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Tunein CBRadio
Tunein CBRadio
Where to set it SR/F for normal operation, SWR/CAL for antenna testing
1. CAL Switch: Flip the SRF/SWR/CAL switch to CAL This changes what your radio's meter is going to
tell you. Right now, we want it to tell us where the SWR meter is calibrated.
2. SWR CAL Knob: Turn your radio to channel 20. Key your microphone and turn the SWR CAL knob
until the needle on your radio's meter goes to the CAL mark on the top right of the meter. Unkey the
mic when adjusted.
3. SWR Switch: Now you've calibrated your meter. The next step is to get the reading. Flip your
SRF/SWR/CAL switch to SWR.
4. Get your reading: Key your microphone. Look at the bar or line marked SWR. On many radios, this is
the top line. You should see the following numbers on the SWR line of your meter: 1, a space for 1.5,
2, and 3. If your SWR reading is below the 2 mark, your reading is within tolerance. If your SWR
reading is below the 1.5 notch, your antenna system is working very well. If the reading is almost or
exactly a 1, then your system is working as good as it can.
Checking SWR with radios that have built-in automatic SWR calibration (this is your radio if you have an SWR
meter, but do not have an SWR CAL knob, a very helpful feature). Unsure which you have, do your own
reseach to find out!
1. SWR Switch: Your radio should have a button or a switch that says "SWR". Turn this on now. Start
with channel 20.
2. Get your reading: Key your microphone. Look at the bar or line marked SWR. On many radios, this is
the top line. You should see the following numbers on the SWR line of your meter: 1, a space for 1.5,
2, and 3. If your SWR reading is below the 2 mark, your reading is within tolerance. If your SWR
reading is below the 1.5 notch, your antenna system is working very well. If the reading is almost or
exactly a 1, then your system is working as good as it can.
1. Check your SWR meter : Write down the SWR reading on channels 1, 20, and 40 based on the
instructions above.
2. Adjust your antenna: If your SWR reading is higher on channel 40 than it is on channel 1, lower
something on your antenna. If channel 1 is higher than 40, raise something on your antenna. If channels
1 and 40 are (about) the same, and your lowest reading is on channel 20, then you are done.
3. Verify your SWR: In most cases you're looking for the same SWR reading on channels 1 and 40, with
your lowest on 20. As long as your SWR is less than a 2 on all 40 channels, you're good.
4. What about dual antennas?: The process is the same, just adjust both antennas at the same amount.
SWR Troubleshooting
After doing this line of work for over 20 years, I can tell you I've heard every name / butchered expression for
the term "SWR". Likely you've heard people call it SRW - getting the W and R backwards. I've also heard
SWIRLS, standard wave, and S-doubleyahs, to name a few. While people are trying to be helpful, if you
encounter these strange sayings and don't know what it means, you're not alone. As with any part of the English
language, when people use it, it changes. Just know the correct acronym is either SWR or VSWR, and squelch
out the nonsense! Perform your own research and you'll see similar results.
One last thing to remember is to be clear when talking about tuning, and what you're after. Tuning a CB radio
usually means a technician peforming a modification inside the radio to optimize performance. Tuning an
antenna is completely different, and as mentioned above, and is NOT tuning your radio at all. Your antenna
system and radio operate as two parts of a whole system, and tuning is done independantly of each other.
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