Kubota Cab Radio AM Noise/Static

[Industrial Toys]

Is it an OEM radio? Did it always do that or is it a new problem?

There are two approaches to RFI. One is to eliminate the noise at source (usually easier) or at the receiver. Most people listen to FM which is less affected by RFI. The revolving lamps I have on various equipment throws off RFI from the brushes and I have been meaning to install bypass caps at the brushes. Windsheild wiper motors and fan motors that have brushes can all generate RFI. That can all be cured with a ten cent cap accross the device.

 

[skyhook]

It must be an older or "defective" radio.
Newer radios have circuits incorporated to remove "white noise'.
I believe there are "filters' you can get that the antenna plugs into, prior to the radio.
Radio Shack (now called The Source) may have them.

 

[Industrial Toys]

If the frequency of the nuisance noise is within the bandwidth of the radio band, there is generally NOTHING you can do at the Radio End. The radio is doing EXACTLY what it is supposed to do. Pick up signals at that particular frequency.

Sometimes you can utilize an external antenna, in the case of a radio in a building to effectivly improve your wanted signal and possibly drown out the unwanted noise signal. So, a noise signal, in a tractor could be due to a poor antenna and hence poor signal level of the desired signal.

As far as AM goes. Many AM/FM receivers have VERY poor AM quality receivers on account of their infrequent use. Poor sensitivity and selectivity.

Like I said, a diesel tractor can make noise with the alternator, voltage regulator, any DC motor with brushes, and very possibly on-board micro computers.

It's not an accident that many electronic equipment manuals had a disclaimer, already for decades indicating that the device may cause interference AND any such unwanted interference must be accepted! It's like they foresaw what was to come!

 

[KennyV]

What you probably need is a static suppressor that takes away static created from the ignition. These were very common in the sixties and seventies. Rev up the engine and see if the static increases and decreases as the engine rpm change. If it does, that is what you need.

That type of static, on AM (Amplitude Modulation) radio, was caused by the electrical interference caused by the ignition (high voltage) ... diesels never had that problem as they never used electrical ignition.

 

[fluttersmith]

Wow - 14 responses with near zero ueful information. But give James credit for recognizing that diesel engines don't have ignition systems.

I do take listening to the radio seriously, especially NPR and weather band. FM and WB are great, but AM has loud static with "sparks" at about 10 HZ and engine RPM (600 +) dependent - injector electronics suspect, and much milder whirring noise that could indeed be coming from the generator/alternator. The solution may be a noise supressor (capacitor) that is inserted in line with the antenna where it plugs in to the back of the REI AM/FM/WB radio.

If you spend hours circling a field with a mower or baler, the radio is a great companion.

Thank you all for responding, and - well, the advice was free, so I shouldn't complain. I just wish that someone at Kubota USA would get serious and fix the interference problem before the tractors are delivered.

 

[skyhook]

Wow - 14 responses with near zero ueful information.

LOL, well, perhaps "IF" you would have told us the info in your "above" post we may have helped better.
Like you said, zero information gets zero answers.

 

[k0ua]

Wow - 14 responses with near zero ueful information. But give James credit for recognizing that diesel engines don't have ignition systems.

I do take listening to the radio seriously, especially NPR and weather band. FM and WB are great, but AM has loud static with "sparks" at about 10 HZ and engine RPM (600 +) dependent - injector electronics suspect, and much milder whirring noise that could indeed be coming from the generator/alternator. The solution may be a noise supressor (capacitor) that is inserted in line with the antenna where it plugs in to the back of the REI AM/FM/WB radio.

If you spend hours circling a field with a mower or baler, the radio is a great companion.

Thank you all for responding, and - well, the advice was free, so I shouldn't complain. I just wish that someone at Kubota USA would get serious and fix the interference problem before the tractors are delivered.

I know of no noise suppressor that can be inserted inline with an antenna that would be effective. Grounding, shielding, and bypassing. Here is a website that while geared to Amateur Radio can answer a lot of vehicle interference questions.


Mobile RFI Noise Identification
Ignition Notes on RFI

Bonding

RFI Problems

 

[7879fordman]

May be try stations on FM channels . All the AM channels have static on them around here . FM is where it's at .

Sent from my iPhone 5 using TractorByNet

 

[Daver1963]

Wow - 14 responses with near zero ueful information. But give James credit for recognizing that diesel engines don't have ignition systems.

I do take listening to the radio seriously, especially NPR and weather band. FM and WB are great, but AM has loud static with "sparks" at about 10 HZ and engine RPM (600 +) dependent - injector electronics suspect, and much milder whirring noise that could indeed be coming from the generator/alternator. The solution may be a noise supressor (capacitor) that is inserted in line with the antenna where it plugs in to the back of the REI AM/FM/WB radio.

If you spend hours circling a field with a mower or baler, the radio is a great companion.

Thank you all for responding, and - well, the advice was free, so I shouldn't complain. I just wish that someone at Kubota USA would get serious and fix the interference problem before the tractors are delivered.

Actually, in my opinion, for the situation you originally described you got plenty of good advice.

 

[KennyV]

LOL, well, perhaps "IF" you would have told us the info in your "above" post we may have helped better.
Like you said, zero information gets zero answers.

That is for Sure.... +