Jeep with Fiberglass top

[Madmatt]

Back a few months ago I put my hardtop on my Jeep for the winter (If that is what you want to call it in FL). The other day I checked my SWRs and they were higher than they were when I installed the radio last summer. I was wondering if the fiberglass top is messing up the groundplane or if my antenna even works that way. I have a Firestick mounted to the 3rd brakelight mounting bolts to the body (in the rear center above the spare tire). Oh yeah I am using the SWR meter on the radio, is that OK of should I use a real inline meter?

[Cain64]

You really should be using a external inline meter they will for sure give you a better ball parkthen the radio one, not to beat on the radio one but they are not always right. Is it the fiberglass 2 with the tunable tip and your antenna is a no ground antenna.

I would start by checking your connections at the mount and make sure the braid is nice and tight and that all connections are tight.
Make sure the antenna is screwed all the way in that could cause it too, also try getting an external meter and checking with that to see, and then start withthe above . If that does not work we are here to work with ya.

226 Sitting in the woods, catching the skip in GA

[drdx]

Does the hardtop that you put on have a rear window defogger? Those things are basically a big metal grid and right next to an antenna may cause problems. -drdx

[Madmatt]

thanks for the information. It does have a defogger on the rear window and it is only a few inches from the antenna. I think I am going to go all the way through it and make some changes anyway. I kind of threw it together for a trip last summer. I used to always run 102" antennas and I think I am going to go back to one when I figure out where to put it. It has been a few years since I had a radio hooked up and I am really enjoying it again.

Madmatt

['Doc]

How much of a change was there, before/after numbers?
- 'Doc

[Madmatt]

I think it was about 2 and now it is 5. The meter is small and hard to read.

[Cain64]

was it a 2 with the 102? and now with the fiberglass its 5?

[Madmatt]

It was 2 with the fiberglass antenna with the soft top and 5 with the same antenna with the hard top. I think I am going to try and put a 102 on the same mount or a center loaded antenna with the coil above the top which would get it away from the defogger in the window. While I am at it I will make sure it is grounded good and probably go with a better coax.

['Doc]

Do it one step at a time. Re-tune present antenna. Not more better? Move present antenna. Not more better? Maybe change antennas. Not more better? Take off top and start over. Forget it, sell the @#$ jeep. Take up knitting.
- 'Doc

[Lost Sheep]

LOL!!!

[Madmatt]

Thanks for the info 'Doc. Getting rid of the D*** jeep and starting over is one I did not think of. It used to be much easier when I would just throw a 102 on the tool box of a pickup and go.

[231]

It's most likely your rear window defroster causing reflection (as mentioned). You'll likely never get enough tuning ability with the Firestik...but many other antennas you can. I have the dual top for my TJ as well which is part of the reason I installed mine on the rear quarter panel of the tub. No reflection issues that I've noticed with any of the antennas I run (which doesn't include any Firestiks).