I have a 2002 f-250 PU, inside I have a SuperStar radio with Texas Star DX-400 amp. Antenna is a 5ft Cobra FG whip, mounted on an aluminum box corner mount in the front right side of box. I get "some" blower noise, but that is not too bad if I run it on med or low. There is a constant "fry" with engine running,,,,, I was told once that Fords have noisy fuel pumps,, I suppose there is some "noise" on any installation, I moved antenna from front left of box to front right, no change, any ideas on how to trouble shoot "noise" ? Does relocating radio/antenna/coax-route have any effect ? I was told that most of the available "noise suppressors" are worthless.
Big wire [ #6 Str. ] from battery to radio/amp, radio mount tapped to big ground wire. #10 ground wire from antenna mount to frame, ground strap from frame to muffler/tailpipe. Not sure if I went from battery to frame,, can't remember, maybe just Ford straps there ????
Ford F-250 noise
-
Phaze91460
Would not hurt to run a good ground from the battery to the radio and keep the other grounds you have now as well.
Try some other motors, wiper, window, etc and see if you still get the noise. Yes, Ford did have some "noisy" motors but I have heard people using noise supressors that work. I dont remember on the model but early / mid 90s ford pickups used 2 fuel pumps, one low pressure in tank and one high pressure on the frame rails.
Try some other motors, wiper, window, etc and see if you still get the noise. Yes, Ford did have some "noisy" motors but I have heard people using noise supressors that work. I dont remember on the model but early / mid 90s ford pickups used 2 fuel pumps, one low pressure in tank and one high pressure on the frame rails.
-
PtownBubba
-
231
Maybe the RFI isn't coming in through the antenna at all? Is it still there without the antenna attached? If so, it's the power supply. If that is the case and the radio itself doesn't swing more than say 20 watts, I'd run a piece of RG8U for an isolated radio power supply myself. Use the center lead for hot (+) and shielding for ground (-) both directly from the battery. Any unwanted RFI trying to find ground through your radio will be taken directly the batterie's ground.
Some Chrysler products have the same issue of a noisy fuel pump...but most of the guys that have problems have their antenna mounted in line of site of the fuel pump/tank.
Just some thoughts that come to my mind.
Some Chrysler products have the same issue of a noisy fuel pump...but most of the guys that have problems have their antenna mounted in line of site of the fuel pump/tank.
Just some thoughts that come to my mind.
-
SmallTruckBigRadio
That's a neat idea 231.
Hello PtownBubba,
If your radio has a NB / ANL switch, make sure they are on.
If the noise disappears with the antenna coax disconnected from the radio, that usually indicates that the noise is coming through the antenna.
Have you experimented with lifting the ground between your antenna mount and frame? There is a chance that might help. Generally more grounding is better, but if it gives a path for noise, maybe not.
Are you using high quality Mini 8 coax? Poor shielding on coax might be a problem. Does you coax run near any of the power feeds for the noise producing devices?
Do your power cables run close to the fan motor, or other noise causing devices? The whirring magnetic field of the motors may insert noise into your radio power cables or coax.
If the power wires or coax must pass near other wiring, avoiding parallel runs is a good idea. The parallel runs give a better chance for noise. Crossing wires perpendicular should minimize magnetic crossover. Increasing distance is better than perpendicular.
If the noise is still present with the coax disconnected, it's coming through the power line.
For power noise, I've heard good stuff about the Magnum 12 volt in line power cord filters. Make sure you get the one with the right connector for your radio.
P03-01095 PLF-10M Power Cord w/Filter $ 19.99
[Please login or register to view this link]+
I hate referencing the company above, because they have treated me badly in the past, but its a good product, with a picture. Use the picture for free, and find someone else to buy it from. It will probably not help with noise coming from the antenna.
If the noise is present with the ignition on, but the engine not running, that rules out the spark plug wires. I think the fuel pump does run with the ignition in that position, so you can check it, at that time.
For noise that is coming from fuel pumps and fan motors, there are some ways to install filters. I don't have much information on them at my fingertips, but if that's the case, Post again for filter information on that subject.
One filter method involves using a little donut shaped ferrite coil, that you have to loop the motor wiring through.
I think there is another one made by a company for marine use for radio noise issues.
So, with these, you would be searching for wiring to the fuel pumps and fan motors to install them.
Good luck! :Peace!:
Hello PtownBubba,
If your radio has a NB / ANL switch, make sure they are on.
If the noise disappears with the antenna coax disconnected from the radio, that usually indicates that the noise is coming through the antenna.
Have you experimented with lifting the ground between your antenna mount and frame? There is a chance that might help. Generally more grounding is better, but if it gives a path for noise, maybe not.
Are you using high quality Mini 8 coax? Poor shielding on coax might be a problem. Does you coax run near any of the power feeds for the noise producing devices?
Do your power cables run close to the fan motor, or other noise causing devices? The whirring magnetic field of the motors may insert noise into your radio power cables or coax.
If the power wires or coax must pass near other wiring, avoiding parallel runs is a good idea. The parallel runs give a better chance for noise. Crossing wires perpendicular should minimize magnetic crossover. Increasing distance is better than perpendicular.
If the noise is still present with the coax disconnected, it's coming through the power line.
For power noise, I've heard good stuff about the Magnum 12 volt in line power cord filters. Make sure you get the one with the right connector for your radio.
P03-01095 PLF-10M Power Cord w/Filter $ 19.99
[Please login or register to view this link]+
I hate referencing the company above, because they have treated me badly in the past, but its a good product, with a picture. Use the picture for free, and find someone else to buy it from. It will probably not help with noise coming from the antenna.
If the noise is present with the ignition on, but the engine not running, that rules out the spark plug wires. I think the fuel pump does run with the ignition in that position, so you can check it, at that time.
For noise that is coming from fuel pumps and fan motors, there are some ways to install filters. I don't have much information on them at my fingertips, but if that's the case, Post again for filter information on that subject.
One filter method involves using a little donut shaped ferrite coil, that you have to loop the motor wiring through.
I think there is another one made by a company for marine use for radio noise issues.
So, with these, you would be searching for wiring to the fuel pumps and fan motors to install them.
Good luck! :Peace!:
-
Big Guns
Ford F-250 noise
Make sure your coax and power wires are not running next to each other and run a braided ground strap from the frame to some point on the body.
-
stickman
PTOWNBUBBA
IF YOU STILL HAVE THE NOISE PROBLEM AFTER TRYING THE ABOVE SUGGESTIONS, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SO I RAN MY GROUND TO THE SEAT POST AND BAM THE NOISE WAS GONE!!! I HAD MY NEG RUNNING TO THE BATTERY GOT ALL KINDS OF ENGINE NOISE SO I MADE THE NEG WIRE AS SHORT AS I COULD AND LIKE I SAID IT WAS ALL BUT GONE!!! JUST MY 5 CENT THOUGH!! GOOD LUCK WITH THE NOISE PROBLEM I HOPE ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS HELP!!
STICKMAN
-
BigBopper
Here's what a web site said on Wilson 1000 antennas and fuel pump noise
The other stroke of genius was hiring Lockheed test laboratory to do a comparison test between the Wilson 1000 and the K40. The tests proved the Wilson claim clearly by pointing out a 58% power gain on channel 40. One area it didn't address was the noise factor. If they did, Wilson would have become the #1 antenna much sooner. The antenna coil design reduces noise generated outside the 10 & 11 Meter bands. It even reduces or eliminates fuel pump noise in most cases.
-
SmallTruckBigRadio
