New CB not working.

I just bought a new Cobra LTD classic and put it my truck and I cannot receive static or anything else even with the squelch turned off. The truck is a 2008 Volvo 780 with the Rami multiplexer and dual factory antennas and a good external speaker. The antennas are new. Because this set up didn't work, I installed a new antenna, with new bracket and coaxial cable on the passenger mirror. I still could not get anything. I set the SWR with the gauge on the CB and it appears good. I have green lights on the TX and ANT. When I key the mic the TX and the ANT turn red, the RF meter swings to the right, and I don't hear the Beep. I called Cobra Tech support who talked me through the CB set up. He had me turn the DynaMike and RF Gain to the max and the Squelch counter clockwise until I could pick up anything. Because I still would not pick up anything he suggested it was a defective radio. I exchanged it for a new one and am still having the same issue.

I know the multiplexer system does not have much reach but I would think I should get static at least. I don't need to reach the next county. I just want to be able to communicate with those shipper/receivers who still use the CB and to find out what is going on when I am in a back up.

I don't understand why a new radio, antenna bracket, and coaxial cable will not work on the mirror arm. Originally, I had a similar set up using an old Stryker CB, old antenna, old bracket, and old wire and it worked great until a month ago. At first, I thought it was the radio, but obviously I was wrong. I have driven several different trucks and have always hooked the CB and antenna up with no problems. This has me stumped. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Nope, Desert Sunset, ie piece of ##### brown.

External speaker is good. To help figure out the problem, I set up another radio in my pickup truck then kept switching units and speakers between the two trucks. Everything would work on the pickup truck but not the Volvo.

Radio is set to CB. The Cobra Tech walked me through all of the settings. Is it a ground problems?

 

Are you suggesting I stick it in where the antenna hooks to, using it as an improvised antenna? I am willing to try, but I can't see me getting two bad radios from the same store.

 

Well I finally got the CB to work, but don't ask me how. I tried various things including setting up an old radio and antenna in my pickup and the new radio and antenna in my wife's car to see if the radio was good. Nothing. I got my old galaxy out and hooked it up in the car and got a signal. It worked some what so I put the Galaxy into the Volvo and got nothing. I remembered reading somewhere about the coaxial cable (18 ft) causing problems if it was looped over itself and mine was just stuffed into the overhead compartment in a pile. I pulled it out and let it fall outside the window; nothing. Then I hooked a long wire from the antenna bracket with the intentions of hooking it to the frame for a ground. I had to loosen the bracket bolt to hook the wire when I tightened them back down the radio started working before I had attached the ground wire to the chassis. I pulled the extra ground wire off and it still worked. I looped the coaxial into the trucks overhead in long loops to minimize crossovers and it still worked. Then I put the radio into the overhead and it still worked. I suspect that the antenna bracket was not grounding to the mirror arm; despite sanding the coating off. When I loosened it up to attach that ground wire it finally hit a good ground spot. Thank you for all for your suggestions.