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[Fxr4Rider]

Here's a good one I came across tonite.
I installed the hidden antenna in the fairing last week. With this addition the radio would buzz. Well tonite I decided to investigate why.
Here is the scenario. With the ignition in the on position it would buzz and have crappy reception. In the acc position it would be OK.
Confused I pulled the fairing to see what was causing the electrical interference. It turns out that when I unplug the HID bulb the radio reception is fine. Plug the bulb in, power it back up and the radio reception goes to crap.

I tried positioning the antenna anywhere and everywhere to no avail.

It is just a crappy HD antenna or crappy ballasts for the lights. Is this normal and the two cannot be placed together in the fairing?
Thanks
Steve

[UAV Pilot]

I am afraid you are out of luck.  The HID's use an AC frequency to excite the bulb and that is probably what you are hearing in the radio.  The close proximity to the ballast is the biggest problem.  You might try relocating the ballast or the antenna to try and see if you get better results. 

[Pete7539]

Same boat, IDK if moving the antenna will help for me. Ballasts are velcroed to underside of radio. If you find a solution keep us posted.

[Eqcons]

I've kept my ballasts as far away from both the radio and the antenna cable as I can (conventional cable to antenna on the tourpak) - radio is not listenable to. 

I did find THIS

but have yet to experiment....

Jim

[Pete7539]

I've kept my ballasts as far away from both the radio and the antenna cable as I can (conventional cable to antenna on the tourpak) - radio is not listenable to. 

I did find THIS

but have yet to experiment....

Jim

Thanks! 

It seems the easiest route would be the stainless wire loom. If I get around to it before you I will post my results. All other methods seem a bit involved. I'm assuming the external ignitor would also need to be wrapped as it is in-line with the HV wires. It would have to be a large diameter to fit around it though.

[GregKhougaz]

Which hidden antenna are you using?  I use the Dakota Digital with a "Y" connector and left the original antenna connected though I disconnected the mast.  Gives very good reception.  The key was to properly ground the Dakota antenna which is described in the directions.  It required grounding to the radio ground as I recall (sorry, it's been awhile).

GK

[Eqcons]

Thanks! 

It seems the easiest route would be the stainless wire loom. If I get around to it before you I will post my results. All other methods seem a bit involved. I'm assuming the external ignitor would also need to be wrapped as it is in-line with the HV wires. It would have to be a large diameter to fit around it though.

Yes, let us know if you have success, Pete!

Jim

[grc]

What brand of HID lights did you install?  I would certainly expect a competent and reputable company to shield the components to prevent interference with radios and other electronics, and not leave that important detail up to the customer. 


Jerry

[Pete7539]

I used http://hemrickhid.sharepoint.com/Pages/HIDLights.aspx   I had an issue with the passing light bulb partially melting the plastic reflector and had emailed Clark about it and whether he knew of a metal reflector I could replace it with. He said he'd get back to me and its been quite a while with no answer. Lights look great... I didn't put 2 and 2 together with FM reception when I first installed them because at the time of install  I had also made tour pak detachable and added hawg-wired amp and tune trapper antenna. When lights are unplugged reception is substantially better.

[Eqcons]

I finally got tired with this, so played with it tonight to see if I could improve things - and I did, by about 1000% 

Very simple, very cheap - I clipped a few clip-on ferrites round the HID cables.  Job done!  Not perfect, but near enough. 

Jim

[Pete7539]

I finally got tired with this, so played with it tonight to see if I could improve things - and I did, by about 1000% 

Very simple, very cheap - I clipped a few clip-on ferrites round the HID cables.  Job done!  Not perfect, but near enough. 

Jim

Those isolator things around electronics cables?

[Pete7539]

Got what it is now. Used to have a crap load of them, came with many radios and whatnot. Now I'm sure I'll maybe only find one, but at least I know what I'm looking for. 
Was it anywhere in line that you hooked them to? Along the ignitor wires directly towards the bulbs?

Also do you remember what size? Found a pack of 7mm/.275" cable diameter cheap. Don't want them to be too small. Thanks!

[Eqcons]

Got what it is now. Used to have a crap load of them, came with many radios and whatnot. Now I'm sure I'll maybe only find one, but at least I know what I'm looking for. 
Was it anywhere in line that you hooked them to? Along the ignitor wires directly towards the bulbs?

Also do you remember what size? Found a pack of 7mm/.275" cable diameter cheap. Don't want them to be too small. Thanks!

Plenty on ebay! http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=clip+on+ferrite&_sacat=0

Check your cables to see what size you need - I used the ones I had laying around, so not ideal.  No need to have the cables go through twice, but you do want a tight-ish fit.

I put them on both cables coming out of the ballast, on the live and neutral to the actual bulb (small ones essential for that size of cable) and I put one on the antenna cable - it didn't seem to make things any better, but certainly didn't make things worse.

Let me know if you see the same improvement as I have, Pete!

Jim

[Pete7539]

Thanks, will do. Looked on ebay, but all vendors are from hong kong and shipping takes a while. Wanted to do it next weekend when I have fairing off for mono tubes. Tried from another vendor, but got an error message when I tried to buy. Suppose I can always pay top $ at radio shack.

[Eqcons]

Thanks, will do. Looked on ebay, but all vendors are from hong kong and shipping takes a while. Wanted to do it next weekend when I have fairing off for mono tubes. Tried from another vendor, but got an error message when I tried to buy. Suppose I can always pay top $ at radio shack.

They'll be cheap at Radio Shack too, Pete - you'll be surprised!

Jim