Check the connection. Alternatively, use an antenna analyzer to test actual transmission on a radio or try in a different, open environment. Short bursts of transmission usually won't have much impact on the equipment. I and several friends have used the 1.2m Hua Hong, and the SWR is acceptable. The performance depends on the specific environment, as it was designed for use in cars. The SWR is not ideal when mounted on an air conditioner unit. My own setup uses a stand that extends about a meter, with some distance from the wall. 50W at 435 MHz, SWR of 1.01, and the cable has a -9dB loss.