How high is too high SWR?

SWR 3.0+: Performance will be severely affected, and you're likely to damage your radio with extended transmission use. You SHOULD NOT transmit with your CB at SWR levels above 3.0.

What SWR is too high?

For instance a SWR too high (over 3:1) all over the band can be an indication of a bad part or junction, poor ground or poor location. An SWR too low over the whole band (1:1 for all 40 channels) can indicate a low efficiency antenna or lossy component. Safe operation of your CB should be with an SWR of 2:1 or less.

Why is my SWR above 3?

One of the most common causes of high SWR readings is incorrectly connecting your SWR meter to your radio and antenna. When attached incorrectly, readings will be reported as being extremely high even if everything is installed perfectly. Please see this article on ensuring your SWR meter is properly installed.

What does a very high SWR reading mean?

What does a very high SWR reading mean? The transmitter is putting out more power than normal, showing that it is about to go bad. The antenna is the wrong length, or there may be an open or shorted connection somewhere in the feed line. There is a large amount of solar radiation, which means very poor radio conditions.

Can a pinched coax cause high SWR?

Damaged coaxial cable is a big reason behind high SWR readings. A coax can get twisted, shorted, or pinched while routing through the vehicle. It might come damaged when buying from the market. Hence it is essential to check your coax cable thoroughly before purchasing.

High SWR? - Let's Investigate!

What is an acceptable SWR reading?

SWR 1.0-1.5: The ideal range! If your SWR is under 1.5, you're in great shape. If you're at 1.5 and really, really want to drop down to closer to 1 it's likely possible to do with addition tuning, different equipment or a different mounting location.

What does an SWR reading of 4 1 indicate?

What does an SWR reading of 4:1 indicate? Loss of -4 dB.

Does high SWR hurt radio?

Sure, it's possible. High SWR can reflect enough power back into the radio to create enough heat to cook the final RF transistor. It isn't usually an immediate failure, it takes some time for that heat to build up and do damage.

Does coax length affect SWR?

Coaxial Cable Length Does Not Change Antenna SWR.

Does high SWR affect receive?

Simplified answer: There is no relationship between SWR and receive performance. There is one condition for this simplification to be true: the received RF noise floor must be above your receiver's noise floor.

How do I get more range out of my CB radio?

The best way to extend the range of your CB, or any radio, is raise the antenna higher. Of course you will need a good quality antenna and Coax. For mobile operations the Wilson 5000 is probably the best.

How do I get more power out of my CB radio?

What can cause erratic changes in SWR readings?

Does a CB antenna need to be grounded?

Ground Your Antenna Mount

If you're using a standard CB antenna (i.e., anything except a no ground plane, or NGP, kit), you'll need to make sure your antenna mount is solidly grounded to the vehicle's chassis. A bad ground will result in an un-tunable antenna and sky-high SWR levels.

What is the best length of coax for CB radio?

We recommend 18 feet of coax even if you don't need that much. If you use a length that is shorter or longer, you might risk having trouble achieving good SWR readings. Properly store any excess coax in a figure 8, about one foot in length, and bound in the middle- it should look like a long, skinny 8.

How far can you run coax for antenna?

Runs over 200 feet without amplification are only a dim possibility. There is no hard and fast rule for how far you can stretch RG8X with in-line amplification. However, the more amplifier stages, or the higher the gain of a single amplifier, the more noise introduced into the system.

Is it OK to coil coaxial cable?

There's nothing inherently wrong with “looping up” extra coaxial cable. In fact, a neatly wound coil of coax can function as an air-core choke balun (“ugly balun”) which is useful for some antenna systems when located at the feed point of the antenna.

Does SWR affect transmission?

The VSWR is a measure, of the amount of mismatch between the load (Antenna) and the transmission lines impedance. A VSWR of 1 is a perfect match which occurs on a transmission line where there are no reflections. A VSWR less than 1.5:1 is considered good and a VSWR greater than 2:1 is usually unacceptable.

How much power does a 2 1 SWR lose?

A VSWR of 2:1 means that with 10,000 watts transmitted, about 1,111 watts is reflected back towards the transmitter. If 100 percent of the transmitted power is reflected, the VSWR is infinity.

What does SWR 2 1 mean?

If you're SWR is 1:1, that means 100% of the power from your radio will be transferred to your antenna. If you're SWR is 2:1, that means you're losing 14% of your output power at the antenna. If you're at 3:1 you're losing 25% of your power.

What is the difference between SWR and VSWR?

SWR is, thus, the ratio between transmitted and reflected waves. A high SWR indicates poor transmission-line efficiency and reflected energy, which can damage the transmitter and decrease transmitter efficiency. Since SWR commonly refers to the voltage ratio, it is usually known as voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR).

How do you adjust high SWR?

Key the microphone (depress the button and hold it). Turn the knob on the SWR meter labeled “SET” or “ADJUST” until the needle reaches the setting position at the end of its range. While still keying the microphone, flip the switch on the SWR meter to the “REF” or “SWR” position.

What is the longest range CB radio?

Best Long Range CB - The Cobra 148 GTL

While most CB radios broadcast at 4 watts of power, SSB equipped radios can legally broadcast at 12 watts - effectively tripling the distance you can broadcast.