over night swr change

[pancake]

i have a wilson 1000 mag mount,connected to a galaxy 98vhp for almost 1 year i have had excilent swr 1:1.2, then this saturday i discoverd 1:5 on chanel 1 and 1:1 on 40 so i tuned antenia and fery little chang mainly cause i run out of antenia, so i temporarily in staled my k 40 and it came down, i ckeaked with 2 diferent meters including the one on the radio, and still hi with the willson could this antenia be malfuctioning, i evan tried a diferent mount with the willson so im quiet sure its not the cabel

[yMidnite]

For clarification, you put the bottom load and whip in another magnet mount? What was the SWR on that after calibrating?

[231]

What's wrong with a 1.5:1? Anything can cause small changes like that...including corrosion on the loading coil or stinger/whip connection. So can things in proximity like buildings, doors open, people standing there...a host of things. Honestly I wouldn't worry at all about a 1.5:1 or less. Heck, that's what we all shoot for. I would not consider that a high standing wave.

Good luck.

[DoubleD]

I agree with 231 1.5 is fine. leave it alone unless u see something at 2 or more

['Doc]

Just something else to think about, not a biggy.

It's not unusual for SWR to change on any antenna, especially with a mobile antenna. There are a lot of things that can affect the impedance match between the antenna, feed line, and the radio. Those 'thing's include the normal wear-n-tear, connections not staying exactly the same because of vibrations or antenna movements, corrosion, etc, etc.
And sometimes that change in SWR is to the better! If that ever happens, don't say anything about it, you'll jinx it...
- 'Doc

[pancake]

5:1 sorry put my numbers in the wrong place not 1.5 and yes another mag mount of the same make, in a large open field with nothing to efect it, and in the same place were i origanily set it up, 2 meters giving me the same readings 5:1 on chanel 1, 1:1 on 40, and let me remind you this thing was almost perfect for a year, untill i seen the swr meter on the radio start to show high swr, that is when i cheaked it with my external meter, its as if it happend over night. thats why im thinking somethings up with the load in this antenia.

[Red Warrior]

Had a good rain? Water can wick in the coax and change SWR. Coax pinched? That can also change SWR. Corrosion can get between the stinger and the mount causing a sudden change.

['Doc]

There's a lot of reasons for SWR to change. I think your best bet would be to check to see what may have obviously changed. Then for the not so obvious changes. Then for the "who'da thunk it?" stuff. It's so much fun!!
Is there anything that you've had problems with before? Maybe something that you sort of thought about 'fixing' and didn't?
Ought'a keep you occupied for a while.
- 'Doc

[bobcat235]

my friends hustler mag mount did the same thing one day after it rained, he decided to mess with it the next afternoon and when he went to check everything it was fine, guess some water must of messed with it and its dry now...who knows, could be your issue

[rattlesnake]

I use a wilson 1000 mag mount and i think ive seen my swr change..

[pancake]

its been a while since i found the problem and cinda forgot to get back to this post, and if anyone would like to know , wher the load part o f the willson srewed on the base i discoverd that the plastic had seperated almost if some one tryed tearin it off dont know for sure but the little shop it came from was very understanding and they replaced it under warinty, all is well with the willson