What am I doing wrong?

Check your mic.

 

Check that the PA switch is off.

 

Deal with the store manager only,

be firm, but polite.

Good Luck

 

Is the mic screwed in tight, the rf gain turned all the way right, squelch turned all the way left, and cb, not pa or wx, selected? Also, if no power at all, check the inline fuse.

I wouldn't think it's a bad radio. I'd take it in to a cb shop first before sending it back. You'll need a peak/tune and a RK56 mic anyway. Stock radios are limited to 5 watts and have useless mics. The range with 5watts is only from about the fuel island to the main building at a truckstop. Peaking it will give you around 15 to 20 watts on a Cobra 29, if I remember right. Also, tune the antenna SWR while on the truck. Hopefully you can find a good ground. Or buy a grounding kit. It's hard to get good ground on plastic trucks.

 

.
.
.The legal limit for a CB radio is 4 watts. Expect most radios [straight from the factory and never modified] to be slightly under 4 watts. With a 4 foot antenna you should be able to transmit and receive a couple of miles[2 to 4 maybe alittle more but not miles and miles more], IF your truck provides a decent antenna ground plane.
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.If you can only get from the fuel island to the main building then you have really serious problems because something is very, very wrong.
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.I always recommend that you check your SWR reading with an external meter and DO NOT USE the radio if the SWR reading is 3 or higher or you could permanently damage your radio.

 

The gouges on sides are enough reason to exchange it. Any Petro/TA will take it back within 30 days. Better luck with your next one.