Just put up a Shakespeare 5018-FLT antenna and hooked it up to a new ICOM M502. Tested with an SWR meter and got well in excess of 3:1, which was a disappointment, to say the least! I re-terminated the RG8X antenna cable several times, with both soldered and solderless PL-259s and got the same measurement. Should I just take the antenna back, or have I forgotten a test or a measurement that I can run? Thanks Doug Hoople M/V Bomar 1963 Stephens Bros. 50 FDMY Sausalito, CA

At 06:59 AM 4/14/02 +0100, you wrote: >Just put up a Shakespeare 5018-FLT antenna and hooked it up to a new >ICOM M502. Tested with an SWR meter and got well in excess of 3:1, >which was a disappointment, to say the least! > >I re-terminated the RG8X antenna cable several times, with both soldered >and solderless PL-259s and got the same measurement. > >Should I just take the antenna back, ============================================================ Doug..........In many cases the antenna is not a good match. Did you read my post on antennas???? Try the 5206 N. The best of all the ones we tried. I am a radio nut having been in the business. I have two on my boat on top of 10' extensions............ . Captain Al Pilvinis "M/V Driftwood"--Prairie 47 2630 N.E. 41st Street Lighthouse Point, Fl 33064-8064 Voice 954-941-2556 Fax 954 788-2666 Email yourcaptain@earthlink.net Website http://home.earthlink.net/~yourcaptain