How Do You Match A CB Antenna?
If you have a CB radio, you need to know how to match the CB antenna so that you do not damage the radio. If the antenna standing wave ratio is not set correctly, not only can you damage the radio, but you will have a poor radio signal and may not be able to hear or be heard by any listeners. After you have installed the radio and hooked up the CB antenna, you are ready to set the SWR (standing wave ratio). Set the radio function knob to “SWR.” The knob usually reads “SWR/CAL/R.” Turn the knob to the right function and look at the meter. Look at the meter as you press the microphone key. The standing wave ratio should be in the desired range of 1.1 or lower. Try this step on Channel 1 and then on Channel 40. Stop keying the microphone and adjust the antenna if the meter reading was higher than 1.1 on either channel. If the reading you saw on Channel 1 was more than what it was on Channel 40, you will need to make the antenna shorter. If it was lower than Channel 40, you will raise the
