Coax length does coax length from radio to amp effect coax length from amp to antenna. i have 3' of belden mini 8 from radio & 18' mini 8 from amp. thanks.

Remove radio and unplug antenna coax from radio - insert a 5 ft. length of wire into antenna input opening and with ignition on and engine off - turn radio on - you should pickup AM stations - if so - replace antenna. https://www.6ya.com/callphilipforhelp

Failing either test is odd. Is mini 8 coax RG 8x? I assume it is, so your readings do not make sense. My first suggestion is to test with another piece of coax. If it tests fine, check your connectors! If it is still bad, you may have a rare piece of bad coax. It happens, just not often. Please post your results. Jack

yes, but no. The radio is designed for low power and a short antenna to limit range. This was to reduce interference with Licensed FCC radios. Since I will provide a few ideas, these are to experiment with radio waves, NEVER to break the law. So.....ideas to increase antenna: most simple, tape coax to the antenna lead. It will pick up a small amount of the radiated signal and sent it to the longer antenna. Strip the rubber and even the mesh, the center copper sends the signal. Best if under 10 feet. Other than this, you either cut open the rubber antenna or best of all, open the radio and soldier to the antenna connection on the main board. Remember: low power radios cannot send a signal far. Use good quality coax, RG58, never cable TV coax. Short length has a better opportunity of working. 30' you will lost all the signal in the coax. Other ideas? Yep, lots. email us. :)

Well I'm not an expert, but it sounds like you're going to need some short RG8U and RG8 coax pieces with connectors at each end, a 3 or 4 way antenna switch, a ground buss, some heavy ground wire (6 ga. or heavier) and an 8 foot ground rod if you don't already have this stuff. I never used an amplifier with my radio, but I would assume that the coax out from the radio goes to the input of the Tuner via coax, in which you can use RG8U for short lengths 3 feet or less. Then from the output of the tuner to the amplifier input. The output from the amplifier to the antenna switch which has your varoius antennas connected to it. You might want to use RG8 to connect the amp to the antenna switch to prevent power loss, especially if you use a piece longer than 4 feet. Make sure that all devices are properly grounded via a heavy ground buss (I used a solid copper bar 1" wide x 1/4" thick and 2 feet long. Then run a heavy wire (6ga. at least) from your ground buss to a ground rod at least 8 feet long that has been pounded into the ground at least 6 to 8 feet away from your dwelling for proper grounding. Make sure that your radio, tuner, amp and switch are all grounded to your ground buss. If you work 2 meters or 440, you might want to get on a repeater and double check with someone who can verify these connections. As I said, I didn't use an amp or a tuner as my radio was 100 watts and had an internal tuner. Enjoy your rig. 73! N2MKG...

Not if the power output from radio to amp is set correct and the jumper for coax is correct length and there is absolute perfect match between them and the antenna used. Afterthought: also the amp better be connected to something big enough to power it.

hello dcigno when you say you have two wilson 2000 antennas you mean cofaced this could be down to the lengths of coax ,are both coax lengths the same if not you would not get a perfect match also check the pl259 connectors on each antenna make sure there is no short whatsoever iff all fails just use the one antenna , and see how that works for ya ,for a more technical term the antennas should be a 1/2 wave apart taking into account the lengths of coax ,hope this helps you out above all check coax for breaks or faults goodluck

The antenna needs to be tuned. The reason all of a sudden your SWR is a 4 when it used to be a 2 is, after a peak and tune, the radio is putting out more power, there for more RF energy is being reflected back into the radio. That is why the antenna has to be tuned.

It is important to tune your CB radio antenna to the proper length. The length must exactly match the wavelength of the frequency you transmit on. Or be really really close.

All Cb antenna's have a way to adjust the length of the antenna. If it's a mag mount, the metal whip can be slid in and out of a metal collar. Usually a set screw. If its a fiberglass whip, the way to tune it is on top. It either has a small metal rod with a set screw to adjust the length, or it threads in and out to adjust length.

Either type you have it will need to be adjusted for proper length. Here is how to tune the antenna to lowest SWR.

Some radios have a built in SWR meter. Some do not. If yours doesn't have an SWR meter, then you have to use an external SWR meter. Radio shack carries one, and you can find them cheap on ebay.

If you have a built in SWR meter or external, the procedure is the same:

1. Turn the radio to CH 20.(This is the center of the band.)
2. Switch the meter switch to CAL. (CAL stand for calibrate.
3. Key the radio. (Important. Do not talk while keying the radio.)
4. turn the CAL knob up until the meter hits the CAL mark.
5. Now while still keying the radio flip the meter switch to SWR.

Where the meter falls after that point is you SWR reading. If its above 3, that is real bad. 2 is not gonna kill your radio but its not the greatest. 1.5 and under is a good place to be, but the lower the better.

If your SWR is high, Here is how to find out if your antenna is too long or too short.

1. Turn to CH 1
2. Repeat SWR procedure. You must calibrate every time you do it.
3. Remember the SWR reading.
4. Turn to CH 40.
5. Again repeat SWR procedure.
6. Compare the reading between CH 1 and CH 40.

Now if the SWR is higher on channel 1 then channel 40 your antenna is too short. You must make it longer.

If the SWR is longer on channel 40 then on channel 1, then the antenna is too long, you need to make it shorter.

Make height adjustments about an eight inch at a time, and take reading each time.

once the SWR is significantly lower and the reading on channel 1 and 40 are about the same, you a about matched. At this point turn the radio to the center of the band, channel 20 and take an SWR reading.

You should now have a low SWR reading, 1.5 or under. If you are 1.5 or under, you are good to go.

If you cannot get the SWR to an appropriate level, there may be an antenna problem.

There is a kit available which contains the antenna, mag mount, coax, and connector. OR if you already have your antenna, mag mount and coax, the connector alone is available. You should be able to get these from your local Motorola dealer.

best regards.

check CBtricks.com and see what they have

Hi,

On most mobile communications equipment, it is best that:
1. the power leads are directly wired to the battery terminals;
2. the bracket and radio body are grounded to the chassis of the vehicle;
3. a braided grounding strip be used in addition to the negative power lead; and/or
4. a gutter or trunk lip mounted antenna be used rather than magnetic. Antennas are better made of metal rod (not fiberglass) such as those made by Daiwa, Maldol, Oscar, Hokushin and others. The mount itself should use high quality RG58 coaxial cable such as those by Belden and others.

Hope that this be of some help/idea. Pls post back how things turned out or should you need additional information.

Good luck and kind regards.