Stryker Cb question

[Shawnie671]

Hello. I’m new to this forum. I am a pilot car operator. I run a Stryker Cb and I have an overhead rooftop lightbar. My lightbar lights up when I’m talking on my Stryker. I have no interference with Cb from lightbar, just from Cb to lightbar. Hope that makes sense. Does anyone have any suggestions that might help me with stopping my lightbar from lighting up when I key up mic? I recently ordered some ferrite rings, haven’t received them yet so I don’t know if they will help or not. Thanks in advance.

 

[N5XPM]

How many watts does the CB have ?

 

[Shawnie671]

How many watts does the CB have ?

I’m guessing from the meter, it looks to be about 60 or so when I’m talking on it. I don’t know a lot about cbs but yet I’ve been running them for over 20 yrs for work. I appreciate any suggestions or help. Thank you.

 

[Shawnie671]

 

[slowmover]

Welcome, you found the right place.

Mag-mount antenna? That only increases chances as antenna needs a better bond to the other half of the antenna: your vehicle.

A center-roof permanent antenna mount will lower the cause. In the same manner, the light bar is more susceptible to RF if not better-mounted.

Distance between the two will matter.




You make a living as a pilot car driver, modify the vehicle correctly.

Police vehicles run higher radio wattage and more lights. But the installation details are procedure, and followed.


Contributor @mmckenna ought to be around to set things straight as this is his specialty.



As a truck driver I’d recommend a Stryker for its audio punch. Gets heard. Ideal for a pilot car.

If that’s a pre-2022 955, then DSP will be a fine addition to the radio. You’ll hear more, and hear it more clearly.

West Mountain CLR-SPKR - Review

.

 

[slowmover]

I’m guessing from the meter, it looks to be about 60 or so when I’m talking on it. I don’t know a lot about cbs but yet I’ve been running them for over 20 yrs for work. I appreciate any suggestions or help. Thank you.

Peak would be about 60-70, and average around 35-40.

 

[slowmover]

IMO, a SIRIO 5000 on the BREEDLOVE MOUNT shown would be the best possible antenna system start.

It’s great to maximize radio performance this way, and to have the best chance at hearing weak CB signals from many, many radio rigs you do not currently “hear”. Distant early warning. I wouldn’t be without it

With DSP — and an antenna like this —one will have the best ears around. The Stryker ensures good attention by others (audio quality versus wattage).

.

 

[slowmover]

I’m on a President Texas 1800 on a larger Breedlove mount atop my private vehicle. It might be a coin toss between the two antennas highlighted.

Base load antenna and 6.5-7.0’ whip tip height.

The farther out the truck drivers hear you, the better. Tall antenna helps that. DSP thrn ensures a good match with both TX & RX range. As a driver I know the cars and trucks will start getting stupid ahead of reaching an OVERSIZE in transit. Hearing such I start to amend my placement in overtaking traffic several miles back (before the obstruction can be seen).

Focus on what’s best for radio performance, first, and let lightbar problems be adjusted afterwards.

You “may” need a different lightbar type. What is current brand/model & number?


I would also re-think radio mount location:
Installation Notes
.

 

[mmckenna]

I’m guessing from the meter, it looks to be about 60 or so when I’m talking on it. I don’t know a lot about cbs but yet I’ve been running them for over 20 yrs for work. I appreciate any suggestions or help. Thank you.

Without being there, this is a guess:
I think the high RF levels are getting into the light bar wiring and messing with the controller.
Probably two possibilities:
1. Poor shielding on the light bar and/or light bar wiring.
2. Too much power out of the CB getting into the light bar and wiring.

A couple of things you can try:
1. Lower the power level on the CB. If you are doing pilot car stuff, you don't need 60 watts to talk to another vehicle in the escort. Try that and see if the issue resolves.
2. Move the CB antenna away from the light bar. Putting more space in between them will lower the amount of RF that's getting into the light bar.

Or, try both if neither works on its own.

The light bars used on public safety vehicles are designed to be run in this sort of environment. I have antennas running 100 watts VHF as well as 800MHz close to the light bars, and we don't have this issue.

Other possibility is that if it's a magnetic mount, like slowmover was saying, those can put a lot of stray RF on the coaxial shield, and that can find its way back down into the vehicle to the light bar controller.

It may be more complex than that, but those are the easy things to try. You may need to move the CB antenna, and lower the power to resolve it. If none of that works, you may need to consider a higher quality light bar with better shielding/design to prevent this.

I think the easy solution is to turn down the power on the CB, there are times when more power isn't better.

 

[Shawnie671]

Welcome, you found the right place.

Mag-mount antenna? That only increases chances as antenna needs a better bond to the other half of the antenna: your vehicle.

A center-roof permanent antenna mount will lower the cause. In the same manner, the light bar is more susceptible to RF if not better-mounted.

Distance between the two will matter.




You make a living as a pilot car driver, modify the vehicle correctly.

Police vehicles run higher radio wattage and more lights. But the installation details are procedure, and followed.


Contributor @mmckenna ought to be around to set things straight as this is his specialty.



As a truck driver I’d recommend a Stryker for its audio punch. Gets heard. Ideal for a pilot car.

If that’s a pre-2022 955, then DSP will be a fine addition to the radio. You’ll hear more, and hear it more clearly.

West Mountain CLR-SPKR - Review

.

Yes, I currently have a magnet antenna. Possibly I should look for a hood mount or some thing that will mount onto the back of my pick up truck on the bed somewhere. I have a striker 655. It’s about six years old but I’ve heard the new ones have changed. Thanks for the suggestions

 

[Shawnie671]

Without being there, this is a guess:
I think the high RF levels are getting into the light bar wiring and messing with the controller.
Probably two possibilities:
1. Poor shielding on the light bar and/or light bar wiring.
2. Too much power out of the CB getting into the light bar and wiring.

A couple of things you can try:
1. Lower the power level on the CB. If you are doing pilot car stuff, you don't need 60 watts to talk to another vehicle in the escort. Try that and see if the issue resolves.
2. Move the CB antenna away from the light bar. Putting more space in between them will lower the amount of RF that's getting into the light bar.

Or, try both if neither works on its own.

The light bars used on public safety vehicles are designed to be run in this sort of environment. I have antennas running 100 watts VHF as well as 800MHz close to the light bars, and we don't have this issue.

Other possibility is that if it's a magnetic mount, like slowmover was saying, those can put a lot of stray RF on the coaxial shield, and that can find its way back down into the vehicle to the light bar controller.

It may be more complex than that, but those are the easy things to try. You may need to move the CB antenna, and lower the power to resolve it. If none of that works, you may need to consider a higher quality light bar with better shielding/design to prevent this.

I think the easy solution is to turn down the power on the CB, there are times when more power isn't better.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely check each option here. There are times that I need to be as much as 2 miles in front of the load. I know that sounds like a lot but some stuff we move is 26 foot wide and or up to 18 feet tall. stuff that is several hundred thousand pounds needs plenty of stopping distance and caution for what is in front of it. Sometimes if their radios are not very good, I don’t always hear them but it is more important that they hear me out in the front in case there are any obstacles. This is why I try to have a higher powered radio. Many of you are well educated on the CB’s and this is why I came to you for help and suggestions. Just trying to explain my circumstances to give you a better idea of what I need and why I have it.

 

[mmckenna]

More power isn't always the right solution.
A good antenna and a stock 4 watt radio should get you 2 miles without any issues at all. If you need 60 watts to talk 2 miles, it really sounds like you have some major issues with your setup. Also, the RF power output of your radio doesn't do anything for receive. The radio needs to work in both directions. Replacing a proper antenna install with more transmitter power only solves half the issue. A better antenna set up will give you better performance on both transmit and receive.

Moving the antenna to the front fender will make performance worse. It puts the antenna off to one side of the vehicle, and that's going to make it directional away from the body. So, on the front left fender, most of your signal is going to go off to the left side of the truck.
Mounting it on the bed will have the same result. The ground plane (metal/conductive surface) under the antenna directly impacts performance. Top of the truck roof dead center is the best place for the antenna if you want the best performance you can get.

I'd really try lowering the power output and see if the false triggers of the light bar resolves.

I'd also do a permanent install of your antenna, if you haven't already. That will give the antenna a direct connection to the ground plane, and will take that stray RF off the coax.
If you rely on the radio for your job, you owe it to yourself to put as much effort into the antenna installation as you can. The antenna and its installation makes the most impact on performance. Doing the quick and easy mag mount is just cutting the capabilities.

 

[Shawnie671]

View attachment 136222

IMO, a SIRIO 5000 on the BREEDLOVE MOUNT shown would be the best possible antenna system start.

It’s great to maximize radio performance this way, and to have the best chance at hearing weak CB signals from many, many radio rigs you do not currently “hear”. Distant early warning. I wouldn’t be without it

With DSP — and an antenna like this —one will have the best ears around. The Stryker ensures good attention by others (audio quality versus wattage).

.

Do you think it is the antenna or the CB that interferes with my light bar?

 

[gary123]

Antenna. You are getting induced RF into the lightbar. Install some RF filters on the lightbar power lines that should eliminate it. Also try for as much physical distance between the lightbar and the antenna. Mag mounts are more prone to creating this issue but the steps above should fix it.

 

[mmckenna]

Do you think it is the antenna or the CB that interferes with my light bar?

You need to consider it as an entire system.
The power output of the radio radiated by the antenna (and maybe the coaxial cable) is likely getting into the light bar.

You need to reduce the amount of RF that is getting into the light bar. There are two ways to do that:
1. Lower the CB output power. This is an easy thing to do, just turn it down. See if the issue goes away. If it does, there's your answer.
2. Put more separation between the lightbar and the antenna. But then you may end up moving the antenna to a place that results in reduced performance (both transmit and receive)

Or, you may need to do a combination of both. The goal is to reduce the amount of energy from the CB/CB Antenna that is getting inside the lightbar.

The easy test you can do right now is turn down the RF power. That won't cost anything, it takes a few seconds, and it'll give us much more useful information on exactly what the cause is.

 

[Shawnie671]

View attachment 136223

I’m on a President Texas 1800 on a larger Breedlove mount atop my private vehicle. It might be a coin toss between the two antennas highlighted.

Base load antenna and 6.5-7.0’ whip tip height.

The farther out the truck drivers hear you, the better. Tall antenna helps that. DSP thrn ensures a good match with both TX & RX range. As a driver I know the cars and trucks will start getting stupid ahead of reaching an OVERSIZE in transit. Hearing such I start to amend my placement in overtaking traffic several miles back (before the obstruction can be seen).

Focus on what’s best for radio performance, first, and let lightbar problems be adjusted afterwards.

You “may” need a different lightbar type. What is current brand/model & number?


I would also re-think radio mount location:
Installation Notes
.

I am currently using a speed tech light. I have never had a problem with them in the past, but their upgraded models seem to have an issue with striker Seabees.

 

[Shawnie671]

Antenna. You are getting induced RF into the lightbar. Install some RF filters on the lightbar power lines that should eliminate it. Also try for as much physical distance between the lightbar and the antenna. Mag mounts are more prone to creating this issue but the steps above should fix it.

Normally people have problems with their cbs interfering with their lightbars. I am the opposite. My light bar interferes with my CB.lol

 

[slowmover]

With Skip the way it is . . two miles needs Export wattage. Midday it’s hell getting past those in the pay of Evil screwing up AM-19. 4W won’t reach a half-mile on the Interstate.

I agree with experimenting with power. But I strongly advise best antenna and antenna mount as in my posts above, first.

The lightbar can go on a stakehole mount far back on the bed if nothing else works.

After antenna install is to bond the vehicle parts for best results:

Bonding

.

 

[slowmover]

RF Bond examples: Hood at rear and both door hinges. Horizontal surfaces have precedence. Bed to cab. Cab & bed at four corners to frame. Exhaust system after cat converter. Etc.

• 

This will increase antenna system performance and should help cut stray RF.

.

 

[slowmover]

This type work to your pickup will reveal to you how bad are 95% of pickup truck CB radio systems.

Ol’ Granny Frobisher in a minivan pilot car with an Export and a hard-mount antenna can talk circles around them all with an install follows k0bg guidelines.

I’ve run across this many times with pickups that fade out almost immediately. Not a problem of radio and/or power, but of a poor antenna system.

Determination to have a top shelf radio system is an extremely satisfying experience on completion. Quiet power straight from battery and antenna stuff as above

Hear, and Get Heard.

This is an upgrade to your vehicle. Nice clear Stryker audio punch is the feature for which you paid extra. Put it to work, as it’s not currently getting out as it should.

That radio — with the right install — commands respect. Big trucks can’t compete with a pro level install on a pickup or van as they can’t mount the antenna in the center of the mass of metal.

Do it right and you won’t hear another radio as good for weeks at a time (save base stations using amateur gear).

Be sure to add DSP speaker or control module if the radio isn’t the V2 released last year (NRC circuit & amber lighting option).

Stryker SR-65 mic also recommended.

.