CB problems - promising development!

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I installed a Firestik No Ground Plane antenna and coax on my CB tonight. You must use an NGP coax with an NGP antenna. Preliminary tests in the garage are quite promising.

I installed an NGP 4' long antenna. Since it has a 3/8 -24 thread on it and the BRP has a 6 mm 1.0 thread I had to modify the mounting block. I turned the block end for end and drilled and tapped a 3/8 - 24 thread about 1/2 inch deep. I rotated the block 90° and drilled and tapped a new 6 mm 1.0 thread for the mounting bolt and a 4 mm .7 thread for the coax connector screw. I put these two holes in the same relative position with respect to the antenna thread as the OEM holes. This makes the brass block dual purpose in case for whatever reason I need to reinstall an OEM antenna. The blocks are priced at $49.99 which is why I did not take the easy way out and just drill and tap the existing antenna thread for the new one.

Running and stashing the 17' of coax wasn't a problem. I wrapped a bunch of it into a bow tie loop and put it under the left side rear access panel. You must use a bow tie loop, not a circular one. A circular loop mucks up the electromagnetic tuning of the coax. Then I crossed straight over to the other side through gaps in the plastic under the seat. For now I have it run to the front and connected to an SWR meter for tuning. The SWR jumper goes back to the CB unit.

In my testing and adjusting so far, in the garage, I have no feedback squeal. The SWR is about 1.8 for channel 1, 2.0 for channel 19, and 3 + for channel 40. I have to do more tuning outside where conditions are closer to actual usage.

I will do more testing and tuning today, Wednesday, 4/13, and see how good I can get the settings, how clear the transmission is, and what the range is. I'll post more info and some pics also. I forgot to take pics of the installation before I buttoned everything up but I'll get what I can.

[Snowbelt Spyder]

So, how does one tune a NGP setup?

[PaladinLV]

You may already know, but tune at Channel 20 mid frequency and the two ends 1 and 40 should fall within acceptable levels.

AJ

I installed a Firestik No Ground Plane antenna and coax on my CB tonight. You must use an NGP coax with an NGP antenna. Preliminary tests in the garage are quite promising.

I installed an NGP 4' long antenna. Since it has a 3/8 -24 thread on it and the BRP has a 6 mm 1.0 thread I had to modify the mounting block. I turned the block end for end and drilled and tapped a 3/8 - 24 thread about 1/2 inch deep. I rotated the block 90° and drilled and tapped a new 6 mm 1.0 thread for the mounting bolt and a 4 mm .7 thread for the coax connector screw. I put these two holes in the same relative position with respect to the antenna thread as the OEM holes. This makes the brass block dual purpose in case for whatever reason I need to reinstall an OEM antenna. The blocks are priced at $49.99 which is why I did not take the easy way out and just drill and tap the existing antenna thread for the new one.

Running and stashing the 17' of coax wasn't a problem. I wrapped a bunch of it into a bow tie loop and put it under the left side rear access panel. You must use a bow tie loop, not a circular one. A circular loop mucks up the electromagnetic tuning of the coax. Then I crossed straight over to the other side through gaps in the plastic under the seat. For now I have it run to the front and connected to an SWR meter for tuning. The SWR jumper goes back to the CB unit.

In my testing and adjusting so far, in the garage, I have no feedback squeal. The SWR is about 1.8 for channel 1, 2.0 for channel 19, and 3 + for channel 40. I have to do more tuning outside where conditions are closer to actual usage.

I will do more testing and tuning today, Wednesday, 4/13, and see how good I can get the settings, how clear the transmission is, and what the range is. I'll post more info and some pics also. I forgot to take pics of the installation before I buttoned everything up but I'll get what I can.

[Snowbelt Spyder]

You may already know, but tune at Channel 20 mid frequency and the two ends 1 and 40 should fall within acceptable levels.

AJ

Thanks AJ, but I meant - physically, how was he going to accomplish it.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Thanks AJ, but I meant - physically, how was he going to accomplish it.

Are you familiar with CB antenna tuning? If not Google it for some tutorials. All CB antennas need to be tuned, but many require physically cutting the antenna shorter or cutting the wire wrapped around the antenna. That would be case with the BRP antenna, and it's really not designed for that to be done. I think the BRP antenna may be tuned as good as it can be from the factory but the lack of a good ground plane in the bike design prevents getting the SWR down into the proper range.

The Firestik NGP antenna has a screw on the end. You remove the cover, adjust the screw in or out, lock it in place with jamb nut on there, and replace the cover. Firestik website has a good discussion of it. http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/Setting_SWR.htm.

I'm finding it a bit of a challenge to get the tuning optimized, but I haven't played with it very much yet. I'm on here right now to get some info about which way to turn the screw to get the best SWR readings.

[Snowbelt Spyder]

Sorry for not being clear. That was the essence of my question-whether the antenna had the capability to be adjusted or if you had to try and cut it. I was too lazy to go to Firestik and read up about that specific antenna.

[pegasus1300]

did you also get the folding mount from firestick? Also is there a reason for having so much extra co ax?

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Sorry for not being clear. That was the essence of my question-whether the antenna had the capability to be adjusted or if you had to try and cut it. I was too lazy to go to Firestik and read up about that specific antenna.

I had to pull the cap off before I knew for sure if it had the adjusting screw.