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[arcticdude]

Anybody else tried matching the antenna to the CB, using an swr meter?  The 06 was simple and easy to do, but the 07 I haven't been able to get decent readings even after taking almost 6" off the antenna.  What's everybody else done?

tia

arctic

[GasRat]

I had a spare antenna & tried the same thing with very poor results. I switched to the freedom antennas & was able to adjust it down pretty low. Don't remember the exact # but was around 1 on the swr meter.

[bisounours]

Morning Artic,

In this thread http://flhrsei.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1166816916
You have many informations concerning the CB antenna from RedDevil. [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

Jacques

[ultrafxr]

Anybody else tried matching the antenna to the CB, using an swr meter?  The 06 was simple and easy to do, but the 07 I haven't been able to get decent readings even after taking almost 6" off the antenna.  What's everybody else done?

tia

arctic

Are you taking the reading at the antenna or the radio.  I know for accuracy it should be at the radio but it is easier to access the antenna.  I did notice that the readings were different when I moved the swr meter a couple feet away from the antenna.  So if your cable won't allow you to do that and you're real close to the antenna this could cause a problem getting an accurate reading.  That stated I took off about 1" from my antenna but didn't really seem to help.  So I just put it back together and am waiting on Red Devil's report on the J&M antenna.  Hope these work well since I'd like to get rid of the whips.

[arcticdude]

I am placing the meter at the junction in the tourpak, BUT I did the same for both bikes.  That's what's pretty frustrating.  On the 06, I was able to easily get under 1 even at the ends (ch 1 and ch40), with less than 1/2 at ch19.  On the 07 I couldn't get below about 2 7/8 no matter what channel I was trying.

I'll have to look at the "RedDevil antenna writeup".  Merci beaucoup Jacques!

That's a good writeup, with good info.  It will be interesting to hear what RedDevil has to say.  I'm somewhat of an oddball (anybody who knows me will agree ), so I actually like the standard antennas.  If anybody wants to get rid of a set or 2 (or just 1 antenna), I'd be happy to cover S&H to get them to Oklahoma!  I want to experiment a little.
Thanks!

[RedDevil]

Are you taking the reading at the antenna or the radio.  I know for accuracy it should be at the radio but it is easier to access the antenna.  I did notice that the readings were different when I moved the swr meter a couple feet away from the antenna.  So if your cable won't allow you to do that and you're real close to the antenna this could cause a problem getting an accurate reading.  That stated I took off about 1" from my antenna but didn't really seem to help.  So I just put it back together and am waiting on Red Devil's report on the J&M antenna.  Hope these work well since I'd like to get rid of the whips.

Ultra is correct.  The best place to take the reading is right off of the back of the radio before the coax run to the antenna.  However, the coax run on the Ultra is not so long that you should get that much of a variation if you take the reading in the tour pak.  You will notice a power loss though, due to the coax run, but once again, shouldn't be significant.  I have a dummy load that is set to give a 1.1:1 SWR at the back of the radio, so I will put that on the SWR meter prior to checking my antennas to see if there is much of a difference when taking the reading at the tour pak vice behind the radio.  It beats taking the fairing apart to do an SWR reading.  I'll provide feedback when I get my new J&M's mounted.
Cheers  [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif],
Red

[magicl1]

[highlight]I have a dummy load that is set to give a 1.1:1 SWR at the back of the radio, so I will put that on the SWR meter prior to checking my antennas to see if there is much of a difference when taking the reading at the tour pak vice behind the radio.  [/highlight]It beats taking the fairing apart to do an SWR reading.  I'll provide feedback when I get my new J&M's mounted.
Cheers  [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif],
Red

You are far more experienced than most of us.  So how do you create a dummy load?   If it's easier than removing the faring, I'm willing to try it!

[RedDevil]

You are far more experienced than most of us.  So how do you create a dummy load?   If it's easier than removing the faring, I'm willing to try it!

The simplest way is to go to Radio Shack and buy one, that's what I did...cost me about $3 back then, but probably around $6 now.  It's basically nothing much more than a PL-259 connector with a 50ohm load on it. But it's tuned and will always give that reading and I use it to calibrate my meter before I do any SWR readings.  
Cheers  [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif],
Red

[bikerdude]

Go to J&M WEB SITE THEY MAKE SHOTT ANTENA THAT WORKS GREAT AND YOU CAN GET RID OF THE TWO LONG ANTENAS,

[Unbalanced]

I put on the J&M shorties and they are working as well if not better than the long whips I had on the 07 Ultra.

[PHAZE]

Have you got a photo of the shorties?  Do they show up on the J&M website?

[VaEagle]

Here is the link PHAZE,
It has a photo and order info for the shorties from J&M

http://www.jmcorp.com/SeeProducts.asp?PF=6

[PHAZE]

I know that I can call and talk to the folks at J&M, but the advice here is always good.  Are these a direct replacement without any other mods required?  I just want to know if I can just remove the stock units and intall the J&M units and go with it.  I saw some discussion up this thread about meters and adjustments on the CB.

[RedDevil]

I know that I can call and talk to the folks at J&M, but the advice here is always good.  Are these a direct replacement without any other mods required?  I just want to know if I can just remove the stock units and intall the J&M units and go with it.  I saw some discussion up this thread about meters and adjustments on the CB.

Phaze,
They are a direct replacement, right down to having an allen set screw in them.  A few of us just did SWR checks to see how good they are.  And straight out of the package, without any adjustment, they out-perform the stock whips a great deal.  Worth the money, IMO...
Cheers ,
Red

[PHAZE]

Thanks!  I'll me making a call to J&M tomorrow.  I wonder how much this site increases the gross national product here in the U.S.?