Brand new ham. 857D, what am i doing wrong?

[4Z7JAD]

hello everyone, im a brand new ham from Israel with the call 4Z7JAD, got my license only 4 months ago.
I purchased the 857D and got it 2 days ago. I also have the FC 40 (because I have no room for a real antenna) and I use it with a long copper wire.
I belive I got evrything in order, got my 857 connected to the FC40, and the power supply the right way, and the FC 40+the 857 are grounded toghther.
and yet, I still cant seem to get any signals on HF (didnt even try VHF, mainly because i dont have a coax to connect the one antenna i do have,and im an HF man), what could be the problem?
The only siganls I got so far is CW now and then and AM radio stations.

Would appreciate any help and thank you in advance, Jordan

[M0TZO]

Usual suspect is the RF gain control (if like my 897 as I suspect is behind the Volume/AF Gain control).

It's probably adjusted too low and attenuating all but the strongest signals out.

Also check that the AGC is on.

[m0bov]

What's the SWR like?

[John_D]

Jordon,, welcome...shalom; first, check that the connections to the PL259s etc are OK. that they are not shorting.
Disconnect the antenna from the rig and listen to any noise from the rig.
THEN connect the antenna; there should be a HUGE increase in noise. (I know about 4Z4-land noise I used to have the call 4X4QE..from Kibbutz Har-El.:-))
Tell us what happens...

[4Z7JAD]

well, RF gain was untill now as high as it can get.
AGC is on and strong
I dont hae an SWR meter yet, but i do know that it cant reach above 3.0:1 becasue if ti will then the FC 40 wont tune it, and i will receive notice of it.
John, disconnected the antenna and there is no noise what-so-ever from the rig itself. absolutely nothing
Ive been going through DX Summit for 3 days and tuning to any freq i knew there was some comms on it (no Digital though) but couldnt get a thing.
The wire is 22 meters if that makes a different