Need help with CB Radio install. First, need opinions on non-ground antennas, pros and cons. Also, I wired direct to battery. When I start engine the squelch goes crazy. Squelch seems normal when engine off. Also, The Cobra 25wxst I have has a S-meter. The needle stays to the left with engine off but jumps to 3/4 when I start engine. Is this normal? All assistance appreciated.
Where did you ground the radio ? You should not have that kind of noise directly at the battery unless you ran the power wires next to something that generates a lot of garbage such as a distributor or spark plug wire.
I just went through this installation. I used a Fierstik antenna with a small spring. Go to the Firestik web site and review all the info they provide, especially the part about selecting a location for the mount. In my case, I was able to remove some trim molding next to the front windshield and was able to bolt the antenna base directly to outside of the coach as opposed to hanging a base on the side of the coach with the antenna wire going through to the inside or using a location where I had to deal with both the outer and inner wall.
Firestik claims there are 2 types of installions - the first one is those that check with them first and those that dash ahead and then try to deal with the double wall problem.
On the CB for my jeep tow vehicle - I went directly to the batt and have no interference problems. On the motor home I'm hooked up to a hot wire in the dash and have no problems.
Don & Arlene Guillette
Tucson, AZ
1998 Southwind 32V
Dennis(cat)Kirby(rescued cocker)
Dean, I always wire my CB radio direct to the battery and I install a fuse also between the battery and the CB. I always ground my set somewhere inside the dashboard usually on a bolt or screw that holds one of the gauges into place. Having a good antenna is really important I have a 5 foot Firestick and its grounded to my mirror bracket. I run a 10 liter CB a Galaxy DX44 with all the funny channels installed in it.
I've a similar problem with noise on a Cobra 29 WX NW ST Classic CB with NOAA Weather and NightWatch, however, and this is not from engine noise, when I connect the house and chassis batt's I get a static/squelch noise (with the radio off), and then sometimes also get a high pitched scream for about 10-15 seconds...(again, while it's off, regardless of whether the engine is running or not)...
Would like to get it fixed so it doesn't do that...first time it "screamed" was while we were OTR listening to other chatter, and the second was about 10 o'clock at night...
2008 Itasca Meridian 37H, All. 3000MH (6-auto), Freightliner XC Chass., Cummins 6.7L Turbo, (Sweet! Delivery 03/12/08). Tow: '07 Dodge Gr. Caravan, Me, Him; Sugarbear, Apr. Toy Poodle; Pepe, Blk Toy Poodle; Hero, fat Siam.-mix polydactyl cat/Alarm Clock.
kjames90755 wrote: I've a similar problem with noise on a Cobra 29 WX NW ST Classic CB with NOAA Weather and NightWatch, however, and this is not from engine noise, when I connect the house and chassis batt's I get a static/squelch noise (with the radio off), and then sometimes also get a high pitched scream for about 10-15 seconds...(again, while it's off, regardless of whether the engine is running or not)...
Would like to get it fixed so it doesn't do that...first time it "screamed" was while we were OTR listening to other chatter, and the second was about 10 o'clock at night...
The "high pitched scream" is the NOAA weather alert going off. Took me forever to figure that out. The manual describes how it works in detail and how to disable it but essentially, if you tune to a weather channel and then go back to CB, or even off, it still monitors the NOAA alerts. If you turn the radio on then to weather you'll hear the severe weather alert. It'll make you mess your drawers when it goes off in the middle of the night but its a nice feature, I think. If ou don't have the manual, PM me and I'll find mine and tell you how it operates.
The Johnsons (incls a Bouvier, Lab, and Newfie)
Cedar Island, NC (Gateway to the Outbanks)
2008 Winnie Sightseer 35J
Our Mexico trip Blog
It is recommended to have radios turned off when starting a vehicle, especially diesel (if you would look at the voltage on an oscilloscope you would be amazed when a starter engages... the voltage drop is the hardest single environment for electronic parts, such as CB's...)
sullivd wrote: Need help with CB Radio install. First, need opinions on non-ground antennas, pros and cons. Also, I wired direct to battery. When I start engine the squelch goes crazy. Squelch seems normal when engine off. Also, The Cobra 25wxst I have has a S-meter. The needle stays to the left with engine off but jumps to 3/4 when I start engine. Is this normal? All assistance appreciated.
No Ground Plane Antenna is basically adding a dipole to your antenna system. It's better than not having any ground at all but it's just a Band-Aid. It won’t enhaace poor (RX/DX) performance issue most RV face. Only pro is it won’t burn up the radio, con is waste of money. On the scale 1-10, I give it 1.5 ( 1 for effort, .5 for performance).
As for engine noise, we first have to identify the source. To start, unplug the coax from the radio and check if the noise goes away, if so with coax unplugged (DO NOT KEY UP WITH OUT THE COAX) then most likly is the coax or antenna. You may have to relocate the mount, add or get to a better grounding point, change to a higher grade coax, those with a better shielding.
If the noise still exist with the coax unplugged, then likely it's from the power source, probably your ignition system. In this case replace the spark plugs & plug wire to the resistor type. AutoZone sells for about $30. I would go as far as install electro ferrets($6 @ Radio Shack)to the power of the fuel pump (FORD trucks is notorious of this problem) it creat a static choke which cuts down the nose in the electrical system.
If this noise you hear is pitched (hum) and it changes with the engine RPM, then it's from the charging system, it's your alternator. A inline noise filter will take care of the problem and/or add a "102 disc" capacitor in the(-)ground should works too.
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I've got about the same radio. My SWR is adjusted down to 1.1 on my most used frequencies, but the NGP antenna just doesn't put out like a regular ground plane setup.
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. Took me forever to figure that out. The manual describes how it works in detail and how to disable it but essentially, if you tune to a weather channel and then go back to CB, or even off, it still monitors the NOAA alerts. If you turn the radio on then to weather you'll hear the severe weather alert. It'll make you mess your drawers when it goes off in the middle of the night but its a nice feature, I think. If ou don't have the manual, PM me and I'll find mine and tell you how it operates.
