Cascadia Radio Pollution

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by 2tonic, Nov 19, 2012.

  1. 2tonic

    2tonic Bobtail Member

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    Nov 18, 2012
    NW Indiana
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    As one of my company's senior drivers I was selected to "guinea pig" an auto-trans version of a 2012 Cascadia. Quiet truck, nice ride, I'm 50/50 on the automatic, but the electronics....what a nightmare!!
    Everything in the truck is computer controlled and it screws with all the communications gear.

    No useful radio reception to speak of, and every gear change is announced through the radio with a series of beeps and squeals. When the engine is running the noise floor on the AM band is above the program level. Chicago stations that you can normally receive almost to St. Louis are gone before getting south of I-80. FM is not much better. The noise seems to be a combination of leakage onto the antennae leads and garbage on the supply voltage.
    The strangest part is the CB seems to work fine. I know there is a duplexer under the dash, and several threads on this forum talk of adjusting it for better SWR and CB performance, but no info on the AM/FM side of the equation.

    The factory antennae set-up is CB on the drivers side, AM/FM radio on the passenger side. I have replaced the coax lead on the passenger side and tried several different sticks on the radio. Reception improved slightly with a 5' Everheart 5/8ths wave pole, but its' still abysmal

    I'm open to any and all suggestions to correct this problem.
     
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  3. Mark Kling

    Mark Kling Technology Contributor

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    Statesville, NC
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    I would be looking for a ground issue. Make sure the external is grounded back to frame and the radio itself is grounded well.
     
  4. MsJamie

    MsJamie Road Train Member

    To be honest, it sounds like the stereo is what has the problem. Regardless, since it's a new truck, I'd have Freightliner fix the problem.

    FYI, bugs have antennae, radios have antennas. :biggrin_2558:
     
  5. Colorato

    Colorato Road Train Member

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    Feb 22, 2011
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    Mine does about the same thing but not as bad. Biggest thing I notice with the stereo is everytime I turn the headlights on there's a small whine in the bad ground as there coming on.

    I don't use any of the OEM CB wiring for power or the antenna.
     
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