XTL5000 Frequency-specific Interference

[onsceno]

Good evening, all!

Something troublesome issue I've encountered with my XTL5000 (and Minitor VI) ONLY when my vehicle (if it matters... a 2014 Ford Escape) is running...

When monitoring 155.1375 on the pager and open/no PL, I receive, what I would describe as a "harmonic" (hopefully I'm describing it correctly) type interference with an only real difference in strength when the RPMs increase/decrease but the interference remains present.

I preface with that because the XTL5000 monitors the same frequency WITH a PL and the interference is so strong most times, that a county-based fully simulcast system signal - with phenomenal coverage - cannot even break PL and is "not heard" by the mobile radio while on or off scan. With the amount of VHF I've got loaded in that radio, this is the ONLY frequency I encounter any issue with.

Any ideas on how to go about remedying this?? Or at least begin a trouble shooting process?

 

[mmckenna]

Ignition noise or alternator noise.

Alternator noise would more than likely only come through the power feed to the XTL. That can sometimes be an indication of the alternator starting to go. Or, it could be where the power feed for the radio is connected.
You could take a digital multimeter and hook it up to the power feed to the radio. Set it to AC volts (yes, alternating current) and see what it shows. It should be zero, or maybe a few millivolts. Anything much higher than that may indicate your alternator is failing.

But that would not necessarily cause issues to the pager if it is just sitting in the car. That may be an indication of ignition noise. Might be a plug or coil on plug module starting to go bad. To fix that, you'll need to find the offending unit and replace it.

Also, make sure you don't have any of the cigarette lighter to USB chargers plugged in, some of those can spew crap out all over the bands.

 

[onsceno]

Ignition noise or alternator noise.

Alternator noise would more than likely only come through the power feed to the XTL. That can sometimes be an indication of the alternator starting to go. Or, it could be where the power feed for the radio is connected.
You could take a digital multimeter and hook it up to the power feed to the radio. Set it to AC volts (yes, alternating current) and see what it shows. It should be zero, or maybe a few millivolts. Anything much higher than that may indicate your alternator is failing.

But that would not necessarily cause issues to the pager if it is just sitting in the car. That may be an indication of ignition noise. Might be a plug or coil on plug module starting to go bad. To fix that, you'll need to find the offending unit and replace it.

Also, make sure you don't have any of the cigarette lighter to USB chargers plugged in, some of those can spew crap out all over the bands.

Certainly a few places to start - thank you!