Originally Posted by Joshua_Ralph

I also noted that my radio is good for about 12 miles range... is that what every one else seems to see?


Sounds like either a bad connector or a bad connection. Ensure there there is no corrosion on the coaxial cable at the radio and at the antenna end. Also, ensure ou have a good solid ground with the antenna to the aircraft. With only a 12 mile range, it sounds to me as if you are radiating off the cable itself. This could also be caused by a bad connection to either the shield (the braid) of the coax or the center conductor coax pin not making adequate contact to the connector to the radio or the antenna.

This results in a high SWR with associated reflected power and heat buildup which can ruin the final output transistors as well as possible errors in the compass.

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