CB Issues causing Bluetooth problems.

[daviswe]

Hi all! Ed (from EdSets.com) here with a project you may want to help with. If you are technical at all, I want your input on this.

Some of you may know about our Bluetooth cell kit (BlueStreak) and if you have one you know it's pretty sweet.

1. But...There are some bikes that won't tolerate the third voice line (filled by the Mic Splitter). You have the CB line, and the Intercom line, and the third one seems to not want to play nice and can cause some RF feedback on the CB on some bikes.

2. I think that the gain on our mic splitters we used (1:9) was too much for the BlueStreak/CB, so we are re-designing a new splitter just for BlueStreak. We all know what RF sounds like on the CB, and my MISSION is to find out how to tame that and make it play well with ALL Wings.

3. I'm looking at capacitive blocking, resistance, or a combo as possible ways to solve this.

4. The BlueStreak needs a mic line, and there are a few ways to get it, but it has to not cause problems on some bikes. Usually, the CB is involved.

So, if you are up for it, I will take all input while I figure out this latest new project! I have always gone direct to riders because we all know very well what is usually needed, and this is one of those times!

Thanks for listening!

I will monitor the activity and get to you asap.

Ed

[WingAdmin]

If it's RF feedback you're fighting, I think my first line of defense would be additional shielding, and perhaps identifying anything physical in the mic lines or circuitry that could perform as an inductor.

[wing rider 2012]

If your redesigning the unit why not incorporate a RF choke in your audio path. RFI can be a huge problem to resolve, there are many ways it can get into ones equipment.

[daviswe]

Wing Rider, we think alike. I ordered some ferrite chokes from Radio Shack (I was out, uh, milk, bread, ferrite chokes...) and when I got them, they did what they are supposed to do.

We all know that our bikes have huge noise figures, but between Lewis Preston's gear (electricalconnections.com) and these chokes, we have enough I think to lower the noise below the threshold.

We did a quick trip on two Wings with just one ferrite each, and the squeal from the CB radio, while talking on the phone/BlueStreak and the CB at the same time was very good.

Now that we know it will work, all we need to do is to make some ferrites at the actual size of our mic splitter and we will test one, two and more windings, and also having a ferrite on both sides of some cables.

For now, I'm encouraged. And let me remind you, an encouraged electrical engineer is probably not your favorite guy for a beer at 5...

Ed

[daviswe]

I'm waiting on a shipment of Ferrite clip-ons from Amazon. We tested yesterday with the Ferrites I had in my junk drawer, but they were two big. I ordered a bunch of 3mm inside diameter, and that's the best fit for the 2.8mm or about 0.12". When we start shipping out splitters with the ferrites already mounted, I think a lot of the noise and issues (like CB howling) and such will be overcome.

If you have any of these issues on bikes with out high-gain mic splitter, take a look at these, you can easily mount them on the mic splitter's 2.5mm jack. Just crack open the bead, close it over the wire, then slide the bead as close to the mic jack on the BlueStreak mic input, and keep it in place with a couple of zip ties, small size. The closer to the actual jack the better. This is kind of like those little bumps on laptop power lines, etc. Here is what I ordered:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015R ... ingdocs-20

Let me know if you find them helpful. We sure did yesterday. Sandy and I took our wings on a short ride and we were able to talk on the phone while using the cell phone via BlueStreak, and the CB was also fully functional (great sound actually), and the intercom, tho we don't use it.

Sandy said she had a little bit of volume on her phone calls, but so did I, and I think it was just using a very "loose" ferrite. They are super picky.

Let me know if you try it and how it works. I'll be testing for a few more days before we change the splitter to have the ferrite on it.

Ed

Find This Item on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015RAZTIA?tag=goldwingdocs-20