My freebie old 1978 cobra died. - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

Brett F. · 07-13-2009, 05:19 PM

So I bought the little space saving 19 Ultra III.

Still having noise issue but I am guessing it is due to the fact I am trying to use the cheap mag mount antenna from wal-mart.

I didn't want a permanent mount and $20 readily at hand seemed to fit the wallet. Now I know that you get what you pay for and I am looking at a little wil. I am hoping the noise, which is radiated, will not be as bad with the wil.

Can anyone testify the Little wil, will not have as much noise as the cheap crappy mag mount I have?

I know I should perma mount something but.....

**rizzjc** · 07-13-2009, 06:23 PM

Why do you think it's the antenna? And why do you say it's radiated? Are you getting interference somewhere when you key up the radio? How do you have the power and ground routed for the radio? I've never had a mag mount cause any kind of interference, so I can't offer any ideas.

Brett F. · 07-13-2009, 09:51 PM

I say that because i can unplug the antenna and get no noise at all.

When the Ex is powered off I get no noise.

Power is connected directly to the battery both Pos. and Neg.

That's why I think the mag mount is picking up radiated noise. With it being a cheap antenna I was thinking that is the reason for all the noise.

*CobraMountaineer* · 07-13-2009, 10:22 PM

Being a Motorola Tech, abd a ham radio operator, I guess I can chime in. A wilson antenna is a good antenna, but being attached to a radio that falls into Part 15 of the FCC rules, it must accept harmful interference, but not create it....yea right....
CB is a very good medium for comms. WHat Wilson antenna do you have? I would recommend nothing less than a Wilson 1000, properly tuned, it should work great. A line filter would be good to keep altenator noise out. Other than that, work on getting it figured out. 50,000uf - 75,000uf capacitor + at 16vdc should help eliminate some of the noise out if not all. I use a 1.5f cap for all my radio gear in my truck. Works well. You can get those at you local Wally world or Auto audio shop for less than $80. Have fun...

Spin

**rizzjc** · 07-13-2009, 11:08 PM

How did you route your antenna into the truck and to the radio? Where is the antenna located? Did you put the connector on yourself, or was it a pre-connectorized mag mount antenna? An antenna is going to pick stuff up, that's kinda what they do, but I don't see why you'd be picking up any more noise with this antenna than any other.

Brett F. · 07-14-2009, 10:13 AM

Hey Spin! I work for a company that calls Motorola support for barcode scanning equipment. You don't work in that side of Mot. do you?

I was thinking about a Wilson 1000 mag mount. I think I saw one at a local TA in their cb shop. That or a 4' full wave mounted to the rear bumper. (would rather not bolt on though)

Rizz, the radio is connected hard wired to both battery posts. The antenna runs behind front edge of the dash, the little lip at the bottom, from the ash tray area to the passenger side and then through the weather strip on the passenger door up to the center of the roof right in front of the luggage rack crosspiece.

It is a pre-connectorized mag mount antenna.

Thanks for all your help guys.

*CobraMountaineer* · 07-14-2009, 11:46 AM

Uh, no I work for a MSS here on the Eastern shore., and that little whip suks...

*BrianDye* · 07-14-2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brett F.

It is a pre-connectorized mag mount antenna.

is "Pre-Connectorized" even a word? LOL

Ive known a few people with that antenna, who picked up signals on the highway from like 50 miles...(trucks talking from ohio, thats how I knew)

Brett F. · 07-14-2009, 02:22 PM

LOL yeah i had to cut and paste Rizz's coin of phrase. But hey it is a great adjective.

**rizzjc** · 07-14-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brett F.

LOL yeah i had to cut and paste Rizz's coin of phrase. But hey it is a great adjective.

As apposed to "post-connectorized". As long as you got what I meant, the made up word served it's purpose.

Brett F. · 07-14-2009, 04:32 PM

I got it and fully understood what you meant.

**rizzjc** · 07-14-2009, 04:36 PM

I would actually try messing with the coax. Move it someplace else, away from the dash, and see if there is any change. I've heard of routing too close to the computer, and causing issues. Never experience that myself, but it's worth a try. Just temporarily move the coax, maybe feed it through the back door and up to the radio, and see what happens.

*CobraMountaineer* · 07-14-2009, 09:50 PM

I had an issue with my cruise in my old 93 X sport. I would key up about 50watts on my FT-8800 in VHF and the speed would reduce about 3 miles per hour, and un-key, and it would pick right back up... Weird....

Brett F. · 07-15-2009, 09:19 AM

Ok so I moved the coax to where it stretches from the cb to the rear passenger door and out to center of roof. It's better now but still with engine running or not I see this and hear static so i guess this is the norm. Busy I know shows there is signal coming in but the two bars show the power of the signal coming in, right? The 29 classic was better but it would not transmit at all. Even testing 20ft away with a buddy he could not hear me.

**rizzjc** · 07-15-2009, 01:45 PM

Can you turn the squelch down (up?) and clear it up? Not that it gets rid of the noise, but it keeps it from opening up. Also could try putting ferrite cores on your power line. It might just be a noisy alternator. I have a little whine in my radio, but it's not bad enough to fix yet.

Brett F. · 07-15-2009, 01:57 PM

yeah if i squelch it out I hear nothing. yeah i'm thinking it has to be alternator or something. Same sounding static (noise) on all channels so it is not channel specific.

NWmrTim · 07-15-2009, 02:06 PM

You might first consider sniffing out where the leak is coming from.

Here is a great article this guy made on sniffing out an RFI leak, and a choke he made himself for dirt cheap to fix the problem.

Oddly enough the leak was at the fuel pump.

http://97vette.com/sporttrac/rfi_fix/rfi_fix.html

He even tried a few different coils and fabrication techniques before finding one that filtered most of the noise out, and I believe he included part numbers from Radio Shack

As for antennas, I prefer Mag Mount antennas on the trail - tree branches knock them over, but ones bolted to the fender will bend fenders, etc... I had a 2 Meter Larsen antenna literally wrapped around the axle once - un wrapped it and threw it back on top of the rig. The SWR was not over 1.5:1 (but it used to have a 1:1 match so I knew I'd have to replace the coax) so we continued along - I say make sure you have the lowest SWR regardless of what brand or type of antenna

Good luck!

Brett F. · 07-15-2009, 02:14 PM

Thanks Tim. I had checked that out previously. My radio shack does not have what i need so I am going to have to order online. This is my all else fails last resort.

I still don't like online ordering.

07-13-2009, 05:19 PM	#1
Brett F. Wannabe Elite Explorer Upstate SC '93 4x4 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 280 Vehicle Specs	My freebie old 1978 cobra died. So I bought the little space saving 19 Ultra III. Still having noise issue but I am guessing it is due to the fact I am trying to use the cheap mag mount antenna from wal-mart. I didn't want a permanent mount and $20 readily at hand seemed to fit the wallet. Now I know that you get what you pay for and I am looking at a little wil. I am hoping the noise, which is radiated, will not be as bad with the wil. Can anyone testify the Little wil, will not have as much noise as the cheap crappy mag mount I have? I know I should perma mount something but..... __________________ Lovin' life here in the good ol' South. My stock '93 4x4 XLT is currently being driven by my 17 yr old daughter. My current daily driver is a 1996 XLT 4WD. Last edited by Brett F.; 07-13-2009 at 09:52 PM.

07-13-2009, 06:23 PM	#2
rizzjc Scubajoe - Radio Mod Garner, NC '97 AWD V8 XLT Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,817 Vehicle Specs	Why do you think it's the antenna? And why do you say it's radiated? Are you getting interference somewhere when you key up the radio? How do you have the power and ground routed for the radio? I've never had a mag mount cause any kind of interference, so I can't offer any ideas. __________________ *Joe, N1LVN* '97 XLT AWD V8 STOCK Amsoil Synthetics throughout. Amsoil Ea air filter. Bilsteins. Scanguage. Search ExplorerForum

07-13-2009, 09:51 PM	#3
Brett F. Wannabe Elite Explorer Upstate SC '93 4x4 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 280 Vehicle Specs	I say that because i can unplug the antenna and get no noise at all. When the Ex is powered off I get no noise. Power is connected directly to the battery both Pos. and Neg. That's why I think the mag mount is picking up radiated noise. With it being a cheap antenna I was thinking that is the reason for all the noise. __________________ Lovin' life here in the good ol' South. My stock '93 4x4 XLT is currently being driven by my 17 yr old daughter. My current daily driver is a 1996 XLT 4WD.

07-13-2009, 10:22 PM	#4
CobraMountaineer Gotta Love It... Salisbury, MD 1998 Merc Mountaineer Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 108 Vehicle Specs	Being a Motorola Tech, abd a ham radio operator, I guess I can chime in. A wilson antenna is a good antenna, but being attached to a radio that falls into Part 15 of the FCC rules, it must accept harmful interference, but not create it....yea right.... CB is a very good medium for comms. WHat Wilson antenna do you have? I would recommend nothing less than a Wilson 1000, properly tuned, it should work great. A line filter would be good to keep altenator noise out. Other than that, work on getting it figured out. 50,000uf - 75,000uf capacitor + at 16vdc should help eliminate some of the noise out if not all. I use a 1.5f cap for all my radio gear in my truck. Works well. You can get those at you local Wally world or Auto audio shop for less than $80. Have fun... Spin __________________ 1998 Mercury Mounty OBD1 303E Engine, BBK 70mm TB 3" Cat Back Flowmaster Stock Lift(for now) Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Vehicle MEMA RACES/ARES SKYWARN Spotter/Chaser

07-13-2009, 11:08 PM	#5
rizzjc Scubajoe - Radio Mod Garner, NC '97 AWD V8 XLT Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,817 Vehicle Specs	How did you route your antenna into the truck and to the radio? Where is the antenna located? Did you put the connector on yourself, or was it a pre-connectorized mag mount antenna? An antenna is going to pick stuff up, that's kinda what they do, but I don't see why you'd be picking up any more noise with this antenna than any other. __________________ *Joe, N1LVN* '97 XLT AWD V8 STOCK Amsoil Synthetics throughout. Amsoil Ea air filter. Bilsteins. Scanguage. Search ExplorerForum

07-14-2009, 10:13 AM	#6
Brett F. Wannabe Elite Explorer Upstate SC '93 4x4 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 280 Vehicle Specs	Hey Spin! I work for a company that calls Motorola support for barcode scanning equipment. You don't work in that side of Mot. do you? I was thinking about a Wilson 1000 mag mount. I think I saw one at a local TA in their cb shop. That or a 4' full wave mounted to the rear bumper. (would rather not bolt on though) Rizz, the radio is connected hard wired to both battery posts. The antenna runs behind front edge of the dash, the little lip at the bottom, from the ash tray area to the passenger side and then through the weather strip on the passenger door up to the center of the roof right in front of the luggage rack crosspiece. It is a pre-connectorized mag mount antenna. Thanks for all your help guys. __________________ Lovin' life here in the good ol' South. My stock '93 4x4 XLT is currently being driven by my 17 yr old daughter. My current daily driver is a 1996 XLT 4WD.

07-14-2009, 11:46 AM	#7
CobraMountaineer Gotta Love It... Salisbury, MD 1998 Merc Mountaineer Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 108 Vehicle Specs	Uh, no I work for a MSS here on the Eastern shore., and that little whip suks... __________________ 1998 Mercury Mounty OBD1 303E Engine, BBK 70mm TB 3" Cat Back Flowmaster Stock Lift(for now) Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Vehicle MEMA RACES/ARES SKYWARN Spotter/Chaser

07-14-2009, 02:22 PM	#9
Brett F. Wannabe Elite Explorer Upstate SC '93 4x4 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 280 Vehicle Specs	LOL yeah i had to cut and paste Rizz's coin of phrase. But hey it is a great adjective. __________________ Lovin' life here in the good ol' South. My stock '93 4x4 XLT is currently being driven by my 17 yr old daughter. My current daily driver is a 1996 XLT 4WD.

07-14-2009, 04:32 PM	#11
Brett F. Wannabe Elite Explorer Upstate SC '93 4x4 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 280 Vehicle Specs	I got it and fully understood what you meant. __________________ Lovin' life here in the good ol' South. My stock '93 4x4 XLT is currently being driven by my 17 yr old daughter. My current daily driver is a 1996 XLT 4WD.

07-14-2009, 04:36 PM	#12
rizzjc Scubajoe - Radio Mod Garner, NC '97 AWD V8 XLT Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,817 Vehicle Specs	I would actually try messing with the coax. Move it someplace else, away from the dash, and see if there is any change. I've heard of routing too close to the computer, and causing issues. Never experience that myself, but it's worth a try. Just temporarily move the coax, maybe feed it through the back door and up to the radio, and see what happens. __________________ *Joe, N1LVN* '97 XLT AWD V8 STOCK Amsoil Synthetics throughout. Amsoil Ea air filter. Bilsteins. Scanguage. Search ExplorerForum

07-14-2009, 09:50 PM	#13
CobraMountaineer Gotta Love It... Salisbury, MD 1998 Merc Mountaineer Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 108 Vehicle Specs	I had an issue with my cruise in my old 93 X sport. I would key up about 50watts on my FT-8800 in VHF and the speed would reduce about 3 miles per hour, and un-key, and it would pick right back up... Weird.... __________________ 1998 Mercury Mounty OBD1 303E Engine, BBK 70mm TB 3" Cat Back Flowmaster Stock Lift(for now) Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Vehicle MEMA RACES/ARES SKYWARN Spotter/Chaser

07-15-2009, 09:19 AM	#14
Brett F. Wannabe Elite Explorer Upstate SC '93 4x4 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 280 Vehicle Specs	Ok so I moved the coax to where it stretches from the cb to the rear passenger door and out to center of roof. It's better now but still with engine running or not I see this and hear static so i guess this is the norm. Busy I know shows there is signal coming in but the two bars show the power of the signal coming in, right? The 29 classic was better but it would not transmit at all. Even testing 20ft away with a buddy he could not hear me. __________________ Lovin' life here in the good ol' South. My stock '93 4x4 XLT is currently being driven by my 17 yr old daughter. My current daily driver is a 1996 XLT 4WD.

07-15-2009, 01:45 PM	#15
rizzjc Scubajoe - Radio Mod Garner, NC '97 AWD V8 XLT Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,817 Vehicle Specs	Can you turn the squelch down (up?) and clear it up? Not that it gets rid of the noise, but it keeps it from opening up. Also could try putting ferrite cores on your power line. It might just be a noisy alternator. I have a little whine in my radio, but it's not bad enough to fix yet. __________________ *Joe, N1LVN* '97 XLT AWD V8 STOCK Amsoil Synthetics throughout. Amsoil Ea air filter. Bilsteins. Scanguage. Search ExplorerForum

07-15-2009, 01:57 PM	#16
Brett F. Wannabe Elite Explorer Upstate SC '93 4x4 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 280 Vehicle Specs	yeah if i squelch it out I hear nothing. yeah i'm thinking it has to be alternator or something. Same sounding static (noise) on all channels so it is not channel specific. __________________ Lovin' life here in the good ol' South. My stock '93 4x4 XLT is currently being driven by my 17 yr old daughter. My current daily driver is a 1996 XLT 4WD.

07-15-2009, 02:06 PM	#17
NWmrTim Wannabe Elite Explorer Puget Sound area 1992 XLT Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 4 Vehicle Specs	You might first consider sniffing out where the leak is coming from. Here is a great article this guy made on sniffing out an RFI leak, and a choke he made himself for dirt cheap to fix the problem. Oddly enough the leak was at the fuel pump. http://97vette.com/sporttrac/rfi_fix/rfi_fix.html He even tried a few different coils and fabrication techniques before finding one that filtered most of the noise out, and I believe he included part numbers from Radio Shack As for antennas, I prefer Mag Mount antennas on the trail - tree branches knock them over, but ones bolted to the fender will bend fenders, etc... I had a 2 Meter Larsen antenna literally wrapped around the axle once - un wrapped it and threw it back on top of the rig. The SWR was not over 1.5:1 (but it used to have a 1:1 match so I knew I'd have to replace the coax) so we continued along - I say make sure you have the lowest SWR regardless of what brand or type of antenna Good luck!

07-15-2009, 02:14 PM	#18
Brett F. Wannabe Elite Explorer Upstate SC '93 4x4 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 280 Vehicle Specs	Thanks Tim. I had checked that out previously. My radio shack does not have what i need so I am going to have to order online. This is my all else fails last resort. I still don't like online ordering. __________________ Lovin' life here in the good ol' South. My stock '93 4x4 XLT is currently being driven by my 17 yr old daughter. My current daily driver is a 1996 XLT 4WD.