Just an FYI, you do NOT want to ground the antenna to the vehicle. The antenna MUST be isolated from the vehicle, that's why there is that plastic piece between the mount and the antenna base. If the antenna element is making physical contact with the vehicle it will short out. If you try to transmit with the antenna element making physical contact with the vehicle you can burn out your radio. Now when it comes to receiving a signal, having the antenna tuned is NOT an issue. The antenna tune only effects the transmit side. You can stick a wire coat hanger into the back of the radio and it will receive.
Agree totally! Do not attempt to transmit until you are receiving without any problems.
For a free radio, the first good sign was it didn't smoke.
Your antenna is grounded electrically as Jrwhiting mention, do not wire an additional ground to the antenna. Unlike HAM radio, CB antennas are tune to length to cover the entire CB spectrum, they are idiot proof. Antennas for HAM radio are tuned to the frequency band to be used, the HAM bands have a much wider frequency spectrum requiring them to match the band utilized. There is probably nothing wrong with your antenna. You don't need any meters or other testing gizmos to set up a CB radio. FCC regulations do not allow you to make adjustments internally in your radio without the proper license, you can't "homebrew" anything with respect to transmitting. Use manufactured antennas and accessories for your radio.
Check the coax connection, the center pin should not be bent or cracked and the connections should be tight, the coax may have been soldered, so check that. Check the same at the radio as well.
Make sure the radio is grounded. It lights up so it should be good.
As mentioned turn the squelch until you hear noise. Turn the channel selector as well, you could be on a channel that is bad through it's IF stages, if you got a boat anchor the crystals could be a problem, newer ones are synthesized, so try different channels.
You probably have an "S" meter, signal strength meter, as you change channels, wait and watch to see if the meter jumps, this will indicate that you are receiving a signal, try different channels.
Are you using an external speaker? If so, disconnect it and use the radio speaker if there is one, see if the speaker is torn or damaged, all you should do is look through the speaker holes with a light and see if it looks like a rat's nest. If that is not the issue or there is no internal speaker check the speaker connections and wire to the external speaker.
If you hear noise turn the volume up, if it doesn't get louder you have a bad control or internal problems.
If you have VOX, voice actuated transmit, turn it off.
I'd suggest you call the friend you got it from and have him talk you through the connections and set up. I'd also suggest you get your license registered before you attempt to transmit. 73's!
A VOM is hard-pressed to match the absolute accuracy of a DMM however.
