CB frequencies on Multi-Band Radio

Many multi-band radios, particularly the less expensive models don't tune the upper regions well at all. I've an end-fed longwire going to my desktop shortwave and I never hear anything much above 20 Mhz.

Not sure why but it may have something to do with the design of the radio.

 

What is the name and model of the radio so we know what it is.

 

That Tecsun is really intended for casual listening, and wasn't really intended for export outside China. The two I've seen had mostly Chinese switch labels and came without any manuals. I don't know if yours has been updated for use in the western world.

One thing that comes immediately to mind for that model is that its 3-stage sensitivity control might be set to a "numb" setting. Without English labels, it could be difficult to tell without some on-air testing.

Once that's on SW, find a frequency that has a predictable signal on the air. WWV's stations at 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz. CHU (Canada's version of WWV) is at 7.335. Not all frequencies will necessarily be heard at all receiving locations at the same time of day because of ionospheric conditions (skip and such.) There's also a branch of WWV, called WWVH, in Hawaii, using (I think) just 5, 10, and 15 Mhz, running at the same time except for a couple of periods every day when WWVH goes dark to allow for monitoring of WWV from Fort Collins, CO.

After you've got one of them chosen and you can hear the signal, try moving the attenuator switch from one position to another to see if the station seems stronger or weaker. On my Grundig receiver, it's on the left side and is a slide switch with just two positions. I can't remember where it is on your radio, but yours should have three positions. You mentioned trying it in, I think, "both" positions. Unless they've changed the radio's switch, it may turn out it's a three position and you've only been able to switch between the two relatively numb settings. Unless the manufacturer has cured it, there's an apparent defect in how that switch works. It's supposed to have three ranges, denoted "Local", "Normal", and "DX". Historically the "Normal" position dials in so much numbness that it's just about unusable, or needs to be on a signal that's so hugely powerful, that the "Local" position would also work.

So your radio ought to be set for "DX" until you can confirm that you're hearing stuff that you want.

Another problem is that, unlike a mobile or base CB station, the antenna is untuned. That radio depends upon having more field strength from the transmitter to make up for the horribly inefficient pull-up whip that's on it. That's another example of the casual listening that the radio is intended for. Speaking of which, you've probably already grokked that there's no BFO on that model, so listening to CW or SSB is going to be well nigh impossible. The only band where the antenna is likely to be "right" for is commercial FM broadcast. For everything that whip is just a shortened random length antenna.

So it doesn't surprise me that you can't hear CBers from 4 miles away. On my Grundig I can sometimes hear skip on CB, and I've been able to match it up with a one-watt CW transmitter on 20 Meters for a Field Day exercise. But I only hear locals on CB when they're driving by on the freeway that passes a mile away from the shack, and is actually below grade of the property surrounding where I am. Farther than that and they're either down a substantial hill into town, or they're another 5 miles in the other direction and around the other side of the ridge I'm on.

My base, with the modest 102" whip mounted to the aluminum fascia 12' above the ground encircling the shack, can usually carry on a conversation with folks on that road for about 10 miles in either direction, depending upon noise levels and what the mobile station is like. But like I say, the built-in whip on the Grundig (and likely your Tecsun) is inadequate for that job. The orientation of that whip doesn't make much of a difference on my radio except for FM broadcast, where it is quite positional.

When I use the roll-up "longwire" that came as an accessory, I can hear bunches more on most bands, but my Grundig also overloads easily with all that extra signal coming into it then. Of course, your mileage may vary.

So if you haven't been able to decode the radio's labels, it should be worth a little experimenting to make sure you're not handicapping it by having that attenuator in either the "Normal" or "Local" positions.

HTH
73