Clean VHF/CB radio installs

I'm glad you said that, that was my first thought too. I tried that and nothing. It's currently plugged into the console 12V cigarette lighter. I didn't want to do the whole hard-wiring thing because I liked my stealth plug-in solution better.

 

Interesting. It sounds like a circuit is interfering in some amount -- either how the antenna is routed is close to a 12v line, or the 12v to the device is dirty in some way.

I guess I'd have to take a look and see what other things are linked to the door opening -- I just assumed it was the overhead lights and nothing else.

 

OH! I have a thought....I wonder if it's the bed lights. They are in the kick panel together. I shall go test it post haste.

EDIT: That wasn't it. So more detail: It goes into RX (receiving) mode about 2-3 seconds after the door opens.
I'm emailing Midland

 

If the power port is supplied by a relay the coil might introduce noise. Hard wire the port, keep the stealth and lose the noise.

 

Or try another power source to pinpoint the noise for now. Either another vehicle, or one of those portable batteries like

YABER Jump Starter, Car Battery Jump Starter Pack 1000A 13800mAh for 6.0L Gas/5.0L Diesel, IP68 Waterproof Portable 12V Auto Battery Jumper with USB Ports and Smart Jumper Cable

this one

 

Do you have LED bulbs for your interior lights?

If it's going into RX it sounds like your antenna might be grabbing something more than the power supply, but I am also reallllly not qualified to give a full diagnosis. What's your antenna setup?

Try to push in the door switch with the door still open and see what happens:



When you open the door a few circuits go active.

 

FIGURED IT OUT! I feel dumb for not testing this an hour ago. It's the MESO Puddle Lights! I had them on Auto and since it's day time I didn't think of it. So when I open the door, they turn on in conjunction with the domes. I turned them off and the RX turned off. I could repeat it On/Auto with puddle lights produced the RX on and off turned it off. So they go on and off together. But that's so weird because the wires don't touch at all. The Puddle lights go through the door, the hinge boot and up into the A-pillar for power and the switch is in the left panel. The antenna coax goes through the door sill and up under the carpet below the kick panel and through the firewall. I'm so confused!

What is this sorcery!?!?

The antenna is on the passenger side cowl* (edit) which is kind of close the side mirror. I can test its location.

 

How the the puddle lights mounted? Are they mounted to the hood or to the cowl?

If the hood, try a braided grounding strap from the hood to the body.

 

Nice work. Is that an Icom 3730A? It looks like, but I'm not 100% sure and too lazy to go out to my truck.

Did you just use the Icom remote head bracket or something else?

 

Well I fixed it. It was on the cowl. I moved it to the hood and it stopped doing it all together. Which is good because when I get home from this trip I'm going to install my ditch lights and put an extension bracket on that and moved it off the body. Hopefully that doesn't cause a new issue. But since I'm like the only person on the internet to describe this problem, I'm sure it'll be fine.

How bizarre.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

 

I'm not familiar with the President Bill or the cubby on the 3rd gen so can't help there. I haven't been around CB's for probably 30 years but NMO mounts as far as I know are mainly Ham or GMRS mounts but I guess there could be a CB antenna that uses them. The adapter could be just the key you are looking for.

 

Thank god you got it because I am not proud to say how much time I have thought about this since I posted earlier. Things like that intrigue me and completely occupy my brain power

 

Dude, me too. I've been running out to the driveway nonstop. I was in the middle of a staff meeting responding to you all like "shit, what's going on?" and they were like "So what are you working on this week" and it took a lot of brain power not to respond with "fixing my truck"

 

How’s this for stealth power ports? Made this for the drivers footwell for dash cam and external GPS receiver.

 

Wait, so you moved the ground to the hood? Just curious because I'll have the puddle pods, switch, and same GMRS radio.

pinging @MESO for an FYI

 

IC-2730A. I used the magnetic bracket and bought my own screws cause I need to modify them. Whats funny is that I was looking for a spot to mount it....... I happen to open the sunglass holder and place the unit there, sometimes it's meant to be.

 

That's what I meant. Long day of driving from Charlotte to Winchester, VA.

I ended up using a DSM and Short and Stubby mount which works out well. Pictures are up somewhere in this thread. I have the magnetic mount, but one of the little magnets snapped in half. At this point, I'm not going to re do the mount, but that is slick.

 

Thanks! Yea I figured you meant the 2730. The hardest part of this install was leaving enough slack in the head unit line when it was in the down position and to keep it from pinching when I put it up. Worked out well.

 

Clearances are always tricky on smaller vehicles. Does the hood clear the fuse box, is there enough slack where the antennas is mounted, will moving the seat cut a wire or crush the radio, will the frigging dash snap back into place properly, ...?

 

I don't have a ground. It's just the

$165 MXT275 MicroMobile® GMRS Radio – 15 watts Two-Way Radio with Integrated Control Microphone – Overland Caravanning Tractors – Detachable External Magnetic Mount Antenna - 8 Repeater Channels

MXT275 kit with the magnetic antenna with no additional things other than what the kit comes with. I just moved it onto the hood itself instead of the cowl. Didn't do anything different. I noticed it was blipping a lot when I was standing on the passenger side. There must be some kind of random interference on the passenger side mirror...or something.... When I move it next week it'll be above stuff and I'll report back if you want.

From here (original location) to where the arrow points to.