Troubleshooting CB install?

[Twopoint]

I have a Uniden 520XL and a 4' firestick antenna (5/8 wave) that I finally got time to tune the antenna.
but the SWR meter will barely move. I have verified that it is grounded, (.1 ohm from the cable to the transmission tunnel)
but did I ground out the antenna?
just looking for verification that it is set up correctly... or where to go from here...

 

[dbbd1]

It looks like the plastic isolating washer is in place, on the underside of the mount. It should be on the top. You shorted the system to ground with that antenna mount/washer on the top side of the mount. With thicker mounts, I have used the isolating washers on top and bottom (to ensure that there was no chance of shorting). The antenna, and what it screws into, needs to be isolated from ground.


If you disconnect the antenna cable at the radio and measure resistance between the center connector and ground (on the cable not the radio), I'm sure it will near zero.

 

[Twopoint]

It looks like the plastic isolating washer is in place, on the underside of the mount. It should be on the top. You shorted the system to ground with that antenna mount/washer on the top side of the mount. With thicker mounts, I have used the isolating washers on top and bottom (to ensure that there was no chance of shorting). The antenna, and what it screws into, needs to be isolated from ground.


If you disconnect the antenna cable at the radio and measure resistance between the center connector and ground (on the cable not the radio), I'm sure it will near zero.

that pretty close to what I found, but I wasn't sure what the resistance of the antenna was . time to change the order of install

Thank you Sir!

 

[Twopoint]

now that I have looked at it again, is there supposed to be some kind of insulation in the mounting hole? to insulate the thread from the mount?

 

[dbbd1]

That's what the white isolating washer does, it keeps the stud centered in the hole but not touching it. But it needs to be on top.
The white plastic washer should have a small raised lip on it. That lip fits in the hole.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

X2, your white nylon insulating shoulder washer is in the wrong location, your antenna has a dead short to ground right now. Move it to the top, it sits on top of the bracket, make sure its shoulder is centered and seated down in the antenna's mounting hole. Place the steel flat washer on top of it, then the split ring lock washer, then the antenna.

The insulated shoulder washer's job is to electrically isolate the antenna from the antenna's mounting bracket which is grounded.

 

[andy29847]

Youse guys are very smart.