View Full Version : LMS 350 interference with VHF
My Lms 350 induces interference in my VHF Marine radio. When I turn off the 350, the radio receives and transmits fine. I can't move the radio, 350, or antenna wire as space is limited. The interference sounds like a periodic pulsing when the LMS 350 is on. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do short of turning off the LMS 350 when using the radio?Thanks
SeaCat
05-07-2001, 05:50 PM
Two ideas come to mind.
1) Since it is a "pulsing", sounds like the radio is picking up transducer noise from the 350. Since you can't move anything, you may be stuck. Another brand of radio might be less sensitive to the noise, but it might be any radio. Need to try others to find out. Could also try a noise suppressor on the 12v lead to the radio -- talk to a local electronics shop that deals with Ham radio or try Radio Shack.
2) Check the electrical wiring on both the VHF and the 350 -- especially the ground lead. If you have them wired to a distribution and ground plate, these often don't have heavy enough wire to do a good job. Try running wires from each unit direct to the battery terminals. If the problem goes away you can either rewire the distrib & ground leads with heavier gage wire or direct wire to the battery.
Ryan
Thanks Ryan. I'll try the heavier wire for ground you suggest.
Hawk Eye Mike
05-09-2001, 08:08 AM
I had the exact problem you did. A charter captain on Erie gave me this fix, which worked. I wrapped the power cord to the Lowrance 350 with metallitc tape. I got the tape at a golf store....it's used to weight the clubhead and comes in rolls. It took four rolls to wrap my power cord. No interference since then.
Sunshine
05-09-2001, 09:14 AM
You're actually luckier than others are. My buddy kept blowing the fuse on to the 350.
Try these:
1. Make sure that each device is hooked up to a different battery.
2. Make sure that you separate the wires as much as possible from each device. The tape advice sounds like a good one.
3. You can get a magnetic isolator from Lowrance that you can easily attach to your wires. I think they're called ferrets.