Copper Talk » Open Forum » Archived Messages » 2005 » 02/01/2005 to 02/29/2005 » Grounding new mobile radio « Previous Next »

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Terry
New member
Username: Terry

Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Tuesday, February 08, 2005 - 10:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I am looking for a good way to "ground" my new mobile. I have a 2000 ford ranger and of course everything in the cab is plastic. I am thinking about a #10 stranded wire under the seat and carpet out the drain to the frame. The other end would connect to one of the case screws on the radio. Workable?

The resaon for this is excessive noise when the engine is running. I put the raio into 2 different vehicles and the noise (sounds like white noise) is there (s9+ on the digital meter). Each vehicle has different antennas and coax.

Thanks in advance,
Terry
CDF 494
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Pig040
Advanced Member
Username: Pig040

Post Number: 674
Registered: 7-2003


Posted on Wednesday, February 09, 2005 - 11:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I always ground mine at the seatbelt bolt, that is usually direct to the frame.
Rich
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Hotwire
Junior Member
Username: Hotwire

Post Number: 43
Registered: 1-2005


Posted on Wednesday, February 09, 2005 - 12:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey Terry! Do a test ground on your radio first, if that solves the prob then your setup should be fine. Also try a good tech. One of my techs was able to fix the same prob I had. Another thing is maybe location. Do you get static S9 and over as you drive? Dont forget to run both positive and negatine power wires straight to the battery!!!!!! BTW Is that a new MIDLAND you got there? How you like?
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Racer X (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Wednesday, February 09, 2005 - 3:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Grounding almost never cures a noise problem. Twist and run the power wires directly to the battery and see if that helps. Twisting can help to block any RF on the wires.

If you still have noise with no antenna connected, then you need to use a powerline filter. If you still have noise you'll need to fix the interference at the source with bypass capacitors.
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Patzerozero
Intermediate Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 434
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 6:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

are you using that midland 290?? had 2 of 'em & they were exceptionally noisy! that aside, COAX,COAX, COAX! that & a powerline filter. going from radio shack rg58 coax to a high quality 95+% shielded rg8x made ALL the difference in the world. if you're hard mounting & already drilling holes, i'd use a 95+% doubleshielded rg8/9086/9913 type even. quality coax lets noise in as well as letting signal escape before it reaches the antenna. best coax is a win-win situation!
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Tech291
Moderator
Username: Tech291

Post Number: 77
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2005 - 5:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Pat-0-0,
the midland 79-290 is my radio of choice when I use one in the car.I dont have one,or want one mounted permantly at this point.but in my instance i dont have the noise others have complained of with that particular radio.nothing elaborate when i use it,just lay it in the cubbyhole hook up the k-40 mag mount and plug power into the cig lighter.

tech291
CEF#291
kc8zpj
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Racer X (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2005 - 6:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

How do you guys like the 79-290? I've thought about buying one for years, but I haven't because I've heard that they have problems with adjacent channel rejection and the noise blankers aren't very good. I wouldn't mind having it's AM brother the 77-285 too. I've never heard much about them good or bad. Both of these radios are smaller in size and really remind me of a 2m rig in appearance - I like that.
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Tech291
Moderator
Username: Tech291

Post Number: 78
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2005 - 6:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Racer X,
I've seen the complaints about bleedover and static reception but do not experience them with mine.Its pluses are its small size,
well lit display,
memory presets and weather,
fine and coarse clairifier,
dual watch function for monitoring 2 channels,
and dual 1969 finals plus many others.
one con or dislike I have with this radio is the detachable faceplate,i have already had to do micro surgery on it and put a small screw in to retain it.the fingers that retain it were very brittle and no longer hold.
All in all,I am happy with its performance,used it this morning to talk to CEF208 in italy.

tech291
CEF#291
kc8zpj
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2ir473
Member
Username: 2ir473

Post Number: 68
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2005 - 6:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Another thing to look at is a power line filter.
I know that Copper sells one that can handle up to 10 amps, and I have a few that handle 35 amps that I got from a place that deals in car stereo equipment. Using one of these filters, along with the other suggestions here, shuold help you.
Also, I know it is a tough thing to do for some people, but I eliminated 99% of my noise when I mounted my antenna (Wilson 1000) directly to my roof by drilling a 3/4" hole for the "through the roof" mount. Receive & transmit are much improved, too.










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Patzerozero
Intermediate Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 441
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 12:50 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

i've heard that tech291. i've been told-'what static?' by some & others have had the excessive static complaint. wonder if it has something to do with the detachable faceplate? i bought 1st one for novelty & midland's reputation. was easy to mod, but wasn't what i was looking for. 2nd one i got because of noise problem! receiver kinda reminds me of my early production deltaforce-no adjacent channel rejection & frontend overload by almost any signal you could hear! magnum fixed it for free...
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Terry
New member
Username: Terry

Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2005


Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 3:13 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks for all the great advice everyone. I plan to follow several of the ideas here. The 79-290 is a great radio other than the noise.

I plan to order the magnum inline filter first off (and install it w/twisted leads!). Then proceed from there.

2ir473, I am thinking about a roof Mount for my truck. I am using an offset stake hole mount now (I have a soft tonneau top over the bed) but I have to be able to quickly disconnect my antenna.

I’ll keep everyone posted!!!
Terry



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