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Message |
    
Sinker
Intermediate Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 167
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2005 - 7:21 pm: | 
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Well, got the Maco V-5000 installed but having some high SWR numbers that I can not seem to get lowered.
I scrubbed all antenna sections down with Ox-Gard and a light abrasive pad with Corrosion-X on it and scrubbed down every surface I possibly could along with as far inside the tubes as I possibly could. Did this as a result of this post: http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/discus4/show.cgi?tpc=7750&post=33274#POST33274.
I followed the instructions to a tee and yet I have the following SWR Readings:
•: Channel 1 = 1.9:1
•: Channel 40 = 1.8:1
Should I even run the radio or will I burn it up with these numbers?
Any time I try adjusting the antenna length as in the instruction the SWR gets worse, regardless if I make it shorter or longer.
Any time I try adjusting the center wire connection as in the instructions on the ring to a new location the SWR gets higher.
I bought the A-99 but have not been happy with it & do not want to go back to it, then the Top One which I left unsupported, it fell and broke (my fault not my daughters), now the Maco V-5000 I like the looks and all, even made my first and only CEF contact but the SWR readings worry me. Worked hard cleaning and putting this antenna together and up and want to get a better match.
I am not a tech nor do I even know much about radios and antennas, maybe I should save up and just get an I-Max with Ground Plan but I REALLY want to get this Maco to work so when the KLV comes back I can put some CEF #'s in my book.
HELP ME PLEASE, if I wasn't already bald I would be now from pulling my hair out...
Tim
CEF-634
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1708
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2005 - 8:12 pm: |
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the fact that ch 1 swr's are HIGHER then channel 40, says your antenna is still TOO short(think:the LOWER the freq, the LONGER the antenna needs to be). try lengthening an inch at EACH joint, & several at the top. see where your SWRs go then. if the ring is measured as per the instructions, it will only 'tweak' the SWRs enough to get them 'equal' at both ends of the band, as yours are now.
another trick- you still have 1 of those dx99's i think it was you had? check swrs with that on the LOWEST freq available, & again at JUST UNDER 28mHz & see where you get lowest SWR's. if they are out of site down low, A band 25-26. mHz, but 'better' then they are now, when you get in the high 27 mHz range, again, that shows antenna is still TOO SHORT.
stick with the maco. you'll be happier with its performance then the imax.
GOOD LUCK!!! |
Moonraker
Junior Member
Username: Moonraker
Post Number: 42
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2005 - 8:15 pm: |
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Sinker, it is safe to talk on your radio with the swr as they are. If you have your antenna low to the ground for tuning, the swr will usually drop when the antenna is raised. Do you have good grounding? Is the antenna close to any structure that could cause a reflect problem? Are you using good coax? Usually when your swr is the same on your highest and lowest channel (or in your case very close) it wont get any better by tuning the antenna. I have never used one of these antennas, but I hope I was able to help. |
Chad
Advanced Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 507
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2005 - 8:36 pm: |
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Run it, those numbers aren't that bad. It would be nice to get lower. My Imax is between 1.1:1 and 1.3:1. Is the antenna close to anything metallic (around the radiating area)? |
Marconi
Intermediate Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 441
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2005 - 9:06 pm: |
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The SWR is OK and less would be better, but this will not hurt your radio.
Did you note a required measurement of 1" between the ends of the rings where they attach to RO2P and PO8P brackets?
If you can try going up and down frequency beyond channel 1 and 40 and see if you can find a better match somewhere. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1712
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2005 - 9:12 pm: |
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the V5/8 will tune to better then 1.4:1 across 40 channels, not perfect, but better then a 1.8:1 'low' #. |
Airplane1
Advanced Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 591
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 8:47 am: |
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My Maco V is at 7ft to feedpoint and I got mine to tune to 1.1-1.3 across the 40+ extras so I know you can do better than what your getting. You can use it the way it is but just keep trying to tune it a little at a time. I was new to cb and never tuned a base antenna befor but just kept tweeking it till I was happy. check all your measurments and make sure it was build correctly. I had to adjust the length about 10-12 inches till it was right even after building it to the length in the instructions. |
Sinker
Intermediate Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 168
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 10:26 am: |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
OK
•: Antenna is 20' to feed point above peak of roof and 45' to feed point above ground level.
•: Yes there is the recommended 1" between the ends of the rings where they attach to RO2P and PO8P brackets
•: The Antenna is centered on my roof with NO metal buildings, metal roofing, power lines etc nearby.
•: Got out the Boomer and Galaxy DX99V to do some additional testing and here are the SWR readings I got on the additional frequencies:
- 25.165 = 9.9 (Lowest Frequency I could get)
- 26.965 = 2.0
- 27.015 = 1.8
- 27.075 = 1.7
- 27.135 = 1.6
- 27.205 = 1.7
- 27.245 = 1.7
- 27.305 = 1.8
- 27.355 = 1.8
- 27.405 = 1.9
- 28.755 = 5.1 (Highest Frequency I could get)
Guess I will be taking it back down  and trying to get this thing tuned up. Need to get someone who either knows something about radios to help me out or two other people to do this as up and down the ladder checking and adjusting is bad on my knees and getting it back upon the roof is tough even for just two guys and then need to get it level and guy ropes tightened down.
The antenna buy the way if nothing else looks AWESOME and I can see the tip of it now with the added height above the trees from a block away at points  .
Oh Yeah turn on the Boomer and SWR Readings go straight up to 2.2 and higher - yikes I don't like that... 
Tech-833
- How about a BBQ, Beers and a Fishing Trip as a barter for you fixing this darn thing
-  -
- I'm broke and can't afford your regular rates .
Tim
CEF-634
"Today looks like I'm Depressed" |
Dcrusty
Junior Member
Username: Dcrusty
Post Number: 11
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 11:45 am: |
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sinker,I have never own one of these antenna's. If you can find someone with a mfj 259 antenna analyzer close to you,you can figure out what is wrong in a hurry.You can make your adjustments right at the antenna and watch the mfj,pretty simple once you learn to use it. No more running up and down off the roof to make adjustments. dcrusty |
Chad
Advanced Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 508
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 12:13 pm: |
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Has that radio been hacked around with? It may be throwing harmonics, I had that problem with well..... Harmonics wil be reflected.
Any type of foil backed lining under the shingles?
Chad |
Dx431
Senior Member
Username: Dx431
Post Number: 1113
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 12:53 pm: |
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If all else fails, read the instructions!
I have the v58 and was having swr trouble myself. Went back and reread the instructions. It took awhile to figure it out. But after reading the instructions a few times. It finally hit me what the problem was. Now my swrs are 1.1 barefoot and the highest with my amp on High are 1.7. Can't complain. It works for me.
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Airplane1
Advanced Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 593
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 12:56 pm: |
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Tech 291 Dennis is the one who helped me so maybe you want to give him a email. I know I just kept adjusting till it was right. I did neeed to move the ring adjustment a bit to but that was only to even the swrs on each end of the 40 channels.moving the ring adjustment moves the swrs very very little. I would still guess the length is the problem but I am no expert and only tuned my maco V. just take your time it will work out fine. |
Starface
Intermediate Member
Username: Starface
Post Number: 248
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 2:32 pm: |
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Need Help let me know and I'll Drive over and see what we can help with.
Till next time
Starface CEF#476
Southeast Net Control
Auburndale,FL |
Sinker
Intermediate Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 169
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, October 17, 2005 - 4:49 pm: |
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I will attempt to get some help to bring the Antenna back down so that I can get this corrected.
Boy I sure hope we do not have any hurricanes as I have no desire to take it down and put it up - what a pain and I hate asking for help plus being fairly new out here I do not really know anyone well enough to ask nearby other than my Brother-N-Law and he is almost never available.
I will get this thing dialed in and put back up, get my KLV back (called today and it still is at Copper - must have been really messed up). Then when the new mic comes out I will get one for the other base station that I has no mic or speaker (guess a speaker will be next).
FIRST BACK TO THE MACO - Gotta get it right and I have not given up yet...
Oh yeah the radio has not been hacked & no foil under the shingles. Same location I had the A-99 at 1.3:1 at the highest SWR reading although it is higher in the air than the A-99 was.
Do not know anyone who has an MFJ-259 antenna analyzer, wish I did.
Back to the drawing board - OR roof as it is...
Tim
CEF-634 |
Cornbrown
Member
Username: Cornbrown
Post Number: 54
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 8:38 am: |
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Hey Sinker were you able to get the SWR down on your Maco??? |
Sinker
Intermediate Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 170
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 3:48 pm: |
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Haven't even gotten the Maco down off the roof yet - heheehe. Been busy with my son (medical issues) as he has some special needs that takes up most of my time.
Have to get the antenna down now though before the Hurricane as it is supposed to come across Florida and leave right over top of me. Of course that can and will probably change in the next few days but I bet Starface may be bringing his tower to the leaning position and is it Bruce also who is in Tampa - they will get it worse than I will this time around.
Everyone stay safe and out of dangers path. Most likely will only make the CEF Net this Sunday by computer as the antenna will be down and house closed up from what we know now. Again that can change.
Then the following Sunday I hope to make contacts with all of you WITH a great SWR matched antenna and the KLV.
Tim
CEF-634 |
Nobodyknows
Intermediate Member
Username: Nobodyknows
Post Number: 117
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 9:43 pm: |
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Just a suggestion and if you have the room in your yard to do it.. I would plant a pole in the center of the yard about 5 ft tall to place the antenna on to check the swr's. Moving the antenna on and off the 5 footer to lengthen/shorten sections is alot easier than climbing the roof.
I've used T-Posts as temp masts while i'm setting the swr. I've also just left it on a T-post and ran it like that for awhile. You'll notice you can still shoot skip if conditions are there with it still being on the T-post.
If it was me, I'd keep it off the house untill i had it dialed in. Less chance of catastrophic failures.
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Sinker
Intermediate Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 173
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, October 20, 2005 - 9:42 am: |
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Will be setting something up so I can do this - THANKS |
