Wiring a radio or an AMP

What does this have to do with the OP question?

 

OK Everyone stand back and keep your hands where I can see them! It's CB no one cares about 1.5 db s-unit blah blah blah. Seriously 99% of your RF problem can be solved by ( drum Roll) GROUNDING! Ground straps from every panel (Metal) to the frame and also a ground strap from the exhaust to the frame. I am not talking one or two, this will take you some time to do it right and you will see all the error lights disappear. Bond the door panels to the cab and cab to the frame on both sides etc etc etc. You have two types of ground, DC ground and RF ground, you need to improve your RF ground which deals with resistance's and impedance way more than what this conversation calls for. Try a little grounding at a time and be sure to use good quality ground straps. In a pinch you can use the outer braid shield of coax cable but remember over time as dirt gets between the weaving resistance increases and becomes less effective causing small RF gremlins to start showing up in the form of error lights or RF interference in stereos again.

What folks fail to realize is that you have to create a mirror image of the antenna on a Ground plane, I am sure some of you have heard that term b4. There are certain impedance's involved and you set up your antenna system in an asphalt parking lot, your tuning will change when you are parked in a concrete or dirt parking lot. Ever wonder why your cb works great most of the time and then other places just does not work nearly as good? With regular low power CB's that usually not that big of an issue, but when you get up over several hundred watts keep an eye on that. And now you know the rest of the story.

http://rooster903.com

 

Thank you, Rooster. Even though amp is grounded to frame, I will do some additional grounding. thanks again. Not overly concerned about the error lights but if it will clean up my system that would probably be a good thing. At the same time, going full power, there will always be some carry over interference. Thanks again. Prince Albert

 

Albert, I have ran several Kilowatt mobile b4 and its about grounding, clean signal (Not Over driving finals to saturation and splattering) and grounding, antenna tuning and oh did I mention grounding. Let me know how it works for you. Still waiting on someone to ask me why you should ground the exhaust system . Good luck and let me know how it works for you.

http://rooster903.com

 

lol. I wasn't EVEN going to ask! The stack on my Kenworth is mounted to the frame so I assumed you were referring to a car or pickup that may have rubber mounting straps. But come on...clue me in. I don't have anything like a kilowat but does do an honest 550 to 600. It is a real talker on the highway and sip every day on 28. I am a respectful operator and do not use the power for ill purposes. If I could make it a little cleaner, I am. Thank you for the useful information. I was about to give up on this site.

 

Hahaha, maybe I will hear you on 28 one of these days. You were close, with rubber hangers or suspended exhaust systems the exhaust in some cases is the electrical length of 27 to 21 mhz antenna and can absorb your signal putting it directly into the chassis and engine ground causing RF interference. With additional grounding you may hear some improvement in your receive eliminating some injector noise. Good luck and let me know how it goes for you.

 

Go here and learn

http://www.k0bg.com/

 

I forgot all about that site, awesome information on mobile station setup. Some of it is overkill for 11 meters but still good to know.

 

Ridgeline beat me to it. There is more great info on that site than we can use on 11 meters. BUT, if you follow his insturctions, you will see a difference in performance, "white noise" and other improvements. I followed most everything on that web site that I could do. Currently am running a little over 1K in a newer Chevy truck and have been for over a year with Zero problems with the truck's computer. The best complment that you can get running a mobile is at the end of the conversation, they are shocked to hear you are mobile and not a base

 

Makes them big base stations cry.