Batboard

Hello group,

I have just recently installed my VHF Spectra into my 2006 Ford Escape. My install was a pretty much direct replacement of my Yaesu FT 7800 50/35 watt Dual Band
radio. I changed out the Yaesu wires with the Motorola wiring.

My issue is that I'm receiving RFI whenever the radio receives a signal on any station. It's an engine based RFI, because it increases with RPMs and decreases with gear shifts, just like the RPM.

This is the first radio I have installed that has had RFI issues. The Yaesu radio didn't have have this problem, neither does my Maxtrac on 900, my Midland CB, or my 800 Mhz GTX.

Without going into heavily invasive surgery on the car itself, is there anything I can do to the radio, or the power leads, or the antenna perhaps?

Thank you for the help,
Brad

Where is the radio grounded? Keep it close to the radio itself, on its own independent ground.

A couple of things in the Spectra radio can cause vehicle noise to be heard.
Make sure the main power lead is DIRECT to the battery, ground close to the radio usually on the floor under the dash.

Add a filter in the main power lead, Spectra does not have much filtering capacitance. The caps get weak with age too.

If the power line filter idea doesn't work, you may have to attack the issue at the source. Is the noise a whine or a clicking sound? Clicking indicates ignition, and a whine indicates the alternator.

Fords are nortorious for noisy fuel pumps. Keep that in mind when looking for the noise source.

I agree, attack the problem at the source rather than trying to "band-aid" the problem with filters and other trickery.

A trick that I use to find ignition type noises is to take a portable hand held walkman type AM (yes AM) radio with headphones. Wrap the AM radio completely on aluminium foil which will desense the AM receiver. Now tune the AM radio to a blank AM portion of the band, and use the foil covered AM radio as a noise probe. The closer the AM radio gets to the noise source, the louder it will be on your AM radio probe.

Had what sounded like alternater whine on my CDM. Used the AM radio trick. With no foil covering the AM radio, I could be 10-15 feet away from the car and still hear it. Covered the AM radio with foil and started probing around. Got close to one spark plug/wire and the noise came through the AM radio. Stuck the radio by all 6 plugs, and only one gave the noise. Sure enough the spark plug wire was all corroded and rusted. Took CLR cleaner to get all the rust off the plug, but it's been over 6 years and no more ignition problems.

Another thing to keep in mind when tracking noise sources is that noise can enter the radio typically from two ways: 1) through the power system. 2) through the antenna system.
Turn the vehicle on and make sure your getting the noise. Disconnect the antenna. Did the noise go away??? If so the noise if entering through the antenna system. If you disconnect the antenna, and the noise is still there, the only way left for the noise to enter the radio is through the power line/power system. Process of elimination......