new cb set up is crap

hey guys
I have a cobra 75wtst well think its called that
with a maxrad nmo2700 antenna
larsen nmo lip mount

using it today on the highway and notice alot of probs.. first can't make out what any of the drivers are saying. I tryied to do a radio check and drivers would reply but I can't make them out.
lots of snow sound if you know what I mean.

when I step on the gas the rpm comes thru the speaker
when I use wipers lots of noise again.

my ground is connected to the main stud under the dash area. but looks like that spot is ****.

then next problem I had was when I unscrewed the larsen nmo the 3/4 thread came came off the rg58 cable.. ****en cheap stuff. so I installed my spare larsen nmo lip mount and using it now.
is it safe to say all my probs is from the ground ?

Radio Shack sells noise filters. That will help with the alternator whine. A good ground is very important from an electrical and an RF stand point. CBs are sensitive to coax length (12, 15, 18ft) as well.

Go by a truckstop CB shop and get some ideas from them as to the way to fix your troubles. SWR is REAL important!!!

The snow you are speaking of is static or white noise. The better your antenna setup is the less noise you hear in most environments.

Did you do a basic SWR check? Makes all the difference in the world?

first time i did the swr i got it to like 1.2 but after removing the antenna from nmo mount for final trimming the best i can get now is 1.5

Anyone that knows more than me please correct me, but when I get my new cb setup what I plan to do is ground it to the battery pole. Also make sure your trunk lid, hood, doors are closed, and you are in an area with no tall metal objects like: house antennas, buildings, etc.. Try to go to a park or something like that. If you can't get your SWR to get below 1.5 you may have to literally trim your antenna by cutting some if it off. I hope this helps.

yup your right. I do know all about what ur trying to say.. so thanks for that.

so I was just working on the car. the ground I used was the main fuse panel stud.. turns out its a true ground but not as clean as going to the battery.

so I ran a slightly larger gauge ground wire to the battery( - ) started the car and reved it up tried wipers etc and the noise is gone. so looks like my first ground spot was a dirty signal.

so thats great.

I have 50 aches here so I drove into the field and checked the swr.
I got on ch40 1.1swr but on ch1 1.5swr. so looks like I ****ed up the whip by cutting a bit to much when I last did it with the bad ground. no biggee thou for now its good enough till I order this week a new black whip and will do a retune on it. thanks for the help :)

1.5 is considered "tuned" according to guides on the Wilson and Firestick guides. Not perfect, but more than adequate. You should be pulling about 1.2-1.3 with 19 given the 1.5.

just curious-- which black antenna did u order

Glad everything worked out! I am also happy to hear that running a heavier gauge wire to true ground gets rid of the engine whine, I had the same problem in my old car.

I know in the past main gound locations like the one I used is great for almost anything extra you add into the car. but I guess the nature of cb systems really do need super clean connection. so I guess battery was the only way to go. will test the cb out on thurdays when On the highway . hope its ok