2020 Charger GT Plus - Possible RFI Issues

[ke6gcv]

I'm to hopefully be able to take delivery of my new Dodge Charger GT Plus soon. (So long, Malibu! May you be able to make a lot of lemonade!) With that, I do fully intend to install my radios.

Trunk lip mounts for starters before I punch the holes. (Yeah... Yeah... I know... just drill the hole! But for reasons I don't want to get into at the moment, lip mounts will have to suffice.)

Anyway, I've been advised that the new Chargers don't like two-way radios all that much. (Apparently this person works on Dodge products a lot!) To paraphrase, they mentioned something to the effect of RFI getting into the computer and creating havoc. Again, this is what I was told. Take it for what it's worth. Has anyone experienced this with their personal or fleet Charger?

I can understand that if the install wasn't properly done, there can be RFI. For example: Using the wrong locations for power. Using an inferior coax cable and/or improperly installed PL-259. Using unshielded Cat5 cable for remote mounts (if your radio can support it). Things like that makes perfect sense to me that there'd be RFI.

When I had my 2010 Charger, I mounted everything in the trunk. That was far enough away from the computer as I was going to get! (Short of not installing radios at all! Hi-Hi!) I would think that if I repeat that style of install, there would be almost no RFI. If any at all! Wouldn't you?

I used to professionally install two-way radios, so I do know a thing or two. Granted that was some twenty-plus years ago now and technology has changed considerably since, but still. I only mention this to spark conversation into what your thoughts are. Your experience. Please let me know! Thank you!

 

[tweiss3]

Well, Ohio State Highway Patrol uses the chargers, so it can't be that bad with everything trunk mounted.

That being said, every Ram truck, Jeep and Charger I pass, or passes me on the highway just blurts out RFI interference.

 

[mrweather]

I have a 2018 R/T and haven't noticed any RFI at all. My radio drawers are mounted in the trunk with permanent NMO antennas on the trunklid and roof.

Maybe the V6 is noisier?

 

[12dbsinad]

What band(s) are you running? The lower in frequency the worse

 

[nosoup4u]

I have a 2019 Challenger GT which has the same V6. I currently have a Connect Systems CS800D mounted in the trunk with no issues, I have also in the past had installed at different times an SDS200, BCD536 and TRX2 installed, none of which ever had an issue like what you described.

 

[ke6gcv]

What band(s) are you running? The lower in frequency the worse

Not running anything at the moment. I don't have the car in my possession... yet! The service center is still working on some technical issues. But that is another story for another day.

To answer your question differently, however, I do intent to install two dual bands. A Kenwood TM-V71A and a CS800D.

 

[ke6gcv]

Well, Ohio State Highway Patrol uses the chargers, so it can't be that bad with everything trunk mounted.

CHP is the same way - Low-band, VHF, UHF, 700/800. So, I would think there wouldn't be any RFI. But then again, for LEOs, they're the pursuit packages. Not consumer class.

 

[ke6gcv]

I have a 2018 R/T and haven't noticed any RFI at all. My radio drawers are mounted in the trunk with permanent NMO antennas on the trunklid and roof.

Maybe the V6 is noisier?

I have a 2019 Challenger GT which has the same V6. I currently have a Connect Systems CS800D mounted in the trunk with no issues, I have also in the past had installed at different times an SDS200, BCD536 and TRX2 installed, none of which ever had an issue like what you described.

That's my same thought! No issues with RFI! My 2010 SXT was a V6. I had some idle noise getting in my old Yaesu FT-8800 when I'd hit a certain RPM, but that was because the radio was showing its age. I swapped out for the Kenwood and CS800D. Was quiet for the duration that they were installed.

So, I'm inclined to think that he's not sure what he's talking about. For the record, I do intend to use PulseLarsen's NMOKUD coax (I believe that's the double-shielded one) and shielded Cat5 for the control heads. And since I already know that battery is in the trunk, there will be no issue pulling power.

Interesting indeed...

Thank you, everyone, for your thoughts! I do appreciate it!

 

[W0JJK]

In the past, the older Hemi's had spark plug wires that were about 19 inches long. They would have RFI in the VHF band. This was in Chargers and Ram trucks. They have since switched to coil on plugs for both sparks plugs on each cylinder and this is fixed this issue.

 

[ke6gcv]

In the past, the older Hemi's had spark plug wires that were about 19 inches long. They would have RFI in the VHF band. This was in Chargers and Ram trucks. They have since switched to coil on plugs for both sparks plugs on each cylinder and this is fixed this issue.

That does make a lot of sense! My Charger is only the 3.6L V6 VVT engine.

I was leaning on the side of RFI not being an issue, but never know anymore. Especially with today's vehicles. One little bump of interference and the whole vehicle shuts down on you. That'd be all bad!

Thank you, everyone, for your response! It's greatly appreciated!

 

[kb7gjy]

It is my understanding that the pursuits have extra RFI protection, better grounding, and the additional power points.

I have not noted any RFI issues on my 2014 pursuit V8.

 

[hill]

See the linked article below from Virginia about the VSP testing Chargers and finding interference to their VHF TRS.

State police transitioning to all SUV patrol fleet after sedans the agency used since 2012 were discontinued

The familiar silver-gray-and-blue police sedans driven by state troopers on Virginia’s roads are being phased out, perhaps for good, as the department transitions its fleet to Ford Interceptor SUVs as

richmond.com

 

[ke6gcv]

See the linked article below from Virginia about the VSP testing Chargers and finding interference to their VHF TRS.

State police transitioning to all SUV patrol fleet after sedans the agency used since 2012 were discontinued

The familiar silver-gray-and-blue police sedans driven by state troopers on Virginia’s roads are being phased out, perhaps for good, as the department transitions its fleet to Ford Interceptor SUVs as

richmond.com

Good article! Thank you for sharing!

This just helps me to confirm my suspicions. My car should not get any RFI from my radios. I will have to do some testing to be sure. I don't want to give the auto service center any ammo should it shut down on me during testing.

 

[cbehr91]

I also had RFI issues with my 2014 Charger on VHF, but I wasn't using an overly selective receiver.