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[cvosjoe]

Has anyone encountered any issues with the new Navigation Interface Module (NIM) and their CB? I have a CB issue and I believe it is connected to the factory installed NIM on the 2011 FLTRUSEs. Hopefully someone else has encountered something similar and has the fix.

The problem is intermittent but here is the issue.

I'll be talking on the CB and while holding the PTT down I'll hear feedback in my headset (once the feedback starts I can release the PTT and it is still there for about a minute each time it occurs). When this happens no one can hear me and I can't hear them either. After about a minute (the time is very consistent) the feedback stops and if anyone is talking I can hear them again and I can usually get it to work a time or two. The one thing I have noticed that makes me believe it is tied to the NIM is that while the feedback is happening if I try to adjust the volume it shows the volume for the Nav/Phone in the radio display.

Any thoughts???

[bissjim]

Seeing the Nav/Phone in the radio display is like seeing the forest before the trees. You can test this by disconnecting the NIM. If the problem goes away it is the NIM, have Harley replace it. Sounds to me like you are on the correct track.

[cvosjoe]

Update:
I disconnected the NIM and what do you know the CB works flawlessly. Since the NIM is new this year and it is factory installed on the 2011 FLTRUSE models the 2 obvious choices are: the NIM is defective or the NIM is not compatible with the CB. Since by now there are quite a few 2011 FLTRUSE owners I don't think that I am the only one that use their CB so I think I will go with the NIM is defective. Now the trick is to get the Moco to fix it. 

[bissjim]

Let us know what happens with the MoCo. And if the problem with your CB goes away by replacing the NIM (the dealer should as your bike is under warranty) let us know if it fixes the problem. Others may have the same problem and you would be helping them out.

[cvosjoe]

UPDATE: The dealer replaced the NIM and the CB works great now.

[hogdooz]

There seems to be a design problem with the NIM such that when you push the PTT switch it also triggers the headset, not just the mic. My PTT switch also takes a long time to disconnect after it is released. When the GPS transmitts, it does so through the NIM through the COMM system and also triggers the mic and headset speakers at the same time. The noise (static) through my headsets during GPS/CB use is so loud I can't hear any spoken words and it's so loud it hurts my ears. It has been worked on so many times with so many components replaced since my purchase the end of Aug the dealer is now replacing my bike with a new one---the exact same FLTRUSE. The dealer told me they replaced the NIM but on talking to them further, they said they only connected the new NIM, didn't install it, and they said there was no change. The noise is still in the new bike, but not so loud I can't hear the communication. I know Harley is aware of this problem and I hope they design a new NIM soon that will make the systems work for all of us. There definitely shouldn't be this type of problem on a bike this expensive.

[DOOFUS]

Thnx for this == my CB is not transmitting well.  I have had VERY good luck with 4 other HD CB -- not as sweet as the GOLDWING CB but still tolerable.  I'll seewhat my dealer finds.  Thnx, DOOFUS

UPDATE: The dealer replaced the NIM and the CB works great now.

[Sklywag]

For all of you that have the 09's up, HD again did a poor job with matching the antenna to the CB.  I have tested 4 of them now for SWR because they weren't working well.  Guess what, they all pegged the SWR meter.  Running the CB under those conditions can damage the CB & give very poor CB performance.

On 3 of them we installed the short antenna's that HD sells.  On 2 of them it brought the SWR down into a safe range, about 2 to 1.  The 3rd one was better but still over 3 to 1.  You need to be 2 to 1 or less to be safe & have the CB work decently.

The biggest issue is there is no ground plane for the antenna's to work on any MC.  For a while I ran the 3' non ground plane Firestick antenna & it worked very well.  I just did not like the looks of the giant antenna.  Also you have to install 17' of RG58 cable designed for the no ground plane.

Recently I swapped out to the 09 up style short antenna that HD sells.  Took me about an hour cutting the 17' cable to get the SWR where it should be.  I ended up with right at 13.5' of cable & an SWR of 1.1 on Ch 1  and 1.8 on Ch 40.  What this all says is the antenna's are poory designed.

As a comparison, my Firestick was 1.1 at Ch1, 1.3 at Ch 20 & 1.1 at Ch 40.  This was a really good antenna design and worked very well.

At the same time I was working on the short antenna I kept installing the HD factory 09 antenna, it continued to peg the SWR meter every time I tested it.

I know this was kinda techie, hope it helps if you think your CB is not working well & you have the stock HD antenna.

The root of the issue is cheap, poor design on the CB antenna and an antenna cable in the MC that is too short.

[Hotrod50]

I wish I was a nerd and could understand all this stuff.  I really mean it!!

[DavidB]

I replaced to short antennas for the old whip antennas and added the loading coil back to the new bike. Radio works better and the CB recvs better . After grinding the whip a little go the swr set at 1.2 / 1

[DOOFUS]

EXCELLENT POST MY FRIEND and thank you.  I'll be working on mine too. DOOFUS

For all of you that have the 09's up, HD again did a poor job with matching the antenna to the CB.  I have tested 4 of them now for SWR because they weren't working well.  Guess what, they all pegged the SWR meter.  Running the CB under those conditions can damage the CB & give very poor CB performance.

On 3 of them we installed the short antenna's that HD sells.  On 2 of them it brought the SWR down into a safe range, about 2 to 1.  The 3rd one was better but still over 3 to 1.  You need to be 2 to 1 or less to be safe & have the CB work decently.

The biggest issue is there is no ground plane for the antenna's to work on any MC.  For a while I ran the 3' non ground plane Firestick antenna & it worked very well.  I just did not like the looks of the giant antenna.  Also you have to install 17' of RG58 cable designed for the no ground plane.

Recently I swapped out to the 09 up style short antenna that HD sells.  Took me about an hour cutting the 17' cable to get the SWR where it should be.  I ended up with right at 13.5' of cable & an SWR of 1.1 on Ch 1  and 1.8 on Ch 40.  What this all says is the antenna's are poory designed.

As a comparison, my Firestick was 1.1 at Ch1, 1.3 at Ch 20 & 1.1 at Ch 40.  This was a really good antenna design and worked very well.

At the same time I was working on the short antenna I kept installing the HD factory 09 antenna, it continued to peg the SWR meter every time I tested it.

I know this was kinda techie, hope it helps if you think your CB is not working well & you have the stock HD antenna.

The root of the issue is cheap, poor design on the CB antenna and an antenna cable in the MC that is too short.

[Sklywag]

Firestick Antenna Company has a great reference library online to help you understand what is going on with your CB, Cable & Antenna and what to do to correct issues.

http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm

Unfortunately the 09 up HD antenna & the short replacement antenna's are not tunable so we are kinda stuck with crap again.  The only way to attempt to tune them is to install a new cable from the radio to the antenna & tune the length of the cable to help correct the antenna.

[Lkn4advtr]

I was experiencing a similar issue with the Zumo 660 on my 2011 SERGU. the voice turn promp activated my headset mike and made it impossible to hear anything. this happened with the intercom and CB both turned off. The dealer told me there are so many layers to the new system that it is very difficult to adsjust properly, but thats all it is. He told me the issue usaully pops up whith a perfectly functioning setup then the passenger turns thier volume up real high then it throws the layers out of wack. They fixed my issue first try works great now.

[DOC.COFFIN]

I was experiencing a similar issue with the Zumo 660 on my 2011 SERGU. the voice turn promp activated my headset mike and made it impossible to hear anything. this happened with the intercom and CB both turned off. The dealer told me there are so many layers to the new system that it is very difficult to adsjust properly, but thats all it is. He told me the issue usaully pops up whith a perfectly functioning setup then the passenger turns thier volume up real high then it throws the layers out of wack. They fixed my issue first try works great now.

Lkn4advtr...which dealership was that? I just recently had a CB installed, haven't had a chance to use it, but from the looks of it...I should anticipate trouble. It would be good to know which dealer has a good handle on this issue. Thanks.

Doc

[miceracs]

note to Lkn4advtr

what was the fix to your problem of mic being activated when using the zumo 660, even with intercom & CD off.
I also have the same problem on the 2011 RG Ultra model.
it is so annoying. blocks out the radio and Ipod.

thanks, Alan