I bought a Patriot 12 for my base station and I am getting 2.1 swr readings. This has two tunnibg rings on base of antenna I believe for adjusting swr. Or is this adjustment to bring it to another meter antenna? I am limited where I can install my antenna only to where it is installed between two trees I would say twenty feet from antenna. Also is this antenna basicaly junk as far as getting out and recieving? Also what is odd is that when I am running my RM Italy KL-203 my swr is 1.2 on my 148 meter.
-
You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.
Wrong decision?
- Thread starter hammer0630
- Start date
Getting a good external swr meter is always a good idea,the built in meters do work..sort of...they are good for spot checking swr after using a good external meter for tuning antenna but that is about it
The trees can effect the tuning of antenna and will effect the transmit and recieve,but if that is where you are limited to for mounting antenna just be sure to set antenna as far away from trees as you can and run with it.
I have not personally seen the antenna that you are running but if it is like the antron 99 the two rings that you described are for tuning the antenna to where you are running,and if teh rings are moved enough you can tune the antenna to a completely different band.....I personally would start with the rings in about the middle of their travel range and go from there
The trees can effect the tuning of antenna and will effect the transmit and recieve,but if that is where you are limited to for mounting antenna just be sure to set antenna as far away from trees as you can and run with it.
I have not personally seen the antenna that you are running but if it is like the antron 99 the two rings that you described are for tuning the antenna to where you are running,and if teh rings are moved enough you can tune the antenna to a completely different band.....I personally would start with the rings in about the middle of their travel range and go from there
Those 'rings' are for adjusting the input impedance of that antenna, not for adjusting it's resonant point, or length. You do that adjusting by measuring with an SWR meter, Lower SWR means a better impedance match.
I agree, the SWR meters built into most radios are not exactly the most accurate thingys going. I would use a separate meter to do that measuring. I don't know why it's that way, but it seems to be most of the time.
At this point, you don't know if you've got 'junk' or not. And you won't know until you use a meter on that antenna system if it's 'junk' because of a mismatch (SWR problem).
- 'Doc
I agree, the SWR meters built into most radios are not exactly the most accurate thingys going. I would use a separate meter to do that measuring. I don't know why it's that way, but it seems to be most of the time.
At this point, you don't know if you've got 'junk' or not. And you won't know until you use a meter on that antenna system if it's 'junk' because of a mismatch (SWR problem).
- 'Doc
Hey 5, I could be wrong, but I think you're likely to find, without guessing, that those tuning rings won't hardly get you out of 11 meters...much less different bands. I doubt you can even reach resonance in the bottom of 10 meters.
I think I agree with 'Doc about the rings tuning the resistance part of the impedance rather than the resonance (reactive part) of this antenna. IMO, the coil in these type antennas controls the resistance really well, over a relatively wide bandwidth range, with almost total disregard for the resonance, and still maintains a fairly good SWR.
I think I agree with 'Doc about the rings tuning the resistance part of the impedance rather than the resonance (reactive part) of this antenna. IMO, the coil in these type antennas controls the resistance really well, over a relatively wide bandwidth range, with almost total disregard for the resonance, and still maintains a fairly good SWR.
Antenna matcher
OK so this Patriot 12 is a two section fiberglass antenna two six foot sections screwed together. Would trimming the top section be the way to change my SWR? And I have just ordered an external SWR,WATT,ANT.matcher also. I thought why not get a meter with a matcher while I am at it. Now I know the antenna matcher is a discussion all of its own. Does it make the antenna work better or just fool the radio?
OK so this Patriot 12 is a two section fiberglass antenna two six foot sections screwed together. Would trimming the top section be the way to change my SWR? And I have just ordered an external SWR,WATT,ANT.matcher also. I thought why not get a meter with a matcher while I am at it. Now I know the antenna matcher is a discussion all of its own. Does it make the antenna work better or just fool the radio?
Neither. All it does is transform the impedance of the antenna SYSTEM, which includes the feedline and any connectors and accessories between the back of the radio out to the antenna. It provides the transmitter with close to a 50 ohm, non-reactive load, into which the transmitter can transfer all the RF it produces, more efficiently.
It does NOT change the SWR. It does NOT "tune" the antenna itself. You will still have the same amount of reflected power as before, with the resultant losses in terms of power being dissipated as heat.
Radios can't be "fooled"; they're mindless. Given a good load with which to work, they'll work well. Doesn't matter if it's a dummy load or a cobbled-together vertical or dipole.
As I understand it, that antenna is supposed to be useful from 10 meters to 12 as it is. From what I've heard it is a usable antenna, but length being equal to performance as a general rule, I'd expect the 18' A99 to perform better.
You have the antenna already, so give it a try and share your results with the rest of us.
You have the antenna already, so give it a try and share your results with the rest of us.
I have this antenna mounted with the base even with the peak of the roof. House is a sidesplit and it is on the lower level end of the house. It seems to work ok for recieve. listening to Cali, Vancouver, Purto rico etc all at the same time. SWR is 1.2 to 1 with 50 feet of coax to radio. This with the tuning rings set from the factory. Dont know much about the output of the antenna as i am running a Uniden Washington barefoot. talking local only.
Patriot 12
I ran one of those for a little while, it worked pretty well for what it was, I tuned the rings and got 1.2 swr across the board (it came pre-set at 1.5 swr) they say this antenna can handle up to 2K ( I don't know but, I did run 500 thru it without issue) I never cut the antenna to adjust the swr just adjusted the rings, after replacing the Patriot with an A99 then the Imax 2000 and now the Sirio 2016 the Patriot sits on a shelf in the garage, might put a flag on it someday or a net for a pool skimmer LOL!! Widowmaker
I ran one of those for a little while, it worked pretty well for what it was, I tuned the rings and got 1.2 swr across the board (it came pre-set at 1.5 swr) they say this antenna can handle up to 2K ( I don't know but, I did run 500 thru it without issue) I never cut the antenna to adjust the swr just adjusted the rings, after replacing the Patriot with an A99 then the Imax 2000 and now the Sirio 2016 the Patriot sits on a shelf in the garage, might put a flag on it someday or a net for a pool skimmer LOL!! Widowmaker
Adjusting length can determine resonance, it has nothing to do with adjusting SWR. SWR deals with impedance matching, it tells you nothing about resonance. Being resonant does not mean you have a good SWR. They are two different things altogether.
If the thing has 'rings' on it to lower SWR, then use them for that, thats why they are there.
Being 'usable' doesn't mean it's good, just that it's usable. Big difference.
- 'Doc
If the thing has 'rings' on it to lower SWR, then use them for that, thats why they are there.
Being 'usable' doesn't mean it's good, just that it's usable. Big difference.
- 'Doc