undecided callsign,
in reading through the thread i picked up on a few things that lead me to believe that you need to do some reading before you get bamboozled into another radio purchase.
if you already know this stuff, cool, but read through it anyway to make sure that you havent been misinformed by a "cb buddy".
first, a tutorial on how to use an SWR meter:
How to use a SWR meter
remember that an SWR meter just gives you an indication of whats going on, it will not "tune" your antenna by adjusting its knobs.
here is a guide on buying CB antennas. while it is not all inclusive, it will lead you in the right direction:
CB Radio Antennas Buying Guide | eBay
also cruise around this site for more good info:
CBRadioMagazine.com - The only online CB Magazine in the world
as for the radio check thing, CBers who have been on the air for a while can spot a "newbie" right away, and many times wont come back to them.
yes, this can be a bit of a catch 22 for new CBers, but eventually you will get some attitude and style going on the air that will make other operators want to come back to you.
(loved the post about having your girlfriend/ wife get on the air! that is so true!!!)
so, the reason you couldnt get a radio check sometimes is that the biggest way to advertise yourself as a newbie is to ask for a radio check.
truckers are on their radio all day long and in a new state every few hours.
its easy to see how they could get sick of giving radio checks all the time.
the other thing about radio checks is the way they get misused.
see, some people who are new to the radio will ask for a radio check as a way of starting a conversation with someone.
this is extremely bad form. :thumbdown:
on the "transmitter's" end, it seems like a perfectly plausible way to find out if anyone is on the band, and from there, to start a conversation with that person.
BUT!
on the "receiver's" end of things, he feels duped into a conversation that he had no say in starting. this creates a less than hospitable feeling in this person, and people have been known to get a little, verbally condescending shall we say. :glare:
so, in the future, when you want to know whether or not your radio is transmitting or not, learn to use the radio's indicators that will give you this information.
when you want to find out how far you are getting out, there are a few possibilities.
first, if there is a local group who talks from their base stations, the best thing to do is get friendly with those who give you a good signal on your meter.
(people who hear you well will be more inclined to talk to you)
just wait for a break in the conversation, when no one is talking and ask for a break.
when it is given, just introduce yourself and mention what equipment you are running.
most CBers love to talk about radio equipment and its a good way to start a conversation.
just dont get into the habit of asking everyone the same questions. LOL
if there are no locals where you are, wait until you hear some truck drivers talking, and when they pause, ask for a break. ("break break!")
when it is given, just tell them where you are and that you are trying to find out how far you are getting out.
they will usually reply with a mile marker that will give you an indication of how far you are talking.
and look, in the process you just got a free radio check without asking for one! 
just to wrap things up, the lil wil is not a very good antenna, but my dad runs one and ive talked to him at 10+ miles away in the city.
stepping up to a wilson 1000 will be a noticeable improvement.
welcome to the hobby!!!
LC
