When I touch my CB cord, my static goes away

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by NYSuperTrucker, Jun 17, 2020.

  1. NYSuperTrucker

    NYSuperTrucker Light Load Member

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    I know, horrible title...but something that I've noticed. I have a Galaxy 959B that was altered/boosted, etc, bought it from Skywalker Radios on eBay...Guys that have worked on my radios have both said it was a good job, and a not so good job...but ultimately, its loud and proud and works great according to my specifications/needs.

    Now...on to the issue...I have this radio in my pickup when I'm not trucking, and I throw it in the Freightliner Coronado when I drive part-time. Everything is the same in both vehicles with the exception of the antenna. Wilson 5000 magnet mount on the pickup, Wilson 2000 on mounted on the back of the cab bar on the Coronado.

    When it is in the pickup, business as usual, nothing out of the ordinary. When I have the radio in the semi, which I mount on the dash, I've noticed, my static/squelch noise is at, lets say volume level 9 when the squelch is off allowing me to hear everything. When I touch the mic cord, the volume/static goes waaaaay down to like level 3 (I have the mic hanging next to my head about 6" away with a tiny bungee clipped to the roof liner plastic.)

    My main question, do I have any issue, with say power cord, or engine feedback, etc, that could ultimately damage the radio?
     
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  3. Night Stalker10

    Night Stalker10 Road Train Member

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    Sounds like a ground issue. I wouldn't talk on it until you check things out.
     
  4. bad-luck

    bad-luck Road Train Member

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    You have the magic touch...... lol. You probably just have a ground issue, when you touch it you are creating the ground
     
  5. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    Some guys have had problems with getting a good ground in some trucks. ‘80’s Freightliners were hard to get good ground on mirror mounts through the hinges. They put a teflon coating or something on the piano hinge wire that caused ground issues. Years ago a radio savvy friend recommended running a separate wire from the antennae mount into the cab and mount it directly to the place the radio power is grounded to or directly to the back of the radio if it is permanent mount. Worked like a charm.
     
  6. NYSuperTrucker

    NYSuperTrucker Light Load Member

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    Dec 22, 2010
    Twin Cities MN
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    Could you elaborate on what I might do to fix the ground issue? Like I mentioned, the Wilson 2000 is mounted on the back of the cab bar that the pigtail and brake lines hang from...and I just plug power into a 12v port.
     
  7. Meteorgray

    Meteorgray Heavy Load Member

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    I would try a wire with two alligator clips: one biting on the radio's casing, and the other biting on a ground to the chassis inside the cabin somewhere.
     
  8. bad-luck

    bad-luck Road Train Member

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    I hope this suggestion isn't a permanent fix? Otherwise I have some duct tape I will sell you.... lol
     
  9. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    What @Meteorgray said. Do this to test and see if issue disappears. The radio may not be grounding through the mount if it is screwed to plastic dash. I had a temp radio I used during times I was running a rental truck. I had velcroed the radio to top of dash and did this for its ground. If it fixes issue than you can make a more permenant wire for ground. To keep it so you can remove the radio when you park the truck Maybe run wire from the screw that holds radio to the metal mount and run it to a good permanent ground on chassis in dash.
     
  10. NYSuperTrucker

    NYSuperTrucker Light Load Member

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    Twin Cities MN
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    Thanks guys, I'll try all that
     
  11. 202

    202 Bobtail Member

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    It could be a great title for a country-western song....:D
     
    NYSuperTrucker Thanks this.
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