setting up base unit: and figuring out how to use it

[RustDemon]

well, first I'll say hi I just joined the forum.

next my list of equipment

Pyramid ps-21KX power converter, Connex 3300 (not hp) CB radio

silver streak 150A antenna booster ? (I think thats what it is anyway)

Imax 99 eighteen foot fiberglass antenna mounted with the base at 9 feet (on the garage wife wont let me bolt it to the house...... yet) if I do move it to the house I'll pick up another 20 feet in height.

I have not run this gear yet, It was all given to me along with a bunch of other cb's and antenna, converters and another amp? or booster, not sure I haven't looked it all up yet.

I don't even know how to set all the knobs and switches on the CB to get started. so I need cb radio 101 pointers if anyone wants to start me off in the right direction.

 

[nonperson]

Did it come with a manual? New or Used?
I'm not to familiar with Connex radios. Is that one of the "export / 10 meter" radios? Does it have the an AM and FM function on it? Has it been modified to work on the CB / 11 meter band?
Usually all CB radios have similar functions. Check CB Radio Magazine and You Tube for how most of them function / operate.

 

[RustDemon]

All used equipment, no manuals. I haven't used a cb since I was 16. fortunately I do now how to google and have found most of my answers that I really needed about the settings of the connex unit.

It does have an FM setting, I don't know if its an "export 10 meter radio" I dont think so, I do have another unit that actually states that it requires a license to operate, so I wont be hooking that one up yet.

I did turn the unit on and see if I was receiving anything at all and wasn't not even background chatter. (there is a rather bad rub on the coax that actually cuts about halfway through it both the outer sleeve wire and the center wire as well. I'm going to have to cut the wire and splice the end back onto it (not a hack splice but properly reattach the end)

my antenna is mounted on the side of my garage to wood, do I need to run a ground wire from the base of the antenna to a ground stake? I have 10 awg wire kicking around I can use.

 

[nonperson]

After I posted that I was able to fins a picture of 3300 HP and if it does have a FM switch it is definitely an export / 10 meter radio. I'm still new to this forum but from what I have heard the export radios are apparently not popular with the HAM folks here especially if you don't have a HAM "ticket."
Being used I would echo some of their concerns about staying on frequency because you don't know what the previous owner(s) have done as far as "mods" to the radio. But since you don't have a "ticket" leave the radio on AM and stick to the 40 CB frequencies (if it has been modified to do that). You can listen to the others but don't transmit.
Do fix the antenna cable! As for the antenna... I'm still learing about them. If it is like my my Solarcon A99 it doesn't need a ground plane to operate. However my understanding is you can use one on one like mine because other wise the antenna radiate high (more than to the sides) compared to other antennas. Some other information, I recently learned, was the antenna depending on size and design needs to be a minimum height off the ground to work efficiently. FWIW that's some information I've read on various forums and internet sources.
Here's a link to CB Tricks with a downloadable manual for Connex 3300.
Connex CX3300 / CX3300HP