Dumb question of the day .. is there supposed to be a difference between the CB antenna and the radio antenna on a 2012 FLHTK? They look the same, and they have the same number at the base of each.

If they're are in fact the same antenna, how do you tune the SWR for the CB?

Curt

 

one should say am/fm (left side and cb on right . there are a difference in the frequencies of the two
SWR ? Stands for what?

 

SWR = Standing Wave Ratio...

Good question, not dumb at all...but I know the CB antenna on my 12 limited is on left rear of the bike... I never use my CB...not real sure how to adjust it on this one. I removed the liner from the tour pack and you can see the coax connection on the left side and a single wire to a screw for the right side so it has to be the AM/FM.
Now is there a difference in the antennas?...not sure, I have not looked at them that close. Maybe there is antena tuner close to the antenna that is matching the impendence.

I remember in my outlaw CB kicker days on most of the antennas that looked simular to these we have...there was a trim pot in the top of the antenna usually under a slip-on rubber cap...to tune the reflection. I am out of town and not around my bike now to look at them close to see, but I doubt there is one there.
It never occured to me till you asked this question. I got an old SWR/watt meter...I need to see how bad it is off.

Ask your tech at the HD shop to check the SWR...see what kinda looks you get.
It will be a week of so before I get back to my bike to look.

 

So which antenna to which side? 2 posts above conflict with each other. My service manual does not specify which antenna to what side. I have both 2009 and 2011.

 

looking at the bike from the back, the CB is on the left, the AM/FM on the right

 

On my 2012 FLHTK and I asked the Harley Shop, If you sit on the bike the CB in on the right with AM.FM on left.

 

once again, as earlier in the thread, the two last posts contradict one another..

 

If you look at the wire to each antenna you would assume that the CB is on the left (clutch side). It isn't. The AM/FM is on the left, the CB is on the right. To verify - turn your radio on (not the CB) and disconnect the left antenna. Each antenna is marked at the bottom.

 

Your observation is correct and your interpretation is incorrect. The Harley CB antenna is a no ground plane antenna. The AM/FM antenna is the antenna with the coax. There is a coax connector on the right side of the bike looking from back to front which can be disconnected in the tour pack to make SWR reading. That is for the CB antenna. The reading that checked with the HD dealership has it correct.