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Electrical and Engine Noise

Posted by Pat Haggerty updated

Engine noise/electrical interference can make it extremely hard to hear incoming transmissions and can occasionally get so bad as to render your CB radio unusable! Electrical noise can often be reduced by keeping the following in mind:

  • If you have a noise blocker or automatic noise limiter feature (NB/ANL) on your CB, make sure this feature is enabled.
  • If possible, try to wire the CB power leads directly to the battery. This will reduce the likelihood of electrical noise from other systems entering your CB through the power leads.
  • Make sure power leads and coax cable are not run parallel to other electrical lines for long distances, as this may result in interference bleeding through. While it's usually not possible to route coax and power leads so that they NEVER come near other electrical components, try to limit this as much as possible.
  • CB noise filters are available that install between the CB and power source to filter out electrical noise. These should be used in conjunction with the preventative steps listed above for best performance.

It's often impossible to eliminate ALL engine noise in problematic vehicles, but the above steps should help reduce it and make your incoming CB signal cleaner.

Author

Pat Haggerty

About the Author

As the owner and operator of Right Channel Radios, Pat Haggerty has been helping customers find the best radio solutions since 2008. He is highly knowledgeable in all mobile radio options and setups, including CB radios, GMRS radios, and HAM radios. His wide library of how-to and help articles is frequently referred to as one of the best resources for CB radio installations and technical support online. When he's not assisting radio enthusiasts online or on the phone, you can find Pat enjoying all that Montana's trails have to offer on his skis, mountain bike or Land Cruiser.


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