How can I get better reception on my CB radio?

To the original poster, please get your radio checked for proper output. If the finals were blown, you would have the problem you described.

 

Your radio doesn't care who owns the truck. Without your own antenna or your own truck, there isn't much you can do.

 

There is a way to add an antenna (on a cascadia,dont knkw about any other model)and "NOT" do any cutting or deface the truck in any way..I have done it and have vids to prove it..
Show them my vids if you like..craig_sez on youtube..
Mind you that you will need some time to take a few minor things apart and put back together but nothing gets cut,broken,torn ect....
Other than that your stuck with what you have on your cascadia

 

Unfortunately CB has not advanced the past 40 years,,,should be a self tuning antennae built into radio JMHO

 

Self tuning is basically here..The new caseadia with built in ant..Usually good swr and everyone always think that a good swr is cats ###..It aint and its easily proven when most cant reach more than a mile or two..BUT SWR IS LOW lol..
Hammys use a auto tuner of sorts but it doesnt truely tune the ant for that freq or other use something called a screwdriver i think...It uses a lil electrical motor to adjust the ant height but how good it is,no idea..I can see issues..

 

screwdriver antennas are for tuning in different frequencies or Bands......

 

Yes i know..Said that didnt i.

 

I have a Nano VNA in the mail.
In this video you can watch SWR change in real time as he shortens and lengthens the antenna. Cant wait to get it.

 

So many are stuck on a low swr as being the cats meow..

 

I watched the video. An interesting device. It does several of the same things a rig expert does for a lot less money, and a lot more than an SWR meter for not a lot more money.