moreira72
Member
Posts: 176
VRCC# 33494
Clark, NJ. 07066
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« on: October 24, 2011, 02:46:09 PM » |
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Hello All, I just installed the Yamaha Venture CB on my Interstate, and everything seems to be working great. I just think the antennas are way to long. Has anyone cut them down? maybe a foot or so without reception issues. They are both about 4 feet long from the base mount. i was thinking maybe cutting them to 2 1/2 or 3 feet. Would that affect reception? Most car antennas are about 30 inches long.
I have the right side radio, and the left side CB antennas on the bike
Thanks for any input
Paul
VRCC 33494
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« Last Edit: October 24, 2011, 02:47:59 PM by moreira72 »
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Kingbee
Member
Posts: 486
VRCC# 576
Northern Illinois
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« Reply #1 on: October 24, 2011, 02:59:50 PM » |
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If you shorten the CB antenna, you will burn out the CB the first time you hit transmit. CB antennas are tuned to a very specific length, matching a percentage of the full wave length. If you want a shorter antenna, you'll have to buy one that has the proper amount of "windings" in it for the length you want. You will reduce the useful range, however, by going with a shorter antenna.
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3W-lonerider
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« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2011, 03:01:27 PM » |
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if you cut that CB antenna and the SWR's become extremely high..you will burn the finals out of the cb.. as far as the radio antenna the antennas are matched to the radio they can be cut BUT..there is an equation that has to be followed..can't find the info right now but i seem to recall that it would have to be cut in to a certain measurement to remain matched to the radio.
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9Ball
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« Reply #3 on: October 24, 2011, 03:16:24 PM » |
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cutting small pieces off the cb antenna is how you tune it for the best SWR reading...not recommended unless you tune the antenna as other posters have mentioned.
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VRCC #6897, Joined May, 2000
1999 Standard
2007 Rocket 3
2005 VTX 1300S
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moreira72
Member
Posts: 176
VRCC# 33494
Clark, NJ. 07066
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« Reply #4 on: October 24, 2011, 03:36:14 PM » |
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thanks guys, i guess i will have to get use to the long antennas.
At least they are the same length.
Thanks
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valkyriemc
Member
Posts: 392
2000 blu/slvr Interstate, 2018 Ultra Limited
NE Florida
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« Reply #5 on: October 26, 2011, 03:44:17 PM » |
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Try a CB shop if you can find one. The ant has to present a 50 ohm load to the CB final amp. They may have some loading coils, to add inductance and compensate for a shortened ant. They should have a VSWR meter and can detemine a good match and modifiy the ant if possible. Or they may have an physically short loaded ant in stock to mount.
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« Last Edit: October 26, 2011, 03:46:16 PM by valkyriemc »
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Veteran USN '70-'76
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PatrickDoss
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« Reply #6 on: October 26, 2011, 08:01:27 PM » |
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Try contacting Sierra Electronics. They won't have anything on the website, but Wayne that runs the place used to have a Valk. They have some short antennas for late-model Goldwings, which mount different, but he might know of a source for the ones that mount like the Interstate antennas.
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wd40
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« Reply #7 on: October 26, 2011, 09:57:45 PM » |
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In addition to all the above answers, if you change the antenna, read all the docs that come with the new one and the CB. A large part of matching the SWR is the length of antenna cable between the antenna and CB. When I put a CB in my bus, it required 16' of antenna cable and trimming/ moving the antenna while hooked to a SWR meter to get it in spec. It's all really simple, just takes a bit of time. You are balancing the antenna circuit to the output circuit of the radio. Get an inexpensive SWR meter at Radio Shack or a truck stop.
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