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[2UP3DOWN]

Hey folks I'm in need of technical assistance regarding repairing a damaged CB cable.

Sometime ago, while making my tour-pak detachable I wound up rolling up the radio and CB cables and storing them under the seat just above the battery compartment.  This worked on previous bikes with no problems.  However, somehow on my 2010, I managed to incorrectly position the CB cable such that a small section got caught between two hard surfaces and managed to rub the insulation and ground shield off to the core.  Again, this affected just a very short section of the cable, may be 1.5 inches total.

My question is two fold.  If I were to cut out the damaged section and repair using the correct connectors/bullets, would this affect my SWR...?   Second, can someone tell me exactly what connectors I would need to buy to make this repair...?   I can solder like a champ or I can use the quick fittings from Radio Shack if they exist...   I'm just not familiar with that type of CB RF Cable...

Thanks Guys,

Matt

[T-Hawk]

It would be best to actually replace the coax... and Never roll it into a 'coil', you only create a "Choke" by doing so and you've just ruined your SWR anyway.

Splice repairs involving pretty much anything with Electricity or RF energy running through it is an 'Emergency' repair, not intended for long term.

You can get the 50ohm coax at any Radio Shack... and if you can solder well, you can match the connectors at both ends (I haven't checked mine to see what connectors HD is using) and route the coax in the most direct route between the radio and antenna, keeping it away from other electrical sources if possible.

Try to keep you length of coax in approx 25" to 37" intervals and you should get a really nice 1:1.5 SWR or better.

Ted, KC5PNW on the 2-meter
T-Hawk on the CB, channels 1, 19, and 34

[T-Hawk]

Also, the 50ohm coax you might consider would be the RG58-mini... it's a better insulated coax, at almost 1/2 the diameter of the standard RG58.

I'm thinking the connection at the antenna may be an N-Type connector found on most of the smaller HAM radio sets, and hand-held radios... but I have no idea which connector HD put on for the Radio itself... haven't spun up the nerve to pull the fairing off just yet to see what all's behind there.   

[2UP3DOWN]

Thank you for the info.  I'll have to consider replacing the cable then...

[T-Hawk]

Also, the 50ohm coax you might consider would be the RG58-mini... it's a better insulated coax, at almost 1/2 the diameter of the standard RG58.

What I meant to say is RG8-mini... I don't think there's any such coax as RG58-mini.  It's diameter is about the same as RG58, which is likely what's on the Harleys.   

[Sklywag]

If you do a seacrc under my user name you should find an post I did about CB antennas.

Replace the cable, the RG58 mini sould be a good cable in the HD.  Now remember a MC has basically no ground plane effect so it is a little difficult to get a good SWR.  I went all the way & installed a complete non ground plane Firestick.  It worked much better but looked ugly with the 3' Firestick antenna.

I went to the short antenna's sold by Harley, however they are not adjustable to get the SWR correct.  I started off with a 17' RG58 cable as that was the correct cable length for non ground plane, same cable I used with the Firestick.  I kept shortening it & rechecking the SWR until I got it in an acceptable range.

With the Firestick I was less than 1.5:1 all through the 40 channels.  With the short antenna I am as high as 1.7:1, still ok.  I did tune it to best fit the channels I use, 23 to 27 and in that range I am 1.2:1.  17 & 19 are about 1.4:1

This is a PITA process, cutting cable & reinstalling the connector, then testing SWR.  I used the twist on Radio Shack for all the test then installed a good solder connector.

Remember all SWR testing should be out in the open, you can't do it in your garage & get it right.  Try and have at least a clear 15' circle all the way around the MC.

The connector at the back of the CB is a TNC, not standard for a CB.  You will also need to make an adapter cable & have a couple adapters to use and SWR meter because of the TNC connector.  The Tourpack Connector is crap, get rid of it, it is an automotive radio antenna connector, cheap, easy disconnect but totally wrong for CB.  Just run the CB cable all the way to the antenna.

Hope this helps.

[2UP3DOWN]

Thanks Sklywag.  I bookmarked this for future mod work... looks like I'm gonna have to devote time to this project. I do rely heavily on my CB riding club rides etc and need good distance comms when I ride.   Thanks again!

[Sklywag]

Here is the link to what I posted before

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=55380.msg847899#msg847899

[T-Hawk]

I started off with a 17' RG58 cable as that was the correct cable length for non ground plane...

Sklywag is absolutely correct, as 17' is approximately 1/2 wavelength of the frequencies a CB transmits and receives.  I didn't even consider the lack of the ground plane, as I haven't had a CB mounted on a motorcycle before the CVO.

If you can't create your own ground plane, then the 17' of coax aides greatly in reducing the RF Feedback and actually acts as part of the antenna vs. just the connection between the CB and Antenna.

Almost all CB antennas you'll find in a nonspecialist store is emulating at 1/4 wavelength... that's why I have always mounted 102" (actual 1/4 wave) whips on all my other vehicles.  I don't think the tour-pack is going to hold up to the wind load created on a 102" whip, nor would it look right.

Getting a good match between radio and antenna without enough metal/surface area to create a ground plane, is a trial and error until you get a happy medium.

I'll definitely be doing some research into non-ground plane antennas for the bike... it's just too bad that most of the marine band radios don't operate near the 11-meter frequencies... if they did, find one that would match the bike wouldn't be all that difficult.

Like Sklywag has said... this is a PITA process, but Patience is a must.

Now you've got me interested in finding out what my swr readings are... guess I'll have to take "Sheila" out from under her covers and start hooking up my meters.

Take Care,
Ted

[codten]

This is all good info. I ordered the firefly firestik today, along with the 17feet of non ground plan coax cable.
They also recommended that I disconnect my am/fm/wx antenna. This absorbs much of the output.  To allow me to do this I ordered a comb kit that will use the new antenna as a receive antenna for fm and wx. No joy for am channels. http://www.sierra-mc.com/proddetail.asp?prod=SIE-HARLEY-ADAPT

To make the firestik work i had to order an adapter

http://www.sierra-mc.com/proddetail.asp?prod=SIE-HARLEY-ADAPT

[Sklywag]

Run it with the Medium Spring from Firestick and don't run any flag on the antenna, ever...  If you don't run the spring you will break the HD stud in the Tour Pack.  Go ahead, ask me why I am so smart......

[codten]

I have a 2012. The antenna is smaller  It's a 6 mm connector. That's also why I chose the firefly(per the recommendation of the tech at firestik) as it is lighter. 
What was the connector on the back of the cb? I saw where it was a mini UHF.