CB Squelch Static Issues

[Eboness]

Hi Folks,
Recently my OEM Honda CB has been acting up on my 2013 GL1800 Level IV. It seems that I have to turn my squelch up past 15 or 16 to stop hearing the squelch static. From 2015 till now I could set my squelch to 6 or 7 before I stop hearing the squelch static. I can't believe I'm the only one who has run into this issue. I still can RX and TX ok from my fellow riders, it's just that now the setting has to be above 15 for some piece and quiet on my speakers or through my headset. How can I fix this issue.

Thanks and ride safe.

[DenverWinger]

I haven't been on the CB waves lately, but that could just be atmospherics or "Skip" getting into your CB. Skip is caused by sunspots, and if the conditions are right CB frequencies can literally skip around the world (CB is "shortwave radio" after all) and you can be receiving a multitude of transmissions from everywhere at once. This is a cyclical event based on the sun's 11 year cycle. Some days will be worse than others. Back in the day when CB was so popular, skip could get so strong as to render CB Radio useless for local communication unless you were right next to each other.

What type of signals are breaking thru the squelch? Does it sound like an overcrowded trucker's channel, or is it just engine noise?

[MikeB]

What DenverWinger says is totally correct. However, if you have added any electronics to your bike, such as LED bulbs, that could be the source of your problem as well.