Another NOOB

[FATKAT]

SSB or single side band is where there seems to be more action on these days vs AM. The am crowd usually are guys with large antennas or big amps or a combo of both. On SSB 12 watts and a good antenna setup you can talk a long way. Not dissing AM one bit, there are still a lot of AM'ers out there. But not near as many as 10-15 years ago and certainly not from the 70's. Maybe get yourself a uniden 980 CB/SSB radio and tune to channels 36-40 LSB. Use the clarifier to adjust people in. Most of of the time if you sit long enough you will find someone that is on freq, tune to him and leave it. Those radios are locked on the transmit side and are normally dead on frequency out of the box. Not a big power house radio, but best bang for the buck for a new radio that doesn't need much to make contacts other than a good antenna setup and some decent conditions. You might get lucky and make some dx contacts on AM with the radio you have now, but sounds like you got a truck stop golden screwdriver special. He most likely clipped the AMC which controls the modulation. This can cause distortion and depending on what else he turned, the radio could be transmitting onto other freqs as well. This is not good. If possible and you can see the clipped wire, resolder it back together. You may lose a bit of power on a watt meter but at least you won't be over modulating. JMHO. As far as radios go and what you want to accomplish, there are several variables. Get the radio back to stock, JMO, and get the best antenna setup you can afford. Again, JMHO. Good day.

White & gray on my end...But welcome FATKAT..

Thanks for the replies. Yea, I may need to work on a better antenna. I don't mind poking holes in this truck as it is well.... a work truck, but at times I have to go in parking garages / decks and head room might become an issue even with this K30. I am told that the Wilson Little will is a better antenna for a mag-mount? opinions welcome on that.

I have been looking for shops in my area and they are few and the response seems to be cold to the new guy that don't know much. Just sell him something, he don't know any better! I will have to pull the radio out of the truck and open it up and see what I can see for re-soldering any cut wire. That is why I really would like to find a shop and or group that can and is willing to answer the stupid questions that they know are common knowledge among them and the group. Stupid New Guy!

I don't really have any idea where this (Hobby I will call it) will go. For now I need knowledge and solid reasons why I would go one direction or the other. This could wined up like my RC Car hobby and I will have one of everything!

Is that the way to DO IT......?