Q5SF Wireless Trolling Motor Cancels Radio Reception!

[Last Train]

Love our 2010 Q5SF; any minor issues have been handled by the dealer - BUT, early on I noticed two issues that defeat any meaningful use of the stock Jensen radio: (1) operation of the MotorGuide Wireless trolling motor totally cancels any AM radio reception and severely muffles FM reception on the stock Jensen system supplied (EXCEPT at the very highest speed setting for the MotorGuide); (2) operation of the main engine (4.3, 190 Hp) at lower rpm ranges creates so much static that you can't enjoy a lazy cruise with background music or anything else. (My stock sound system isn't powerful enough to be listenable at higher speeds, but that's OK with me.)

I know enough about RF to understand potential interference, but this seemed beyond the pale. No help from the dealer since this appears to be a design/installation issue. Reason: I have observed that the wiring harness for the trolling motor is bundled right along with the wiring for the radio and other electronics that all run together under the left gunnel. Not a good design! The MotorGuide manual even points out in their installation instructions (p. 13) that their wiring should be isolated from other electronics. I have noted a complaint with Tahoe in Springfield, and they say that they are working with the dealer to resolve this. Tahoe has instructed the dealer to purchase a "noise filter" at a local electronics store, but the dealer tells me that they asked Tahoe: "What kind of filter?" So the ball is currently being passed back and forth a little.

My dealer says that I'm the only one who has ever noted this problem - to them. Hard for me to believe that someone else in the fleet has not experienced this - and maybe resolved it. So while I wait for the manufacturer vs. dealer process to unwind, I wanted to know if any of you have seen/resolved this problem. Thanks much.

 

[yourboatmyboat]

Re: Q5SF Wireless Trolling Motor Cancels Radio Reception!

You might try taking the white antenna wire from the harness bundle and let it hang just behind the carpeted board where the drain tube is.

 

[Last Train]

Re: Q5SF Wireless Trolling Motor Cancels Radio Reception!

You might try taking the white antenna wire from the harness bundle and let it hang just behind the carpeted board where the drain tube is.

Good thought, and I can try that. I have, just for context, taken the white antenna wire out of the bundle and moved it around to various orientations - without success, I'm afraid.

 

[q5isfjm]

Re: Q5SF Wireless Trolling Motor Cancels Radio Reception!

mine does the same thing with the trolling motor. I haven't noticed it with the I/O

 

[Paul DuLaney]

Re: Q5SF Wireless Trolling Motor Cancels Radio Reception!

I have a Q3 150 efi o/b with a motorguide wireless and have not had any problems with my radio.

 

[Last Train]

Re: Q5SF Wireless Trolling Motor Cancels Radio Reception!

I have a Q3 150 efi o/b with a motorguide wireless and have not had any problems with my radio.

Thanks for your feedback. What brand/model radio is in your Q3?

I'm trying to narrow down the possibilities. For instance, the other day I carried a portable radio on board and ran the Motorguide. As usual, the stock Jensen in my Q5 was blanked out. But, the portable radio kept on as if nothing was wrong.

 

[ac0j]

Re: Q5SF Wireless Trolling Motor Cancels Radio Reception!

Make sure the radio, antenna, and motor are grounded really good. All the way to the battery is best. Is the stereo a cd or cassette as well? does it have noise on cd/cass too?
You can buy a power line filter for the radio power wire at a car stereo shop. these will normally work. You can also get an antenna filter, but all it does is sever the braided portion of the antenna coax. This may be a better option if the noise is ONLY on am/fm.

 

[yourboatmyboat]

Re: Q5SF Wireless Trolling Motor Cancels Radio Reception!

You may be in an area that general interferance is adiquite to cause the problem and the frequncy that your trolling motor is set is to close to the radio reception signal for that area.

 

[yourboatmyboat]

Re: Q5SF Wireless Trolling Motor Cancels Radio Reception!

I'm thinking an external antenna. I think that the rubber in your windshield just pulls out. Remove one of the screws. Drill out the hole just enough to put a threaded screw thru so that you can put a nut on the bottom side.Be careful not to drill the harness below. Strip back the antenne wire to put an electrical eyelet on it , put on the bottom side of the screw , put the nut on, now the windshield is your antenna.

 

[Last Train]

Re: Q5SF Wireless Trolling Motor Cancels Radio Reception!

Make sure the radio, antenna, and motor are grounded really good. All the way to the battery is best. Is the stereo a cd or cassette as well? does it have noise on cd/cass too?
You can buy a power line filter for the radio power wire at a car stereo shop. these will normally work. You can also get an antenna filter, but all it does is sever the braided portion of the antenna coax. This may be a better option if the noise is ONLY on am/fm.

A couple of quick points: (1) This rig has performed this way since first purchased brand new one year ago; everything on it is factory specified and installed, so one would think that the grounding is solid from the factory. Further, I have manually traced the wiring as best as I could to verify this; (2) Tahoe itself is now working this problem, but they've had it in Springfield for a few weeks now with no final response. My view is that the manufacturer should resolve this before I go chasing around after various possible solutions; (3) Tahoe actually informed the dealer about a noise filter (an obvious solution form my perspective), but the dealer is wondering "which filter?" And so it goes.

 

[Last Train]

Re: Q5SF Wireless Trolling Motor Cancels Radio Reception!

You may be in an area that general interferance is adiquite to cause the problem and the frequncy that your trolling motor is set is to close to the radio reception signal for that area.

The problem is not localized to an area. Plus, it's not an "interference" problem - since the AM radio signal is totally cancelled out by the trolling motor - not just resulting in static, etc.

 

[Last Train]

Re: Q5SF Wireless Trolling Motor Cancels Radio Reception!

I'm thinking an external antenna. I think that the rubber in your windshield just pulls out. Remove one of the screws. Drill out the hole just enough to put a threaded screw thru so that you can put a nut on the bottom side.Be careful not to drill the harness below. Strip back the antenne wire to put an electrical eyelet on it , put on the bottom side of the screw , put the nut on, now the windshield is your antenna.

I'll wait until Tahoe in Springfield brings me a final resolution to this before I begin modifying the Q5. Good thinking, though, if it comes to that. But I really think the problem is not the antenna; instead, it's the running of the motor's wiring along the same wiring harness as the radio's. That's a factory installation issue that they should have thought through before installing the wiring in that manner, in my opinion.

 

[Paul DuLaney]

Re: Q5SF Wireless Trolling Motor Cancels Radio Reception!

Thanks for your feedback. What brand/model radio is in your Q3?

I'm trying to narrow down the possibilities. For instance, the other day I carried a portable radio on board and ran the Motorguide. As usual, the stock Jensen in my Q5 was blanked out. But, the portable radio kept on as if nothing was wrong.

Seaworthy is the model of radio in my Q3,sorry about the late reply.

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: Q5SF Wireless Trolling Motor Cancels Radio Reception!

Was there any resolution to this issue - i have a Q5 SF - on the way... curious if there is something i should look for at delivery inspection. I suppose i can test the radio with the trolling motor running, ??out of water safe for a few minutes??