Kenwood TM-2530A 220Mhz Setup

[KA8BUQ]

I've tried several antennas and can't get the SWR below 2. Is there something I have set wrong on the radio? Right now I have a ARX-220 antenna.

[N5VTU]

I've tried several antennas and can't get the SWR below 2. Is there something I have set wrong on the radio? Right now I have a ARX-220 antenna.

The Kenwood TM-2530 is a 2m radio, not 220 MHz, therefore I would expect a bad SWR if you tried it with an ARX-220 antenna.  The TM-3530 was the 220 MHz version.

Stephen
N5VTU

[K0BG]

I think he meant the 3530 which is a 220 MHz model. Nonetheless, most Pacific Rim antenna sold for use on the 220 MHz band are really 2/70 antennas ADVERTISED to work on 220. They really don't! If you want a mobile 22 MHz antenna, Larsen makes a good one (NMO220BK). It is monoband in nature.

As for the ARX220.... Throw away the extra bottom half (short piece of coax and the decoupler "radials", and just use the AR220 part, and the SWR will drop into place.