This issue can be various issues or even a non-issue. If it is consistent you can check a few possibilities to see if it is a real issue:
- Could be a loose connection in the coax or antenna.
- Check all connections make sure they are tight
- Inspect the entire length of coax make sure there are no cuts, dings or chaffs in the cable
- Inspect your zip-ties or fasteners to make sure they are not too tight and flattening the wire
- Could be an antenna grounding issue
- Correct by attaching a ring terminal grounding wire to the base of the antenna then the other end to a good ground on the vehicle
- Could be a vehicle computer or some other electronic putting out a high noise or an electronic pulse somewhere in the vehicle like a fuel pump, stator, drive by wire throttle body, capacitor, etc. These all have the capability of omitting RF energy that can interfere with your radio system. Although very difficult to identify, isolate and screen you can run a few test to help figure out if this is a possibility. Think safety first before running these test!
- Find a long hill that you can safely stop at the bottom and coast down the hill with the engine off while trying to transmit or receive and see if the noise persists while in motion. If it doesn’t then you know you have RF noise is being introduced into the system by the Vehicle.
- You may need to take it one step further and connect the COM to a separate battery all by itself then coast down the hill running the same test then you know that it is completely isolated from any influence on the vehicle.
- To solve these issues, you may need to re-rout the coax or relocate the antenna to a new location or replace the coax cable.
- If You still have interference it may be Rayleigh fading or wheel static
- Rayleigh fading – is the name given to the form of fading that is often experienced in an environment where there is a large number of reflections present. Also known as ‘picket fencing’ – caused by re-radiation of the signal from objects near the receiver – you receive the signal from two or more paths – the path length changes as you drive along – the signals arrive in phase and get stronger or out of phase and cancel.
- Wheel static – wheels and disc brakes are not grounded to the vehicle because of the wheel bearings break the ground connection. Rotating wheels can cause a static build-up which makes the interference.
- Sometimes static is part of radio waves just like when you get too far from a radio station go under high powered power lines or drive through a tunnel you will get static or fading. But if it is consistent and you have tried these tests and still have issues please call us we are hear to help and we want you to have a good experience. We are dedicated to get you up and going.
Sincerely,
TheCOM Family