CB Installation/Noise

[Alan Reagan]

I finally got my CB installed today. I'm a little dismayed at the fact that with the squelch off, I hear what sounds like spark plug static. I'm sure it's the pump. It increases with throttle. Anyone else notice noise? I'm taking power from one of the plug ins inside. I may run directly to the batteries to see if that stops it. There was no noise on my 98 or 01. Suggestions?

 

[ceaman]

Sounds like a bad ground... alternator noise usually sounds as you describe. try hooking it direct to the batery like you described and see if it fixes it... or get a noise supressor

 

[Alan Reagan]

Will do. Thanks.

 

[Kennywould]

I get static when the cruise kicks on and off, ground seems ok, still looking at the problem

 

[p-Bar]

I used to install c. b's back in the craze of the 70's. Wherever you hook the power to you will get the noise. Did you match the antenna?? (SWR) How bad is it ??



Don

 

[Alan Reagan]

SWR is really good. Just budges off one with the SWR meter.



I found the problem. My antenna is mounted on my tool box in the bed. On my 01, I had run a ground wire from the mounting bracket to the frame. I had connected the wire to the bed on the under side. Apparently, it was acting like an antenna.



I was watching a movie and kept thinking about it. Went out and disconnected the ground, cranked her up and no (I mean absolutely no) static or noise at all with the squelch all the way down. I did a radio check with the engine running and got a good reply from about three miles away that said I was loud and clear. I asked about static noise and he said there was none. I'll finish removing the wire from the antenna base tomorrow.



This was an all day sucker. I built a new mount out of aluminum and that took most of the day. But I have full use of my cup holders, good visibility on the radion and now NO STATIC. Oo.



Thanks for the responses, guys. I guess the bed isn't grounded. It's just a big antenna for noise back there.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I finally got my CB installed today. I'm a little dismayed at the fact that with the squelch off, I hear what sounds like spark plug static. I'm sure it's the pump. It increases with throttle. Anyone else notice noise? I'm taking power from one of the plug ins inside. I may run directly to the batteries to see if that stops it. There was no noise on my 98 or 01. Suggestions?

I get the same type of noise on the AM band of the radio. It sounds like spark plug noise on a gasser and I assume it's the injectors firing. At idle speed, I don't hear it, but anything above idle and/or if the truck is under a load, the sound is louder. I've checked with the dealership service manager to see if there were any service bulletins for this noise, but there are none that we could find.



There's no noise on the FM band or the CB radio.



Does anyone else notice this noise?



Bill

 

[Alan Reagan]

That's the noise. Same here on the radio. I haven't checked the AM but I will. It sounded like a gasser firing for sure.

 

[testraub]

If you would? Would you send a picture of the CB mounting in the cab? I'm looking to mount mine too, but haven't quite figured it out fully. Thanks

 

[joeyou]

I finally got my CB installed today. I'm a little dismayed at the fact that with the squelch off, I hear what sounds like spark plug static. I'm sure it's the pump. It increases with throttle. Anyone else notice noise? I'm taking power from one of the plug ins inside. I may run directly to the batteries to see if that stops it. There was no noise on my 98 or 01. Suggestions?

Check for a bad ground--disconnect the antenna, then measure voltage between the metal case of the CB and the negative battery terminal. The voltage reading should be less than 0. 5V (don't pay attention to negative numbers--reversing the meter leads will give you a positive reading. ) If the reading is more that 0. 5V, you've got a bad ground causing the noise.

 

[Crunch]

SWR is really good. Just budges off one with the SWR meter.



I found the problem. My antenna is mounted on my tool box in the bed. On my 01, I had run a ground wire from the mounting bracket to the frame. I had connected the wire to the bed on the under side. Apparently, it was acting like an antenna.

Even though you found the problem and fixed it, I'd still check the SWR again. It's probably not affecting it that much, but you never know...

 

[Alan Reagan]

If you would? Would you send a picture of the CB mounting in the cab? I'm looking to mount mine too, but haven't quite figured it out fully. Thanks

I'll see what I can do. I made it from heavy aluminum, offset so that there is no interference with the lid handle, have full access to the cup holders and I painted the seat side black. Just returned from a 800 mile trip with no problems.



Alan