Tim Olson
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2879
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 Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:11 pm Post subject: Antenna placement and adequate ground plane or ground wire |
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Just wanted to provide feedback on the WSI antenna both location and
performance re: grounding.
Today I did 400nm with the new WSI AV-300. I've never EVER had my
weather work as perfectly as this before. It's fantastic. Before,
it was very nice to have, but clearly having only one satellite
and having a piss-poor antenna didn't make it all it could be. The
new Sirius system was great, with the standard antenna. To get the
best positioning, I mounted it on the cabin top, about a foot behind
the now GPS-only antenna for my GNS-480. It's too bad that
things take antennas in the first place, but now both of these guys
have a near level mount, with a full view in all directions.
No ground plane required for either of them, which is nice too.
The new WSI didn't hiccup once for the entire trip, and it kept
me fed with good quality weather. The coolest part is now when
I sign on from the test signal to the real deal, the price is
even lower than I previously paid. So the location and
ground-plane-less install worked great.
Now, if you want to mount a COM or NAV antenna, don't think you'll
get away without that ground plane. Same thing for the Avidyne
TAS from what it sounds like too...so if you're going that route,
think ahead as John states.
Tim Olson - RV-10 N104CD - Flying
John W. Cox wrote:
| Quote: | Much of the consternation in finalizing RV-10 kit completion is the
delay in choice of avionics, the choice of antenna, selecting antenna
placement, and then final ground strapping/ground plane/ ground wire
lug. No one is saying that the purchase of avionics needs to be done
any too early. That is a lot of money $$$, but the choice should drive
the choice of antenna. The choice of antenna should drive the location
and then the method of attachment. The distance from the mount to the
avionics is also important and the best performing wire (both coax and
AWG22 power and ground) chosen. Few are even talking about horizontal
and vertical polarity. Or ½ wave, 5/8 wave and associated wind load. I
know Sausen said it didn’t amount to much but then we just replaced all
the antennae that got snapped off recently.
Seems some of the flying veterans should weigh in on how early during
the kit completion the antenna mount technique could be (should be)
resolved. I am seeing a lot of builds which delays this important choice
late into the canopy installation. I remember just one builder presented
a spreadsheet/ checkmark matrix as to what, where and why -fairly early
on, in his build. Composite canopies can play havoc with those
choices. It is humorous that so many VANs builders thing of these as
aluminum airplanes. Seems when it comes to antennae, they are more
composite in their mount location than most certificated metal aircraft.
Make it carbon fiber and its even worse.
Has anyone tried duplicating Archers with copper rather than aluminum
(inside the composite wingtip)?
Any takers? Tim’s WSI post got me reflecting… which you all know may
not be a good thing. Plus with 1,000 subscribers there are sure a lot
of lurkers and I don’t want to lose Michael Sausen’s posts again.
Thanks Tim! Maybe some of you can rate your antenna performance and
make stronger recommendations to the next 700 builders.
John Cox
#600
W7COX – (Amateur Radio) for those not informed
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