I drive a company owned 2007 model cascadia with stock antennas. I had the CB mounted on the dash in the factory recommended place and was getting SWR readings as 1.5/1.8/2.7, respectively with no other problems. We bought a mini laptop to put on the dashboard to use as our GPS/log computer and I remounted the CB over the drivers head.

Now, to do this I took 9 ft. of coax (or thereabouts) and ran it behind the upper cabinets, down the side of the windshield behind the panel and along the dash where I connected it to the factory cable coming out of the dash (which I assume connects to a splitter box for the dual whips) without coiling or kinking it. I also ran the power cable from the factory power studs on the dash and ran it with the coax overhead. Since I have done this I now have the antenna light coming on from channel 10 up to 40 but with no change in the SWR readings.

Anyone have any idea of how to rectify this issue without putting the CB back in its place (buying a $300.00 laptop stand is out of the question)? I'm lost on where to begin. TIA.

 

That extra 9' of coax might be your problem. Or, you might need to make adjustments on the antennas to bring down the SWR. Watch your SWR meter, and see what it reads when the antenna light comes on.
SWR readings as 1.5/1.8/2.7 That's not bad. The 2.7 might be what is making the antenna light to come on. On what channel did you get the 2.7?

 

You may indeed have some signal loss because of that extra cable.

I would suggest a better shielded cable for less loss.

Better shielding generally means more expensive.

 

I find it wierd because the readings are the same with or without the cable.. with the long cable i get the antenna light. Anyways, the 2.7 is on channel 40.

I'll probably end up finding a more suitable shorter cable if I can.. I do have the extra and as suggested thats probably whats doing it... I just posted because I was hoping there would be another fix.

 

You might check all of your coax ends. Make sure they are all tight.

 

It could possibly be some bad crimps, check to make sure nothing jiggles.