How to Tune an Antenna

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Go to an open area free from buildings

   For a CB radio, put the radio in the car and the antenna on the body of the vehicle.
   
   For a portable radio, move away from any vehicle and stand alone with the radio. ,,,,, On a CB radio, tune to Channel
   1.,, It should be in the form of a ratio, e.g.
   2.2:1.
   
   Repeat Steps 6-8 for the highest band available, or, on a CB radio, Channel
   40. , If the SWR reading on the lowest band, or Channel 1, is greater, your antenna is too short.
   
   If the SWR reading on the highest band, or Channel 40, is greater, your antenna is too long. , For most antennas, this means manually lengthening or shortening the antenna.
   
   For a wire antenna, clip off a bit of the end to shorten it (if you have a wire antenna that is already too short, you will need to get a new antenna). ,
2. 2

   Step 2: radio towers

3. 3

   Step 3: or other structures.

4. 4

   Step 4: Put your radio and antenna in the positions in which you will use them.

5. 5

   Step 5: Remove any connections between the antenna and the radio.

6. 6

   Step 6: Attach the radio to the transmitter socket on the SWR meter using a coaxial cable.

7. 7

   Step 7: Attach the antenna to the antenna socket on the SWR meter using a coaxial cable.

8. 8

   Step 8: Set the radio to minimum power and to FM or CW mode.

9. 9

   Step 9: Tune to the lowest band available.

10. 10

    Step 10: Transmit from the radio or

11. 11

    Step 11: on a CB radio

12. 12

    Step 12: press the talk button.

13. 13

    Step 13: Observe and record the SWR reading.

14. 14

    Step 14: Determine from the difference between the SWR readings whether your antenna is too short or too long.

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    Step 15: Adjust your antenna accordingly

16. 16

    Step 16: and very slightly.

17. 17

    Step 17: Repeat Steps 7-10

18. 18

    Step 18: tweaking your antenna gradually until the SWR readings on the lowest and highest bands

19. 19

    Step 19: or Channel 1 and Channel 40

20. 20

    Step 20: are identical.

Detailed Guide

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