I have read that over and over. Still there are plenty of people that believe it does. I understand that the coax length won'd change the SWR of the antenna, I expect it can fool the amp or meter. I may be wrong, but old wives' tales tend to have a certain degree of truth. But not always.
On my radio the CB freqs are in the middle. It goes from 25-28 Mhz. I just keyed up to see where I was at because from 26.965-27.405 my SWR was totally flat. I needed to get a reference of the SWR curve so I checked above and below. I guess it is good that I am at the right physical length.
I can describe it. I took apart an old alternator and took some of the stator coil winding to make my inductor. It is solid copper wire that is coated with a nonconductive material that resembles laquer. I wound it into 9 - 1" coils. I soldered two eye type terminal connectors to either end. One end was attached to the outer mounting bolts for the ball mount. The other end was attached to the center stud of the antenna. I laid the inductor coil horizontal, keeping as much space as I could between the roof, headliner, roof support, and antenna.
It did smoke. I only tried it with a few short key ups through the day to try it out. On my 3 minute drive to install a roof on my church's garage, when I broke for lunch, ride home, etc. I went with my wife that evening and wanted to show her my new pride and joy in action. "what's that burning smell?" she says, as my truck fills with smoke. Very impressive {Cry_river}
I am totally new to running an amp. It is already turning into an expensive learning experience.
I took the coax from a Wilson 5000 antenna system that I am not currently using. I couldn't afford to buy any right now. I figured that the Wilson 5K advertises 5000W handling, so the coax should take what I was throwing out. My only other option was some cheap RG58 I have hooked to my dipole at the house. I didn't trust that.
I plan on buying some better coax. I have to wait and save some more. My wife let me save up for the amp that now needs repair. She doesn't want me spending money on my hobby with our house projects she wants done. I have to build a new bedroom to make room for our new baby. I wanted to buy a better SWR/power meter and brought it up last night, and she didn't seem on board.
I would like to get some LMR400 after Christmas. It is cheaper the more you buy, and I was planning on using it for my base antenna. I was going to buy a 70' length. 25-30' for the base antenna, and the rest I can use for the mobiles and jumpers. I found a place I can get LMR400 for .59 a ft.
So is the antenna's resonance better with it bonded even though the SWR is higher? I am assuming so, as I have read that the point of where the antenna has the best resonance isn't always where the SWR is lowest.
I have an old F150 that I bought back in '98 that I have kept for a fishing truck. That one houses my Grant XL and has my dual antennas. I wouldn't dream of running power through that cophase set up. Some day I'd like to get a Texas Star 500 and put up a 102" on that truck. Who knows how long that'll be. When the bills are paid up and the house is done. That truck will probably be a pile of rust in the driveway by the time my wife lets me.
The truck that I am working on now, with the Galaxy 95t2/amp combo, is my 02 Chevy Silverado 2500HD.
