Could also be a dirty squelch potentiometer (name for the variable resistor control that the knob turns). If it's scratchy like a volume knob sometimes can be, would cause the squelch threshold to also act erratic (removing the bottom cover of the radio then spraying some contact cleaner into the opening on the back of all the controls might help).
As for finding someone to talk to, you might have a better chance finding someone who can hear you at night.
At night that "California thing" (atmospheric skip) generally goes away after the sun goes down and you should then be able to hear much further locally around your area (and others being able to hear you). You might have to spin the dial around a few times, maybe try at different times in the evening, but many areas do still have active local groups (and many areas are also devoid of CB activity, so it could go either way).
If you're near an interstate highway, you might be able to catch some people passing through too. But as said earlier, even truck drivers aren't using as much as they once did (I s'pose they probably have a phone app that uses the internet that's replaced CB for the most part since cell service is usually available along interstates).
The Cobra 75 you suggested earlier would be a glaring exception to that... Those radios don't qualify for even "ok, good enough", they have the worst microphones built into them (planting your face into a pillow and yelling into it works about as good, because that's about what they sound like). And because the mic is the whole radio, you can't just replace/upgrade it like you can on a regular radio (not without microsurgery anyway).
Instead, this would be a much better recommendation for an all-in-the-mic radio (and you can use it portable too if you want):
Everyone you communicate with who's experienced the transmitting end of a Cobra 75 will greatly appreciate it!
