OK, that's VERY strange...I got errors both times I tried to submit the above post from my crackberry...and yet they posted???

I'm thinking I need to ground the radio chassis?? Thoughts?

Do it. Get a short (10-12 inch) piece of wire with an alligator clip on each end. Clip one end to the radio and the other end to a good ground. If there's a significant reduction in the noise level, you're moving in the right direction.

By the way, don't leave that wire there. Replace it with something more permanent and professional if the results indicate there's an improvement.

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No trees were harmed in the sending of this post; however, many electrons were inconvenienced.

73 de K7KBN

Here's a thought...

If the chassis ground isn't good enough wouldnt that indicated the radio isn't grounded as well as it should be?

Here's my logic on this...

The electrical DC ground for the radio is the chassis of the radio which is then linked to your vehicles ground through the power adapter to the cigarette lighter, battery, fuse box, or where ever you have decided to connect your radio.

So if pushing on the case stops the noise and is making you think you have a bad ground then maybe you should be looking inside the case at the power adapter and other places where the board grounds are connected.

If all those are good then start tracing it down the power line and also down the antenna coax.


To me a jumper wire is just a band aide. A quick fix to a bad ground.

A multimeter on continuity will be you most valuable tool on this job.

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MoJo
www.mojoenterprises.us

I hate to jump on anothers post but I have a similar problem. I have tried every ground I can to take the noise out of my radio. Nothing seems to work. Tonight after reading this post, I unhooked the coax from my radio and the noise went away. Would this lead you to believe that the problem is in my coax or antenna? My SWR is great, always has been. Almost does not even move the gauge. Any thoughts?

What type of antenna?

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MoJo
www.mojoenterprises.us

There is essentially no chassis ground in my setup, the mounting bracket is completely isolated on a plastic center console...there are essentially two electrical grounds, one through the power leads and the other through the coax shield braid. That's why I think I need to run a separate ground to the chassis/bracket of the radio.

I don't need to press or really even touch the radio...just gently laying a finger on it will cause the noise to decrease. At first I thought it was static...because the level decreases the closer you get to the radio...touch it and it all but goes away goes away. Just by touching the chrome-plated plastic knobs, the signal changes...which makes setting the RF gain a challenge to say the least...

I still think this is an RF ground issue and not a DC ground issue...by "grounding" the case, I essentially shield the internals of the radio from RF by providing a pathway from the radio...if that makes sense?

Are we talking normal electrical wire or braided strap...I guess I'm asking if you believe its a DC or an RF issue?

May just be the nature of the beast...if you have errant RF entering the antenna, you either live with it or kill the source of the RF...

I meant the chassis of the radio not of your vehicle.

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MoJo
www.mojoenterprises.us