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Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
Hey Hey,
Just put in a Midland 1001Z, with a 5' baseloaded antenna on a magnet mount on my truck (2001 Nissan). I get noise from pretty much all of my electric motors in my vehicle. My AC Blower fan, windshield wipers and windshield wiper pump are the ones I've noticed. The blower fan is the worst. The pitch changes if i increase the fan speed, and the loudness drowns out all but the strongest signals. What's odd is, I'm also transmitting this whinng noise! If I turn off the blower fan, I can receive and transmit just fine with very little noise. 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. 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. 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. 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). |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
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Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
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Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
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. |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
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. |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
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. |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
"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) |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
"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. |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
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? |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
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. |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
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. |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
No, I said ground the RADIO; i.e, the Midland. Oh. yeah. Funny thing about that. I can remove the groundwire from my radio and it'll get it's ground from the antenna cable. 1 wire power ;). But yeah, Tried touching a groundwire to everything on the radio, the coax connector, the back of the radio, the mounting screws. twisted the negative battery wire, the negative radio wire and the ground wire together, no change. 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. That's a good idea, I didn't think about the noise coming from devices IN my house. I have quiet a few noisy flourescent lights that interfere with my shortwave radio. Cursed cheap ballasts. It would be better if you could run the coax -up- the hill and mount the antenna as high as possible. I wish I could. Uphill is the road and my neighbors. Luckily, in Oregon, we have huge trees. I'll say it's a christmas ornament. |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
On 26 Jul 2006 14:45:25 -0700, "SparkySKO" wrote
in .com: No, I said ground the RADIO; i.e, the Midland. Oh. yeah. Funny thing about that. I can remove the groundwire from my radio and it'll get it's ground from the antenna cable. 1 wire power ;). But yeah, Tried touching a groundwire to everything on the radio, the coax connector, the back of the radio, the mounting screws. twisted the negative battery wire, the negative radio wire and the ground wire together, no change. It won't make any difference unless that ground (from the car chassis to the radio) is very short.... just a few inches. Bolt the radio's mounting bracket directly to metal (or as close to it as possible), then run a SHORT ground wire to the metal. 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. That's a good idea, I didn't think about the noise coming from devices IN my house. I have quiet a few noisy flourescent lights that interfere with my shortwave radio. Cursed cheap ballasts. It would be better if you could run the coax -up- the hill and mount the antenna as high as possible. I wish I could. Uphill is the road and my neighbors. Luckily, in Oregon, we have huge trees. I'll say it's a christmas ornament. You're in beaverland? I'm just over here in Spokane. Are you on the wet or dry side of the state? |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
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 |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
It won't make any difference unless that ground (from the car chassis
to the radio) is very short.... just a few inches. Bolt the radio's mounting bracket directly to metal (or as close to it as possible), then run a SHORT ground wire to the metal. This new radio I got, the Cobre 75, had a little matchbox that the radio plugs into (it has the power and the antenna cable coming into it, rest of radio is in a big microphone. I tried shoving that around on various grounded UNPAINTED parts of my vehicle, and no difference. I'm wondering how close a capacitor has to be to the fuel pump to actually have an effect. I'm going to try putting a noise filter inline at the fuse block, and if that doesn't work, deeply ponder whether I want to work under the truck on my gravel driveway ;). 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. That's a good idea, I didn't think about the noise coming from devices IN my house. I have quiet a few noisy flourescent lights that interfere with my shortwave radio. Cursed cheap ballasts. It would be better if you could run the coax -up- the hill and mount the antenna as high as possible. I wish I could. Uphill is the road and my neighbors. Luckily, in Oregon, we have huge trees. I'll say it's a christmas ornament. You're in beaverland? I'm just over here in Spokane. Are you on the wet or dry side of the state? Yeah, Actually Beaverton. Wet side. I'm on the other side of the hill, a few miles from downtown Portland. I'm smack dab in the middle of all of the interestates and major highways in Oregon (at least within 5 miles). The 5, 405, 26, 84/30, 217. I wish I could reliably hear traffic on the 5!! My little portable shortwave radio is easier to understand than my CB radio is on the same signals ;) Maybe I'll just duct tape that to my dashboard :D . Kicks major arse with the 100 foot longwire. |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
On 26 Jul 2006 15:55:07 -0700, "SparkySKO" wrote
in . com: It won't make any difference unless that ground (from the car chassis to the radio) is very short.... just a few inches. Bolt the radio's mounting bracket directly to metal (or as close to it as possible), then run a SHORT ground wire to the metal. This new radio I got, the Cobre 75, had a little matchbox that the radio plugs into (it has the power and the antenna cable coming into it, rest of radio is in a big microphone. I tried shoving that around on various grounded UNPAINTED parts of my vehicle, and no difference. Just to clarify, you grounded the "matchbox" part? And it didn't clear up the noise? If so then that might be the best you can do. I would focus on noise from some appliance in your house. I'm wondering how close a capacitor has to be to the fuel pump to actually have an effect. I'm going to try putting a noise filter inline at the fuse block, and if that doesn't work, deeply ponder whether I want to work under the truck on my gravel driveway ;). As close to the fuel pump as possible. Just throw down a tarp. It's worth the effort. You could also try using coax for the power line from your battery (and grounding the shield), but that doesn't always work. 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. That's a good idea, I didn't think about the noise coming from devices IN my house. I have quiet a few noisy flourescent lights that interfere with my shortwave radio. Cursed cheap ballasts. It would be better if you could run the coax -up- the hill and mount the antenna as high as possible. I wish I could. Uphill is the road and my neighbors. Luckily, in Oregon, we have huge trees. I'll say it's a christmas ornament. You're in beaverland? I'm just over here in Spokane. Are you on the wet or dry side of the state? Yeah, Actually Beaverton. Wet side. I'm on the other side of the hill, a few miles from downtown Portland. I'm smack dab in the middle of all of the interestates and major highways in Oregon (at least within 5 miles). The 5, 405, 26, 84/30, 217. I wish I could reliably hear traffic on the 5!! I worked at a radio shop in Albany in the late '80's and drove through Portland on occasion when they were building all those highways...... gawd what a mess!!! One time it took me two hours to drive just two miles! I hope it's improved since then..... |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
Just to clarify, you grounded the "matchbox" part? And it didn't clear
up the noise? If so then that might be the best you can do. I would focus on noise from some appliance in your house. Yeah, I don't have the matchbox mounted yet, but I've grounded it to all sorts of places, and no change. You're a genius tho, I solved my "powerline" noise problem at home! I isolated the problem to a compact fluorescent lamp. Turn it off, S0, turn it on, S3. My truck is 40 feet from the light too!!!! Have to chuck this thing in the garbage. As close to the fuel pump as possible. Just throw down a tarp. It's worth the effort. You could also try using coax for the power line from your battery (and grounding the shield), but that doesn't always work. Powerline for the fuel pump or the radio? That's a good idea for the fuel pump, never thought about it. Radio... I question whether or not the noise is coming from the radios power source. I worked at a radio shop in Albany in the late '80's and drove through Portland on occasion when they were building all those highways...... gawd what a mess!!! One time it took me two hours to drive just two miles! I hope it's improved since then..... Doesn't take 2 hours to drive 2 miles, but it can. Usually an hour for 20 minutes... They designed the interchanges stupider than crap, and so those eat up 50%+ of your time at near idle speeds. |
Electric Motor Noises. GAHH!!
On 26 Jul 2006 18:01:33 -0700, "SparkySKO" wrote
in .com: Just to clarify, you grounded the "matchbox" part? And it didn't clear up the noise? If so then that might be the best you can do. I would focus on noise from some appliance in your house. Yeah, I don't have the matchbox mounted yet, but I've grounded it to all sorts of places, and no change. It's still best to ground the "matchbox". It may not help much in receive, but may make a difference getting your signal out during transmit. And it -will- stabilize your SWR. You're a genius tho, Many here will disagree. I solved my "powerline" noise problem at home! I isolated the problem to a compact fluorescent lamp. Turn it off, S0, turn it on, S3. My truck is 40 feet from the light too!!!! Have to chuck this thing in the garbage. As close to the fuel pump as possible. Just throw down a tarp. It's worth the effort. You could also try using coax for the power line from your battery (and grounding the shield), but that doesn't always work. Powerline for the fuel pump or the radio? That's a good idea for the fuel pump, never thought about it. Radio... I question whether or not the noise is coming from the radios power source. If the noise is coming through the radio's power line then a cap from positive to ground, as close to the radio (or 'matchbox') as possible, should reduce the noise. Otherwise, the fuel pump is creating RFI and transmitting it on -its- power line, and is being picked up by your radio. In that case you need to cap the fuel pump -at- the fuel pump. I would do both..... but that's me. I never thought about running coax for the fuel line -- sounds like a good idea. I'll have to try that sometime. I worked at a radio shop in Albany in the late '80's and drove through Portland on occasion when they were building all those highways...... gawd what a mess!!! One time it took me two hours to drive just two miles! I hope it's improved since then..... Doesn't take 2 hours to drive 2 miles, but it can. Usually an hour for 20 minutes... They designed the interchanges stupider than crap, .....no kidding.... and so those eat up 50%+ of your time at near idle speeds. Yeah, I never could figure out if they were designing that freeway system from plans or if they were just using 'the force'. Eventually I learned how to sneak around the quagmire via Sandy. I remember Portland used to have a Heathkit store..... what ever happened to that? |
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