On 23 Jul 2006 23:05:19 -0700, wrote in
.com:

Hey Hey,

Just put in a Midland 1001Z, with a 5' baseloaded antenna on a magnet
mount


There's your first problem.


on my truck (2001 Nissan).


There's your second problem.


snip
If I disconnect the antenna, and connect just a wire with PL-259
connectors on both ends onto the radio, the noise exists as well, until
the connector is is tightened all the way on, then it goes away.


Don't try to figure that one out.


My radio has been wired directly onto both battery posts with lugs, and
is quite secure. I've tried putting in a noise filter inline (toroid
and capacitor) and also tried an RF choke (iron core with copper wound
around it), and nothing helped. I've tried the RF choike and noise
filter inline with the blower motor as well, and no difference.

I've tried running a ground to the magnet mount antenna base, to the
coax connector, to the radio, to no avail.


You had the right idea -- it is a grounding problem.

Ideally you should install the mounting bracket directly to the
chassis/frame/metal, but that's rarely possible with these new plastic
cars. Mount it as close and possible to the metal and run a -very-
short ground wire, no longer than just a few inches. If that doesn't
clear it up then try running a shielded power line (any old coax will
work for that). And if -that- doesn't work then think about drilling
the hole and installing a proper antenna which -will- solve the
problem.


I went to a clearing, and
adjusted my SWR when I initiallyh installed the radio, and it was
reading about 1.3 - 1.5. My car is parked about 5-10 feet from a power
line, and when I measure my SWR around there, it reads about 2-3. Not
sure if this is the power line, or if my SWR is really that bad,
haven't tested in a field again.


Unless the power line is vertical like the antenna, it probably has no
effect. Improper grounding will have strange effects like that so
don't worry about it until you get the noise problem fixed.


I'm pulling my hair out trying to figure this one out. We did cut a few
inches off the magnet mount coax, and reconnect another connector onto
the end. The closest guess I have is that maybe the shielding is wack
on the end of the cable? (Since a different cable without an antenna
doesn't exhibit the noise when it's tightened all the way on).


A few inches won't make any difference. A bad coax, OTOH, could
(repeat: -could-) make a difference. But with a poorly grounded radio
and a mag mount antenna, coax is the least of your problems.

Frank Gilliland wrote:
SNIP

You had the right idea -- it is a grounding problem.

Ideally you should install the mounting bracket directly to the
chassis/frame/metal, but that's rarely possible with these new plastic
cars. Mount it as close and possible to the metal and run a -very-
short ground wire, no longer than just a few inches. If that doesn't
clear it up then try running a shielded power line (any old coax will
work for that). And if -that- doesn't work then think about drilling
the hole and installing a proper antenna which -will- solve the
problem.

You were right. I have eliminated ALL (as far as I can tell) noises
related to my vehicle. I tried grounding the crap out of that magnet
mount, nothing. I took it apart and tried everything, no deal. Got a
underhood mount, and drilled that under my hood, blammo, fixed. I also
tried just a mount stud and grounded that on my door hinge, and that
worked too. So it is possible to test whether or not this works before
you permanently install.

My SWR is 1.6 on all channels. I'm still getting about an S3 level of
noise (which is what I got when my car was off anyways). Makes it a tad
bit difficult to adjust the squelch so I don't drown out perfectly
clear signals :| . People are reporting that I am transmitting alot
louder, without a 'whining noise', however, I now have a 'popping'
noise, lol! This is without the vehicle on, so go figure, probably
static or something.

On 24 Jul 2006 22:32:03 -0700, "SparkySKO" wrote
in . com:

snip
My SWR is 1.6 on all channels.


Good enough.


I'm still getting about an S3 level of
noise (which is what I got when my car was off anyways). Makes it a tad
bit difficult to adjust the squelch so I don't drown out perfectly
clear signals :| .


Welcome to the wonderful world of CB radio.


People are reporting that I am transmitting alot
louder, without a 'whining noise', however, I now have a 'popping'
noise, lol! This is without the vehicle on, so go figure, probably
static or something.


Check your mic. You might have a loose wire or dirty switch in there,
or maybe just a bad mic element.

Alrighty, so I was a little wrong, and a little right when I said it
fixed my problem.

The electric blower motors, windshield wiper motor, etc, noise has gone
away. I just discovered that a power line right next to my house
overbears all the other noise that I now discovered my car is putting
out. My cars still putting out RF noise, I'm presuming from the spark
plugs and the fuel pump. Any suggestions beyond the capacitor trick? My
noise level drops to S0 or S1 when everything in my truck is off, and
when i'm away from the powerlines (unfortunately, my car can only go
about 30 feet from the powerline, which isn't far enough away to have
an effect).

Any suggestions for helping reduce the powerline noise? (This is large
main powerline that is going into my noise, not powerline for my car).

I tried putting my whip antenna onto a stud mount on a cable, and
touched the ground to my doorhinge, about the same noise level,
although I don't have a long enough cable to get this to my bumper or
anywhere else far away..

I went through a couple different radios today. I tried a Uniden Pro
510 (I think) with an ANL. The ANL was useless on my vehicle, didn't
help reduce the noise at all. I then purchased a Cobrta 75 WX (It's the
radio in the microphone with a small wired in base) with 'Soundcatcher'
or whatever, which I presume is a Noiseblocker, and not a ANL. This
doesn't do much at all to reduce the noise either. I'm still getting
about a steady S5 noise with my car on, or from the powerlines. With
everything off, I can clearly understand an S3 signal.

"SparkySKO" wrote:
I'm still getting
about a steady S5 noise with my car on, or from the powerlines. With
everything off, I can clearly understand an S3 signal.

If you must sit stationary in your car right below the high tension wires,
try pounding in a ground rod. (don't forget to disconnect before you go up
to the store to re-stock your essentials)

"Steveo" wrote in message
...
"SparkySKO" wrote:
I'm still getting
about a steady S5 noise with my car on, or from the powerlines. With
everything off, I can clearly understand an S3 signal.

If you must sit stationary in your car right below the high tension wires,
try pounding in a ground rod. (don't forget to disconnect before you go up
to the store to re-stock your essentials)

Hell, if he is remaining stationary all the time, it's time to get a base
radio and be done with it.

On 25 Jul 2006 21:21:34 -0700, "SparkySKO" wrote
in om:

Alrighty, so I was a little wrong, and a little right when I said it
fixed my problem.

The electric blower motors, windshield wiper motor, etc, noise has gone
away. I just discovered that a power line right next to my house
overbears all the other noise that I now discovered my car is putting
out. My cars still putting out RF noise, I'm presuming from the spark
plugs and the fuel pump. Any suggestions beyond the capacitor trick? My
noise level drops to S0 or S1 when everything in my truck is off, and
when i'm away from the powerlines


Ground your radio. And by "ground" I mean an RF ground which you get
by mounting the bracket directly to the metal and/or using a -=SHORT=-
ground wire. You can't fudge on this ground.


(unfortunately, my car can only go
about 30 feet from the powerline, which isn't far enough away to have
an effect).


Dude, that's some terrible gas mileage. Maybe your car just needs a
tuneup..... hey, I thought you said it was a truck?


Any suggestions for helping reduce the powerline noise? (This is large
main powerline that is going into my noise, not powerline for my car).


That noise may be unavoidable. Can you do the flourescent bulb thing?

Ground your radio. And by "ground" I mean an RF ground which you get
by mounting the bracket directly to the metal and/or using a -=SHORT=-
ground wire. You can't fudge on this ground.

I'm using an L bracket screwed straight into my fender, it sticks out
from under the hood. Pretty sure it's grounded. I've tried a grounding
strap anyways on the antenna, and no difference, unless I ground the
whip of the antenna, then my antenna doesn't work

Dude, that's some terrible gas mileage. Maybe your car just needs a
tuneup..... hey, I thought you said it was a truck?

Yeah, well, I live on a VERY steep hill, my house in on stilts, our
driveway is fill dirt and flat enough to park a car on, but anywhere
beyond the fill dirt is so steep my truck will roll over. Unfortunately
my 'flat spot of parking goodness' isn't bigger than 50'x30 with the
powerline for the house going lengwith along it.

I guess I might want to look into a combo base/mobile rig, so I can run
some coax down the hill to an antenna and get away from the powerlines
or park in front of my neighbors house to talk. (People give you
strange looks if you park in their neighborhood with your dashboard
tore out, frantically trying to get a QSO).. One word.. TERRORISM.

On 26 Jul 2006 07:21:32 -0700, "SparkySKO" wrote
in .com:

Ground your radio. And by "ground" I mean an RF ground which you get
by mounting the bracket directly to the metal and/or using a -=SHORT=-
ground wire. You can't fudge on this ground.

I'm using an L bracket screwed straight into my fender, it sticks out
from under the hood. Pretty sure it's grounded. I've tried a grounding
strap anyways on the antenna, and no difference, unless I ground the
whip of the antenna, then my antenna doesn't work


No, I said ground the RADIO; i.e, the Midland.


Dude, that's some terrible gas mileage. Maybe your car just needs a
tuneup..... hey, I thought you said it was a truck?

Yeah, well, I live on a VERY steep hill, my house in on stilts, our
driveway is fill dirt and flat enough to park a car on, but anywhere
beyond the fill dirt is so steep my truck will roll over. Unfortunately
my 'flat spot of parking goodness' isn't bigger than 50'x30 with the
powerline for the house going lengwith along it.


I was just joking. But the power line is just the line going to the
house? I was under the impression that you were sitting under a major
distribution line or something. If the noise is coming from your house
power line you should be able to find out the source of the noise by
shutting off things in the house. A computer UPS or security backup
supply can cause gobs of noise, as can light dimmers and other small
appliances.


I guess I might want to look into a combo base/mobile rig, so I can run
some coax down the hill to an antenna and get away from the powerlines
or park in front of my neighbors house to talk. (People give you
strange looks if you park in their neighborhood with your dashboard
tore out, frantically trying to get a QSO).. One word.. TERRORISM.


It would be better if you could run the coax -up- the hill and mount
the antenna as high as possible.

Frank Gilliland wrote:
On 24 Jul 2006 22:32:03 -0700, "SparkySKO" wrote
in . com:

People are reporting that I am transmitting alot
louder, without a 'whining noise', however, I now have a 'popping'
noise, lol! This is without the vehicle on, so go figure, probably
static or something.


Check your mic. You might have a loose wire or dirty switch in there,
or maybe just a bad mic element.
in the same sprit try working your concetions sometimes a bit dirt or
rust will introduce capatance into your circuts where the circut is not
expecting twist you you coax conection on thetogether a bit trying to
sort of grind some rust out out concent and disconect the mike to rub
the contact (if you have knobs trun back and forth a bit) this sort of
thing sometimes helps the darnest problems