to antenna. If you get high SWR without the amp in line, then it is antenna or bad connnections or solder joints in the radio as Bigbob said. :-)
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Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms

Post Number: 667
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 9:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yeap, narrowing it down to s0-239's. Strange, I think it is both the radio and the amp. Think I got the radio part fixed. The amp is still not doing right. May just order another one.

mikefromms
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Rover
Intermediate Member
Username: Rover

Post Number: 200
Registered: 2-2004
Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 8:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Many CB amps will do this(false-read on an SWR Meter). Most of them, you'd have to literally tear everything out and start over.

Rover
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Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob

Post Number: 2015
Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Friday, July 01, 2005 - 6:35 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If you recalibrate for increased power it should settle back,most people forget this,because the sampling cicuit is fixed except for the cal.pot,that is why it's there,Rover.I've NEVER gotten a false reading with any amp,due to the amp itself,if the swr is high with it on throw it away and get a new one or take it to a liscenced tech.Bigbob

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