I'm trying to set up a cb base station and have a few questions hope someone can help. I have it set up on a metal shed 34 ft to the tip of tge antanna and about 3 or 4ft from metal roof for now as the picture shows and the swr is good never over 1.2 but the problem I'm having is it puts out good signal when talking but doesn't do as good on the receiving end my Wilson 5000 can receive people from longer distances "locally" on my van, should It be this way? and if not does the metal roof effect it? And if so will another 10 ft higher from the roof help? If I have to I'll move it I will but I'm limited because I have a high transmission power line in the back yard as shown in the picture right now the antanna is about 100 yards from the power lines right now, last question and sorry about all the questions I'm new at all this but will the power lines help or hurt my goal of getting the best out of the starduster? If anyone can help id appreciate it Thanks
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Trying to get starduster to receive better reception
- Thread starter Roster
- Start date
which starduster do you have? mine is the antenna specialist one and there's no receive problems. I've got a guy about a mile away running a 5/8's wave (not remembering which) at about the same height and we're pretty comparable on incoming signal strength and noise levels.
just for comparison purposes,.... hook the radio in your van up to the starduster and see what happens to the Rx.
1) You have bought coax that probably has loss at fifty feet in length; let alone 100 feet. Not all coax is created equal. Far from it. I used to run Radio Shack/Tandy coax decades ago, and it was awful for both receive and transmit. After a couple of years of use, I bought some quality Belden coax, and boy what a difference there was! I could hear better and transmit better.
Not only does cheap coax rob receive signal strength, but it also breaks down fast due to seasonal weather changes. Most cheap coax breaks down because of ultraviolet radiation on the outer coax sheath hardens it. It then cracks and lets water in. Then it is fit for the garbage can and nothing else. Bargain priced coax is not a bargain.
2 & 3) 34 feet to the tip of an antenna when using an antenna that is 18 feet long, means that it is only 16 feet above ground surface, and probably only six feet off of the metal roof. Since your SWR doesn't have a problem, then it will work OK there. But higher is better, especially if you want to get out farther. But that must be done safely and would need to be moved AWAY from the power lines. The rule is, that if the antenna and mast were to fall; would it hit the power lines? If so; then it is still too close. Or the antenna is too high. Better to put it as high as you can safely do and so it will not land on power wires should it fall from bad weather or even during installation. People have gotten electrocuted/killed doing just that.
4) Power lines are a source of static in the radio's receiver. Sometimes there is little; or a lot. Some radios tolerate it well and others will not.
To sum it all up:
Put the antenna up another ten feet.
Buy better coax
Move the antenna as far away from the power wires as you can
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Welcome to the forum Roster.
Can you tell me the length and diameter dimensions for the radial hub, radiator, and radials?
Is the hub basically flat, maybe 1" inch tall, or is it more cone shaped, maybe 3" inches tall?
Are the small 3 radial cap hat elements...setup on the radiator horizontal or slanted...like the radials?
Can you post the manual or paper work that came with the M-400?
Can you describe the coax maker, age, and if and what it was ever attached to before this SD'r...if it is not new?
I have an idea why your eBay M-400 is acting like you describe. I own an old M-400 that acts just like you described above.
Good luck.
Good RG8x is a bit more lossy than RG8 or better/larger coax, and other than manufacturing differences...this is typically so, because the coax is smaller.
I think the problem Midnight Special is suggesting above is probably different, however. If he was thinking different, he can let us know.
Roster, with older used coax it is common for feed lines to become more lossy, and that is usually a sign of age, exposure, water, or physical damage.
If you have a dummy load that works pretty good, let me know and I will discuss or give you a link to a discussion on the subject.
Let me know.