BRP CB Static

[MarkLawson]

I am told that when I key the mic on the BRP CB on my 2010 RT, there is very loud static transmitted with my voice. I have heard it myself when I swapped rides with my brother tonight. I am currently traveling with 3 other bikes & they all report the same issue. I'm using a J&M Elite headset that I purchased last year specifically for this RT, & it is the headset J&M advertised for this very application. I don't recall the specific model number, but is for a flip face style helmet.

We checked the antenna with an SWR meter and made a minor adjustment, which brought the channels all under 2. This made a slight improvement, but the static is still horrible.

Any thoughts?

 

[NancysToy]

A bad mic would be a good first guess, or a bad cable or connector. Beyond that, could be a bad ground, loose antenna, RFI interference from an accessory, or a bad CB unit. In short, you may have to have help to track it down.

 

[MarkLawson]

Thanks Scotty. I did swap my helmet with my brother's, which has the same J&M headset, & got the same results, so I don't believe it is due to a faulty mic, although it may be a compatability problem with the J&M headset. I also swapped the lower cable and got no change. I also plugged into the passenger connection and was told the static was still there, but that everything (static & voice) was at a very low volume. I could just barely hear them too with this setup. I suspect the intercom needs to be adjusted, but don't know since I never use it. Or it may also be just another symptom of the problem.

I'm in Kerrville, TX right now for George Lewis' Texas Trike Reunion & have had the pleasure of getting to visit with him this evening. Unfortunately, he also is having CB problems with his RT, although his problems are different than mine. I was hoping to get him to plug his helmet with the BRP headset into my system to see if that makes any difference. Because of his CB problems, he's on Orange Crush instead of BigRed1 & has a different helmet with him. Drat! )

Since I installed the CB/Intercom system myself, I may have to pay my dealer to do some problem determination on this...

 

[Mr. White]

Mark, I sure enjoyed meeting you and your brothers. I rode the Orange Punkin' Wing trike as I needed a reliable CB for comm with the other riders when we headed to Luckenbach and then to Llano, TX for BBQ. I plan on taking Big Red 1 to the picnic Saturday. I did not go on the lunch run today, I am having a bad pain in my shoulder blades. Had it some time back and not sure why.

I am disappointed that BRP can not have a reliable CB built....Honda has had a great unit for years. Maybe BRP should ask Clarion to build their CBs vs this other company.

Anyway, please keep us informed about any fixes you find. I will be in my dealership next week for the 600, but I am doubtful they can do much with the CB system as it is mostly plug and play. Later, George Lewis

 

[MarkLawson]

George,

I was so glad to meet you too and spend a some time visiting. Fred told me this morning that you were hurting and wouldn't be riding today. We'll certainly keep you in our prayers.

I'm sorry we didn't ride with the group, but we knew we had a limited time before my two-wheeled brother would be heading back home, so thought it would be quicker to get the desired ride in apart from your group. He left from Luckenbach about 10 minutes before you arrived.

I called my dealer yesterday & talked to him about the CB issue & asked if he'd start researching any BRP notices concerning it. I'll let you know what we find.

God bless,

 

[cougar]

Sun spots. :gaah:

 

[clueless]

well I too have the static issue. did not know until today when leading a ride. but do have the range easily picking up a car we were using as sweep back say almost a mile when we got split at a light. no problems back and forth but I have static background noise when transmitting.

and the sticking transmit button is intermittent but bothersome ... sigh

but range not an issue... FYI Big Red One.

were with Harley's mostly and the sweep car had a handheld CB but with an external roof antenna (makes all the difference).

running full stock stuff (BRP headset, BRP CB, BRP entertainment harness) plugged into front socket. have to see if same issue from the passenger rear plug.

 

[Lamonster]

I have the CB but to be honest I never use it so I won't be of much help. I would try and contact Fred Rau as he has the same setup and he uses his all the time. I don't recall him having that issue so maybe he can help point you in the right direction. :dontknow:

 

[MarkLawson]

Another thing that may be in play here...

When I was riding from Atlanta to Memphis the week before last, I began hearing background static in my AUX input, which is my Garmin Zumo 550 GPS. This particular GPS has XM radio & MP3, which I used constantly. I had never had this noise before & have been having it since. I also never had anyone complain about my CB being noisy before. I'm thinking that a noise filter somewhere may have failed.

 

[NancysToy]

Another thing that may be in play here...

When I was riding from Atlanta to Memphis the week before last, I began hearing background static in my AUX input, which is my Garmin Zumo 550 GPS. This particular GPS has XM radio & MP3, which I used constantly. I had never had this noise before & have been having it since. I also never had anyone complain about my CB being noisy before. I'm thinking that a noise filter somewhere may have failed.

.....or a spark plug wire/boot has failed and there is some spark jump.

 

[boots1]

.....or a spark plug wire/boot has failed and there is some spark jump.

I am Mark's brother and listened to the noise all last week as we troubleshot the problem and rode 3,000 miles.

My observations:

1. Static is not RPM related. For instance spark plug,alternator
2. Static is not intermitent. Fuel pump, compressor,
3. Static does not seem related to electrical or engine power loads.
4. Static does not seem MPH related other than modulation changes a little.

In the beginning we thought possibly was related to lack of mic cover but made no difference in static with or without mic sock.

Swapped helmets with no change.

The problem of tx of delay seems to be a differnt problem and ocurrs on average every 4 or 5 transmitions getting worse the longer the ride. Delays normally last from 1 to 3 seconds and as long as 5 seconds.

The Rt seems like a nice ride and I hope that the information given will help in a solution to the problems. My wife has a first production year Tri-Glide H/D and has had a few teething problems.

 

[NancysToy]

The fact that the static does not change with rpm, omits the likelihood of any ignition related source. A bad ground, loose wire/connector, or even a loose battery connection, could do it.....although that indicates a weakness in any noise suppression system the comm system has. This will be a hard one to track down, and way out of most Spyder techs' leagues. Best of luck in your search for a solution. Odd that the transmit delay is intermittent and gets worse. The root problem is thought to be a programming issue.

 

[MarkLawson]

Alright, I wanted to post this note with what I believe is the solution to the CB static-while-transmitting issue.

While @ Lamont's BBQ I spoke with him about the problem. He pointed me to Fred Rau since Lamont almost never uses the CB & really doesn't have much experience from with to draw. I found Fred and described the problem to him & he said that he'd had what sounded like the same problem on his first RT, which was a pre-production model. He then asked me what he said would be a very strange question, "Have you tested to see if you have the static problem both while pulling your trailer and not pulling your trailer?" No, I hadn't, but could say that I had only had the complaint voiced to me while on my 4000 mile trip to Texas in April. My wife had never complained about it while we're riding near home.

Fred said that when he had the problem, a fellow rider noticed that when Fred keyed the CB, the left blinker light flickered on his trailer. Fred brought this to BRP's attention, who determined that the trailer module was at fault. When replaced, the problem was resolved.

The trailer module is the wiring harness installed on the RT that the trailer connects to under the left saddlebag. Because I'd lost my trailer lights the last two days of that trip, and because my dealer had already swapped the trailer module under warranty when I returned from that trip, I figured that my problem may already be resolved. I had tested it briefly at MV and was told there was no static, but that test was only while sitting in the parking area at the Owners Event. I also tested it without the trailer attached on a rainy Dragon run on Saturday with static.

Last night a buddy & I rode for about 30 minutes testing with the trailer & found it to be static free. I'm concluding that at this point, this particular issue was caused by a faulty trailer module & was resolved in April when my dealer replaced it due to a loss of trailer lights.

 

[clueless]

great news for you ... not sure if you and I spoke at MV....

unfortunately I dont have the trailer. i wonder if there is a component that is part of the spyder from factory that is replaced with trailer install ... something lose in that ckt even without the trailer...

 

[MarkLawson]

great news for you ... not sure if you and I spoke at MV....

unfortunately I dont have the trailer. i wonder if there is a component that is part of the spyder from factory that is replaced with trailer install ... something lose in that ckt even without the trailer...

We did speak @ MV. The Trailer Module requires you to disconnect the rear lights connector, and then connect the trailer module connectors between the two rear lights pugs you just disconnected.

Doesn't sound like this would likely be it for you, but you might give it a try. Locate and disconnect the rear light connections (under the saddle, near the battery), inspect them and blow them out to make sure there's no debris in the connection, & put it back together.

It's a long shot, but might work...