How to use SWR meter to check SWR on CB radio and tune Firestik antenna

How to use SWR meter with CB radio and adjust Firestik antenna.

Checking your SWR:

- Every CB needs to have the standing wave ratio (SWR) checked -- this measures the amount of RF signal being reflected back into the CB; too much and it will fry your radio. If you don't have a built in one on your CB, you can pick up one pretty cheap online or probably at a Radio Shack or truck stop.

- Switch your SWR meter to calibrate (or FWD on some models) mode and depress the transmit button on your microphone to get the needle to the "set" point on your SWR meter.

- Switch to SWR mode (or REF on some models) and key up on channel 1, and write down the reading. Then repeat this on channel 40.

- If your SWR is higher on channel 40 you need to shorten your antenna 1/16 to 1/8 inch at a time (be careful here because it only takes a little to make a difference!). If your SWR is higher on channel 1 you need to lengthen your antenna. (Remember this mnemonic: if your SWR is higher on 40 you need to make it shorty; if your SWR is higher on 1 then you need to lengthen it some.) With a dipole you want to shorten or lengthen equally on both sides. Ideally, you want an SWR of 1.5 or lower, and the same on channel 1 as on channel 40, though this will be difficult to achieve in the real world. Just shoot for the best you can do -- see below about high SWRs. (Note: SWR is often expressed as over a 1, so sometimes you'll see an SWR of 1.5 written as 1.5:1. An SWR of 1 or 1.0:1 means you are transmitting at full power, since none of the power is being reflected back into your radio.)

- Any SWR over 2.0 is considered poor, and over 2.5 is very poor (the danger zone). With an SWR in the 2.0 to 2.4 range you should be alright with occasional or light use of the transmitter, but transmitting with an SWR of 2.5 or higher could damage your radio if you transmit on it a lot. Obviously, the higher the SWR the worse it is on your radio to transmit. Remember, ideally you want your SWR to be 1.5 or lower. You should be able to listen just fine with a high SWR, but don't transmit much until you're able to fix it.

[waltergonzalez]

I was 🤏 this close from throwing my CB out the window! Thanks, man!

[RosssRoyce]

Thanks a lot! I always forget the calibration part 😀!

[paulgrodkowski]

FYI Everyone !!! Just making a quick comment to everyone who might read this. I have seen a lot of YouTube videos about checking SWR on CB radios. I appreciate these videos. I will not argue against established knowlegde and science. Far be it for me. I read once in a book I borrowed from a library that although a 1:1 match is desireable it is not the final mark for measuring an antenna. Fiedl Strength is also a measurement. You may have a higher SWR than 1:1, say 1.7:1 or something like that. However if you move the antenna up and down and adjust it a little bit and set for maximum field strength it may be a better measure for antenna operation and range. One of the reasons I am typing this is because although I read about it in a book I have not seen any demonstrations about for it. Noe have I found a Field Strength meter that responds to a cb transmiiter connected to an antenna. It seem that only the SWR meter responds but not the F.S. meter.

[lukiferbrutality]

Wanted to say thank you for your helpful tip on the nerf finisher jam issue. I was so relieved that it actually worked! Wanted to leave this comment on that vid but comments are shut off (which I can understand) thank you again!!!

[kasper]

Out of all the videos this guy probably explains the best. That being said I've been searching and the ones I watch are like ok this n this is reading we going to shorten antenna and no understanding on why we do this or when do I shorten or extend. Obviously I haven't seen them all but I do appreciate the explanation.

[loseyourlife]

Very good video and content, I met my dad at age 29 in 2005 he was a CB radio technician and I got to learn the install end of the biz and you explained this correct to the T👍🏻💯🇺🇸

[Atarix]

Ha, great video. I just got one of these and the instructions where translated so bad that I couldnt understand them. Now I got it ;DDD

[DoloBinnBuggin]

Thank you so much for the XX-700 issue, I was about to throw mine out.

[maverickproductions]

Yo thank you so much for the nerf finisher jam problem and it worked! I’m gonna sun and like

[dangerdoberman]

I'm ecstatic for Astatic. Obliged for the help. Just put a CB on my Blazer.

[no._trustno]

Btw, if you have problems after modding or opening your Rival Mercury and the trigger jams try hitting it

[howardmiller]

Ok I want to make sure I’m correct, I have a 4 door cab pick up. I was going to set the Stryker towards the back of the cab right in front of the 3 break light, I was thinking I should have it centered as close as I can on the vehicle. I was told I should center it on the cab roof not center of the entire truck, what are your thoughts?

[cdlthelion]

He should realize that when you put a SWR power meter in line and you're adding that jumper cable that alone can change your SWR I have a Galaxy dx86v and it don't have to be calibrated. I run 102 inch stainless steel whip on the back of my car and you adjust that by length of coax rule of thumb that every 9 feet is a one-to-one match but that depends on what type of coax you run as well I run an lmr-400 coax I got a 1.2 on my radio I added a jumper in there and brought it down to a 1.1 now you can add or you can take away to get your match it's a little work but the better the match on the radio the better the output!

[warzone]

Can I use only the watt meter to test my tyt th9800 watts power??? can I use it on any frequency to test the watts on my mobile radio

[sexistlexus]

Do you leave your swr meter in-line all the time? I know some do and some don’t

[kasper]

Is there an issue with using a 9' cord from meter to cb? They didn't have a small one. Also can I leave the meter plugged in while using 🤔

[warzone]

Can y check if my mobile radio is throwing the right watts with this meter

[jimiandersonblackknight]

You forgot to check channel 20 as well and the final part of your poem is 24 the money! You probably did not need to adjust your antenna, moving it to the rear center of your truck cab would have given you a better reflective plane. Try putting your antenna on the little flat spot just above the truck bed light on your cap and you will see what I mean. Ideally you want to get to 1.5 across-the-board, or as close as possible. If on the low end you are hitting 1.1 top 1.5-7 on 20 you should be 1.3, after the move you will need to reset and if every part, cables, antenna can be measured physically divide by three if anything is leftover you need to shorten or add coax to get to a perfect divide by 3 your antenna will work better and should need little to no adjustment!!! I ran the cb shop on I70 east of Columbus in Hebron/ Buckeye lake for about four years then otr for 27 years, I would work on cb’s out of my truck all over the country! With a handheld I wouldn’t worry about perfect. Now if you plan to go SSB/FM with or without an amp I would go for perfect. SSB/FM is coming back with the pepper’s and militia crowd, as well as other ham radio frequencies. All the guys I shoot and train with have 50 mile setups at a minimum!

[buckjr]

So I have the same set up as you and I can only get readings of 2.5 on both. Any ideas?

[watchme]

Well I tested mine and channel one won’t read anything. Channel 40 reads 3.2