Starcom Advance and motor noise

I hooked up my Starcom and the Sirius radio sounds great through the speakers when the bike isn't running but as soon as it starts up I get motor noise. Now I know that a ground loop isolator generally solves this problem but my problem is this....the noise occurs even when the power to the radio is off and only the Starcom is powered up. I have a ground loop isolator provided by Escort for the radar detector so I tried that one on the audio output of the radio and eliminated the whine but only get sound through one speaker. Does anybody have any idea what to do?? Why am I getting the whine with only the Starcom unit powered up and the radio off?

And I don't know if this is a related matter but the voltage meter on the Passport is fluctuating wildly between 12 and 13 volts, something it never does when being powered off the truck connection.

TheAxeman said:

I hooked up my Starcom and the Sirius radio sounds great through the speakers when the bike isn't running but as soon as it starts up I get motor noise. Now I know that a ground loop isolator generally solves this problem but my problem is this....the noise occurs even when the power to the radio is off and only the Starcom is powered up. I have a ground loop isolator provided by Escort for the radar detector so I tried that one on the audio output of the radio and eliminated the whine but only get sound through one speaker. Does anybody have any idea what to do?? Why am I getting the whine with only the Starcom unit powered up and the radio off?

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Couple of quick questions. What input to the Starcom are you using? Any other inputs used? If so, what do you have connected?

If you need an isoloted cable, it is best not to use the device until you get the cable. There is a risk to the radio if you do.

I have a Passport detector running through a ground loop isolator provided by Escort run into the "aux" slot on the Starcom and I have a direct audio wire running from a Sirius Xact into the "audio" slot. The Starcom is mounted under the seat and is powered off an underseat switched Blue Sea fuse block.

I assume you're running the wires from the audio and detector through the engine bay? Try the audio without the wires running through there and see what happens... Could be interference from the motor's electronics.

My wires all run through, but I have 'em snaked as far from the electrical bits as I could get 'em. No noise, 'cept for the screws rattlin' around the ole beaner...

Okay, as TWN suggested, I disconnected the wire running from the Sirius radio and the whining noise has stopped completely. Now if I leave this wire in place and install a ground loop isolator between it and the Starcom will this solve the problem or do I need a completely different cord?

TWN, I recall you have a Passport/Starcom setup also. Did you run the factory supplied audio wire through an Escort ground loop isolator to the "aux" input of the Starcom or did you need a specialized cable? I am powering the Passport with the cigarette lighter smartcord plug off the bike socket in the glove box.

I have the Passport, GPS and SatRad hardwired into my switched Centech. I'm using Starcom GLI's for both the Passport and my GPS. GPS runs to Aux, Passport runs to Phone, Sirius runs to Audio.

TWN, did you use an isolated stereo cable from Starcom for the Sirius?

TheAxeman said:

TWN, did you use an isolated stereo cable from Starcom for the Sirius?

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I'm in the same boat, been researching the threads - Axeman, did you get it working? If so, what did you do? TWN, did you use the isolated cable?

I just installed my Starcom and Garmin 2730 this weekend (both units powered by a switched Blue Seas box). While the 2730 is a GPS, it's also an XM radio and MP3 player. I have all of the wires running through a loom that goes through the engine bay. I used the Starcom MUS-04 Isolated Music Cable from the 2730 and I get absolutely no motor noise through the speakers.

I don't know if the MUS-04 is the right cable for every device, but, I think the concept of the Isolated Music Cable will solve the problem.

dcarver said:

TheAxeman said:

TWN, did you use an isolated stereo cable from Starcom for the Sirius?

Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat, been researching the threads - Axeman, did you get it working? If so, what did you do? TWN, did you use the isolated cable?

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Carver, I used the same cable as Randy did, the MUS-O4 and it works great.

Watch for that TWN he is a loose wire :fool:

lol

JD

dcarver said:

TheAxeman said:

TWN, did you use an isolated stereo cable from Starcom for the Sirius?

Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat, been researching the threads - Axeman, did you get it working? If so, what did you do? TWN, did you use the isolated cable?

Click to expand...

Nope. Everything else is isolated. Are you running through the engine compartment? If so, run the wires down the left side, below the frame rail and away from the FI and other electrics.

twowheelnut said:

dcarver said:

TheAxeman said:

TWN, did you use an isolated stereo cable from Starcom for the Sirius?

Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat, been researching the threads - Axeman, did you get it working? If so, what did you do? TWN, did you use the isolated cable?

Click to expand...

Nope. Everything else is isolated. Are you running through the engine compartment? If so, run the wires down the left side, below the frame rail and away from the FI and other electrics.

Click to expand...

Yep, I have some work to do. Currently (no pun intended :clapping: ) my power cable runs down the right frame rail to a blue seas box. What a stupid route to pick; right past the ignition coils. And yes, I can hear my fuel injector kick in when accelerating. After next weekend it's strip it down and do it again. Also, my blue seas box is grounded to the frame which I've read ain't so hot either. More work and will keep results posted.

Hey guys - THANK YOU.