Grounding the radio chassis won't do anything to solve common-mode RF in the coax. That has to be fixed at the antenna end.
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"CB Antenna Warning"
- Thread starter davidjacobs2012
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Grounding the radio chassis won't do anything to solve common-mode RF in the coax. That has to be fixed at the antenna end.
RFI-EMI-GUY
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Unless it is following the power leads into the radio chassis. If you will read my post, I suggested he ground the radio and the antenna.His radio is acting "wonky" which suggests RF current is getting into the chassis.
If this were his own personal vehicle, I would advise him to ditch the mag mount and go with an NMO, As it is he has both an insufficient ground plane, and ungrounded (RF) radio.
Grounding the chassis will only help if there is a high-resistance DC power connection. Providing an RF ground at the radio chassis won't fix common-mode RF coming from a crappy antenna. Best case is that it spreads the stray RF propagation to the metal around the radio, which may dilute it some.
The best solution is to prevent common-mode RF from propagating down the coax in the first place, in which case it won't matter if the radio chassis has an RF ground, because it won't have RF potential relative to the vehicle body in the first place. You're recommending putting a band-aid on a sucking chest wound.
The best solution is to prevent common-mode RF from propagating down the coax in the first place, in which case it won't matter if the radio chassis has an RF ground, because it won't have RF potential relative to the vehicle body in the first place. You're recommending putting a band-aid on a sucking chest wound.
RFI-EMI-GUY
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I think you mean "high RF impedence" DC power connection, which is likely if he is powering this magnet mounted antenna, velcro mounted, no holes allowed CB radio from the cigar lighter socket.
He has two choices, a proper install, or band aids. Apparently his employer won't permit the former.
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He has two choices, a proper install, or band aids. Apparently his employer won't permit the former.
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I honestly wish that they had purchased these new trucks with CB hookups but it is what it is. So I did a little bit more investigation. When I have the engine off I don't get the alert period but when I have the engine running that's when I have the alert. Does that narrow anything down? I do use a cigarette lighter port FYI
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RFI-EMI-GUY
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It only means that the alternator is producing higher voltage than the battery. As a result, more power from the radio , more stray or reflected energy messing with the VSWR sensor. Try grounding the radio and antenna and report back.
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So could you explain exactly how I ground the radio? In plain man terms? I've been using a CB for about 6 or 7 years both in a personal vehicle and a work vehicle but I've never had this issue before. I just need to know exactly which screw to mount a small wire two and then I'll also have to figure out what bolt I can use in the truck
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RFI-EMI-GUY
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Use one of the screws that attaches the cover to the chassis making sure there is bare metal. It helps to use ring lugs crimped to the wire to make the connection. Grounding the mag mount will require clamping a wire to some bare metal on the coaxial attachment.
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kf4eyr
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back years ago i used a big alligator clip on a wire to a screw that held the cover on and just looked under dash for a bare metal that was a good ground spot and clipped it on there,,,, you said it needed to be not permanent,,,,
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