I recently installed the WagonGear mount using all the recommended parts (Firestik Firefly 4', etc) and so far I'm getting great radio reception. I'm a Little Rock guy, too, so I can vouch that you should be getting all the local stations.
Since you changed the location of your lower mount, you now have quite a bit of threaded rod sticking down below the mount. You might try cutting off the excess rod right at the base of the lower mount (below the nut of course) and see if it improves. I'm not an antenna engineer, so YMMV.
PS - I've seen your Cruiser around LR. I'm in a white 60 with an ARB bumper and snorkel.
EDIT: you might also want to double check all you parts with a multimeter, especially your antenna, to make sure you don't have any opens or shorts.
Thanks for the idea. But it seems that the mysterious radio static is gone now. I'm not sure what the problem was but now that I think about it, I've had my CB unhooked for some time now (it's a portable one) and don't remember having any static since then. Maybe that's the problem. Or could just be a loose connection somewhere. I've tested it with an SWR and got good results but have not tried to check any continuity.
Also, I've seen you pulling out of Point West in the mornings when I'm actually on time for work going down Kanis (I live just off of Nix Road/Parkway Place). Great looking Cruiser! I thought I saw a Firestik/WagonGear antenna setup on your rig. I was actually in front of you on Wednesday in my DD Honda Pilot. Now I sound like a stalker.
