installing a CB in the Suburban--it's giving me grief

[TurboMinivan]

This morning I had time to re-route the ground directly to the bare steel plate itself. This produced no change in the radio's behavior.

You guys may be right. The only two possibilities left are the 12v supply and the antenna itself. Anybody have a surplus antenna I can hook up for a quick test? (The Jeep's antenna cable is artfully tucked away under roll bar padding and other things, so that would be a pain to undo it all just for a 10-second test.)

 

[TRD270]

I'm a little ways away from you but I have 3 or 4 standard antenna's and a magnetic one that I know works

 

[Kevin B.]

I'm a little ways away from you but I have 3 or 4 standard antenna's and a magnetic one that I know works

No you don't, screechy.

Dempsey, I'm even farther from you, but I know for sure my magmount works. :lol:

 

[TurboMinivan]

I have a horrible whine, blew Kevin's ear drums out.

No you don't, screechy.

You guys crack me up.

If I can't find one closer, I would be happy to run by either place for a quick test.

 

[TRD270]

No you don't, screechy.

Dempsey, I'm even farther from you, but I know for sure my magmount works. :lol:

That wasn't my magnetic antenna, that was my obviously poorly installed new setup

 

[Tee]

Im in Highland and have a couple antenna's you could try. You still got my number right?

 

[TurboMinivan]

You still got my number right?

I did until my phone deleted all my contacts last month. Please PM me your info.

 

[Tee]

Done

 

[TurboMinivan]

My almost-neighbor Ryan (dash) is going to let me use his antenna for testing; I just have to drive the Suburban over there and try it out.

 

[TurboMinivan]

SUCCESS!

I am glad Ryan came over to help me perform a quick test, because it showed all the trouble was due to my faulty antenna. Now that I knew that, I went down to the Flying J in Springville and bought myself a shiny new Wilson "Little Wil" antenna. Once it was installed and I verified it was working, I even tuned it with my meter (which was easy to do, requiring a little simple trimming to find the right length).

 

[TurboMinivan]

How does an antenna go bad?

Beats me. It was a small magnet-mount Uniden that I found in a pile of random stuff at my sister's house many years ago (I think it belonged to her ex-husband). In other words, it didn't break my heart to know it has a problem, and it didn't bother me one bit when I tossed it in the garbage.

 

[Hickey]

It's very likely that the coax got pinched in a door or window frame. An antenna will fail if it is damaged. Some times it's an immediate failure, other times it will degrade over time. If the insulation was pierced, the wiring would be exposed to the elements and corrode.

A SWR meter will tell you if your antenna system has a problem.

You new Lil Wilson will serve you well for many years. Be careful not to pinch the coax and it will last a long time.