RX issues please help

[crthompson]

My dad and I both have identical setups, galaxy 979's that have been modded with Wilson 3ft flex mounted on the driver side front fender with the bracket that mounts just under the hood at the hinge. We are having troubles hearing each other in town when we are within 1/2 mile. We are both under 1.5 swr. We were thinking that the load on the antennas are not high enough over the cab to function properly. Can anyone give us some ideas here on what to check or possibly change in the setup? Thanks in advance

Craig

['Doc]

I would think that the simplest thing would be to move the antenna's mounting location. Or maybe swapping antennas to something else? See what happens.
There's quite a bit of advertising 'hype' from Wilson about this antenna type. They brag about 'gain' over other antennas of the same type, but never say how much gain. Probably because it's so small that you'd never hear it or even measure it off of an antenna range.
I'm sure that's not what you want to hear, but it really is close to what you are experiencing. Sorry.
- 'Doc

[crthompson]

Thanks for your reply. Seen as I dont have another antenna laying around, what would you recommend as a replacement? My mounting locations are very limited so I can try another antenna easier then moving it. Im not opposed to throwing a few bucks at it if needed, I would like this bugger to work like I know it should.

[231]

Thanks for your reply. Seen as I dont have another antenna laying around, what would you recommend as a replacement? My mounting locations are very limited so I can try another antenna easier then moving it. Im not opposed to throwing a few bucks at it if needed, I would like this bugger to work like I know it should.

Doc is right, a 3' antenna is pretty small...top loaded or not. Although I'd have to admit 1/2 mile seems a bit shy of working properly. But there are many things that can cause interference with your communications, too. Some might be man made noise, others might be you are trying to talk on a very busy channel like 19 with others doing the same. I can think of a host of things that might fool someone into thinking they aren't getting out. Part of that is just the learning curve in listening.

Before you throw more money at it, I'd probably suggest you try a few things (if you haven't already);
- Turn the RF Gain all the way up on both radios
- Turn the squelch all the way down on both radios
- Find a clear channel where you don't hear anyone talking
- Try SSB (upper or lower, it makes no difference but you both need to be on the same one) on channels 35-40, and use the clarifier to tune each other in. Sideband tends to carry further, and channels 35-40 are pretty much dedicated to sideband use.

If you are confident that none of those things helped, then without question I'd dump the 3' Wilson and get perhaps a Everhardt TSM-4' if you need a flex antenna for offroad. It'll screw into the same mount just like you have it. And I assure you, it'll certainly work better than the Wilson 3' or 4'. They aren't very expensive and are a very good value and great for offroad use. I've been running them on my Jeeps for years without issue. But don't flip out because there isn't any tuning tip. You simply trim the coil wire...it's easy and very forgiving. Unlike some of the others, they are quite electrically long to allow for side reflection installations but are cake to tune. CB World (one of our sponsors at the bottom of every page) carries them. I'd get the 4' though. The 3' works pretty well, but not near as well as the 4'.

Good luck.

[crthompson]

Thanks again for more info. We have both done as you suggested before I posted. RF gain all the way up and squelch all the way down. Even messed with cranking the power up and still barely hear each other. We were also on a clear channel. However I just found out that Dad's antenna has been replaced, it doesnt have the load grounded like my wilson does, would that possibly be the issue, him not sending or receiving well?

[Red Warrior]

One way to find out. When you are close to each other, select a common channel and look at the noise level on the receive (S-meter reading) with RF gain all the way up. Is it the same on both radios? It should be. If it is not the radio with the higher noise level most likely has a problem with the antenna.

[crthompson]

Thanks Red, I will try that tomorrow.