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.
CB Squelch Static Issues
- DenverWinger
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1980 GL1100 STD Vetter (2005-)
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Past rides
1972 CL350 (1980-1988) sold
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Re: CB Squelch Static Issues
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?
What type of signals are breaking thru the squelch? Does it sound like an overcrowded trucker's channel, or is it just engine noise?
There are 10 types of people in the world, those that understand binary numbers, and those that don't.
♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫
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♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪
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♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫

♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪

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- MikeB
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Re: CB Squelch Static Issues
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.
MikeB
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
- Eboness
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:41 am
- Location: Tsawwassen B.C. Canada
- Motorcycle: 2013 GL1800 Airbag Red of course.
Re: CB Squelch Static Issues
Hi MikeB, Your post got me thinking and I had recently added under mirror LED Driving lights. I bought a couple of Split Core Ferrites
like these, and my issue went away. I placed them around the power wires right next to each LED Lights.
Thanks for kick starting my brain.
like these, and my issue went away. I placed them around the power wires right next to each LED Lights.
Thanks for kick starting my brain.
Former 3PPCLI Canadian Armed Forces Member 1975-1982
- MikeB
- Posts: 3642
- Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:54 pm
- Location: Tacoma, WA
- Motorcycle: 1998 - GL1500 Aspencade
186K Miles
2017 - GL1800 Audio Comfort
20K Miles - Contact:
Re: CB Squelch Static Issues
Hey. Yes, sometimes we need a little kickstarting now and then.Eboness wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 7:51 pm Hi MikeB, Your post got me thinking and I had recently added under mirror LED Driving lights. I bought a couple of Split Core Ferrites
like these, and my issue went away. I placed them around the power wires right next to each LED Lights.
Thanks for kick starting my brain.
130164906-40.jpg
1301647-500.jpg
Good to hear from you again.
MikeB
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
- GoldWingrGreg
- Posts: 892
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Re: CB Squelch Static Issues
Are your CB and antenna OEM Hondaline ones ??? An OEM antenna has a matching orange tip on top to match the radio antenna.Eboness wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 9:48 am 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.
- MikeB
- Posts: 3642
- Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:54 pm
- Location: Tacoma, WA
- Motorcycle: 1998 - GL1500 Aspencade
186K Miles
2017 - GL1800 Audio Comfort
20K Miles - Contact:
Re: CB Squelch Static Issues
He does say "my OEM Honda CB" in his narrative.GoldWingrGreg wrote: ↑Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:23 amAre your CB and antenna OEM Hondaline ones ??? An OEM antenna has a matching orange tip on top to match the radio antenna.Eboness wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 9:48 am 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.
MikeB
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA