[ICOM] 2006 Toyota Tacoma Radio installation suggestions ?

[JOE DE GREGORIO]

     From what you state in this paragraph below, and you mentioning the word 'hash', the first thing that comes to mind is the regulator in the battery charging circuitry. When battery comes up to charge, the regulator shuts off, then battery drain, it comes up to charge again. This may explain you saying the noise level comes up then goes down. I am probably wrong, but just a thought.

     When I did a lot of mobile and had troublesome noise problems, I would use a length of small coax long enough to reach any part of the vehicle,  with one end connected to the radio, in receive, and with about 2 inches of the shield cut back on the other end.  I would go around various suspected areas of the vehicle, making certain I would not bump any hot wires. In other words use the protuding center of the coax as a probe. Using this method, check alternator area, various wiring etc.

     It will be interesting to let us know where the problem was.

       Good luck with it.

                                                                                                          Joe...W3JO 



  >I have noticed that, on occasion, for whatever reason, the noise seems
  >to drop down in level significantly.  It will stay that way for a period
  >of time (not the same period all the time) and then return to its normal
  >level.  I can't explain why it does this.