GMRS radio static from headlight module

[KermitBronco]

Has anyone else been experiencing this? Midlands 575 with ghost antenna. We diagnosed it and low and behold:
- Headlights off = perfection.
- Headlights on = crazy loud incessant static.
- Unplug the antenna (it's 50 watt and still works) = perfection

I've tried 4 ferrite cores on the antenna wire. No luck.
Ideas greatly welcome.

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[Felix808]

How do you have your radio wired? Where is it mounted?

 

[mcinfantry]

I have none
Direct wire to battery
Ferrite core on power wire

 

[Bschurr]

Has anyone else been experiencing this? Midlands 575 with ghost antenna. We diagnosed it and low and behold:
- Headlights off = perfection.
- Headlights on = crazy loud incessant static.

I've tried 4 ferrite cores on the antenna wire. No luck.
Ideas greatly welcome.

Ferrite on the power wire - NOT antenna!

 

[KermitBronco]

Thanks for feedback. I think I may have omitted one key point that I updated in the original post - if I unplug the antenna, it works "perfectly" - I have ~300 feet of range and no static.

I mounted the MXT575 inside on a Mountains2Metal console molle panel and ran the power and antenna through the firewall grommet and then power is hardwired in and the antenna goes over to a Mountains2Metal mount on the passenger side.

 

[Bschurr]

Thanks for feedback. I think I may have omitted one key point that I updated in the original post - if I unplug the antenna, it works "perfectly" - I have ~300 feet of range and no static.

I mounted the MXT575 inside on a Mountains2Metal console molle panel and ran the power and antenna through the firewall grommet and then power is hardwired in and the antenna goes over to a Mountains2Metal mount on the passenger side.

Have you tried a different antenna and still have static?
Perhaps your antenna, wire or termination is defective and causing the interference.

 

[Bmadda]

I have the same radio. What is your squelch set at? Factory setting is 4, but depending on weather and other noise factors I find I need to set squelch at 8 or 9. I'm using a mxta26A antenna, and it's very sensitive. The factory 2db mag-mount needed lower squelch to RX medium strength signals. W/the bigger antenna I still get very remote garbled transmissions w/squelch nearly all the way up. LED lights DO generate RF noise. Add light bar and ditch lights and it just gets worse...that's what you got SQ for! I have noticed that this radio is kinda touchy when you 1st turn it on, then it settles down. After 10-15 min of use I can turn the SQ back down if I want. I live about 20mi from a repeater, and even w/SQ on 9 I never miss a transmission from it

 

[Felix808]

Have you tried a different antenna and still have static?
Perhaps your antenna, wire or termination is defective and causing the interference.

This ^^^^.
What happens when you use the supplied antenna?

 

[KermitBronco]

THANKS EVERYONE! Team effort + humble pie and the problem is solved. Correct guesses - we diagnosed that the light module was causing the interference but the real issue is defective cable. I pulled out another cable and no static. Thanks again! Rewiring tomorrow.

I'll be sharing details in a few weeks when we (finally) finish our build - it's a Badlands Sasquatch, Stealth wrap running 37" Trail Grapplers, Dana 44 Ultimate/Spicer 32 Xtreme splines, upcoming 74Weld Steering Rack and Camburg Racing KINETIK UCA/TA and Fox Racing Elite suspension tuned by Camburg (when the Fox stuff finally arrives) plus full American Adventure Lab interior, Heretic Studio lighting and a few more goodies so stoked to finally truly join the community.

Hope to meet people at Bronco Safari in a month!

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