Whats The Problem??
 

I installed my new Cobra 29LTD along with a 3' FireStick antenna and my service SUCKS!!! I mean I can only hear but a mile.... IF THAT!!! Any ideas???

check your coax and check on the swr reading on the radio

Make sure the area that you mounted the antenna is well grounded. Make sure the little white washer is on top of the mount base and not the bottom.
Make sure the radio is adequately grounded, sometimes the factory grounds suck.
If the ANT light goes read when you key the mic, the antenna is grounding out and killing the power to the radio (safety feature built into the radio), if so, start all over with the mouting bracket and base.
Also, some Firesticks have a screw at the top, for adjusting the SWR's, which should be 1.5:1 or less.

Good luck!

OUCH.... theres A LOT more to it then just drop'n it in like a car radio, haha! Does anyone know a good place around the Toledo, OH area thats fairly decent priced? Either way, what should I have done to it??? PEAKED??? TUNED???

I hear Radio Ray is available as usual. :lol:

What model/make of truck are you installing this 29 in? Cannot help you with a radio shop in your area, but all I would have done is Peak and Tune, which should be around $25.00. Anything more is a waste of money and illegal.

My 29LTD - Dale Earnhardt # 3 Special Edition,currently in my dually at home, is maxed at 4 watts dead key, 12 watts swing matched to a pair of 4' Cobra antenna's (can't recall the product #, the ones with the adjustable metal tips) and co-phased coax (18') carefully routed and not coiled.

This radio will typically talk 5 -20 miles depending on terrain, and it hears way more than is useful.

The Cobra29 Nightwatch in my company truck is box stock with factory Peterbuilt antenna's and will talk 3 - 10 miles and again, the squelch is usually about the 12 o'clock position to block out the garbage.

That said, where are the squelch and RF Gain set on your radio - Squelch all the way off would be all the way counter clockwise (left). Full RF Gain would be full clockwise (right). Typical mic gain is around the 2-3 o'clock position. Your RF Gain may be turned all the way off, which would greatly effect the listening range.

A couple of technical websites that may help with your issues.

http://www.wilsonantenna.com/tsswrt.htm

http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm

Hey thanks a million!!! You've been more then helpful, haha!!! Oh, and its in a 1997 Kenworth T800 (Daycab).... in my Avitar... :D But since someone mentioned the ground, this could be.... since it makes a wierd sound everytime I use the power windows and so forth???

Should of bought a 10 meter... I hear they are the best and everyone has them.

What service?