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Trouble transmitting...

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tomrv4(at)me.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 8:04 am Post subject: Trouble transmitting...

I have an RV4 with an Icom A200 radio installed. The antenna is a bent whip installed on the bottom of the fuselage between the gear legs. The plane has been flying for 6+ years with this setup, and working fine.



The only problem I've ever had with ATC hearing my calls is on the ground, when (I assume) a gear leg is blocking transmission. I can turn the plane slightly and they hear me fine. In the air, I've never had a problem with reception or transmission, even at fairly long distances.



Yesterday I flew a cross country and called for flight following soon after my departure from my uncontrolled airport. They heard me fine, and gave me a squawk code. They acknowledged my position, and no further comm with me until he was ready to hand me off. I was hearing all his other exchanges with other planes. He called to hand off, and I acknowledged. (Transmit light on the A200 came on). Before I could switch, he called back with the same transmission. He hadn't heard my reply. I tried several times to respond and no luck. 



I switched freq's and I couldn't raise the next controller either. I waited 10 min or so and finally got him. I'm assuming my transmissions were weak, and only got thru when I was close to their antenna. I just cancelled with him, and continued on.



..reception is perfect

..transmit light on A200 illuminating 

..my radio is being heard by ATC intermittently



Where should I start troubleshooting?



Thanks!

Tom

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dave.saylor.aircrafters(a
Guest

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 8:25 am Post subject: Trouble transmitting...

Easiest thing first: Â I've seen what you're describing when the power wire broke *almost* completely--only one or two strands remained. Â I assume the radio couldn't draw enough power to put out a decent transmission, as it takes much more power to transmit than to do any of the other things it normally does. Â Same would go for the ground as well, and either one might only show intermittently.

   Dave Saylor

[url=tel:831-750-0284]831-750-0284[/url] CL

  [quote][b]

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nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 8:51 am Post subject: Trouble transmitting...

At 11:03 AM 7/6/2013, you wrote:

 --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: Tom Chapman <tomrv4(at)me.com>



 I have an RV4 with an Icom A200 radio installed. The antenna is a bent whip installed on the bottom of the fuselage between the gear legs. The plane has been flying for 6+ years with this setup, and working fine.



 The only problem I've ever had with ATC hearing my calls is on the ground, when (I assume) a gear leg is blocking transmission. I can turn the plane slightly and they hear me fine. In the air, I've never had a problem with reception or transmission, even at fairly long distances.



 Yesterday I flew a cross country and called for flight following soon after my departure from my uncontrolled airport. They heard me fine, and gave me a squawk code. They acknowledged my position, and no further comm with me until he was ready to hand me off. I was hearing all his other exchanges with other planes. He called to hand off, and I acknowledged. (Transmit light on the A200 came on). Before I could switch, he called back with the same transmission. He hadn't heard my reply. I tried several times to respond and no luck. 



 I switched freq's and I couldn't raise the next controller either. I waited 10 min or so and finally got him. I'm assuming my transmissions were weak, and only got thru when I was close to their antenna. I just cancelled with him, and continued on.



 ..reception is perfect

 ..transmit light on A200 illuminating 

 ..my radio is being heard by ATC intermittently



 Where should I start troubleshooting?



    Given the long history of un-eventful and

    satisfactory performance, the first rocks

    to peek under are things most likely to

    have CHANGED. 



    The first thing I would do is get an SWR/PWR

    meter and check both transmitter power output

    -AND- antenna SWR. Two things that might have

    changed is condition of the transmitter's power

    output stages or condition of the antenna

    and its feed line.



    Here's a good example of a tool for this task.



  http://tinyurl.com/k4t2pn9



    We reviewed this product here on the List a

    couple of years ago. It's a great performer

    at a very reasonable price. Every EAA chapter

    ought to have one to lend to members. Problems

    like these yield only to quantifiable measurement.



    If you acquire one of these, you will want to

    acquire N-male to F-BNC adapters.



  http://tinyurl.com/ksmdxch



    and a short piece of good coax (about 2' long)

    with a BNC-Male on each end.



  http://tinyurl.com/cgr42l5 (scroll down to RB-142 Cable Assemblies)



    Lord Kelvin expressed it thusly:  “When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely, in your thoughts advanced to the stage of science.” 

    Bob . . .    [quote][b]

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tomrv4(at)me.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 6:05 am Post subject: Trouble transmitting...

Thanks Bob and Dave!

I have a starting point now and will get going on it tomorrow...

Tom



[quote]

 ..reception is perfect

 ..transmit light on A200 illuminating 

 ..my radio is being heard by ATC intermittently



 Where should I start troubleshooting?



    Given the long history of un-eventful and

    satisfactory performance, the first rocks

    to peek under are things most likely to

    have CHANGED. 



    The first thing I would do is get an SWR/PWR

    meter and check both transmitter power output

    -AND- antenna SWR. Two things that might have

    changed is condition of the transmitter's power

    output stages or condition of the antenna

    and its feed line.



    Here's a good example of a tool for this task.



  http://tinyurl.com/k4t2pn9



    We reviewed this product here on the List a

    couple of years ago. It's a great performer

    at a very reasonable price. Every EAA chapter

    ought to have one to lend to members. Problems

    like these yield only to quantifiable measurement.



    If you acquire one of these, you will want to

    acquire N-male to F-BNC adapters.



  http://tinyurl.com/ksmdxch



    and a short piece of good coax (about 2' long)

    with a BNC-Male on each end.



  http://tinyurl.com/cgr42l5 (scroll down to RB-142 Cable Assemblies)



    Lord Kelvin expressed it thusly:  â€œWhen you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely, in your thoughts advanced to the stage of science.â€ 

    Bob . . .     	  Quote: 	
		  



	


[b]

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Mark(at)wessonair.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 3:41 am Post subject: Trouble transmitting...

Tom,

 This sounds like a problem I have on a regular basis  with a perfect radio.

 If you are being handed off it is becuase you are  exiting his area and entering the next. This usually puts you at the furthest  point from both radios.

 I have this problem even flying IFR in some more remote  places.

 A radio power output  and SWR check are a good  maintenance ckeck item anyway but I would not be too worrried about one  event.

  

   

Mark  Wesson<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns  = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

 

  



   From:  owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com  [mailto:owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Tom  Chapman

Sent: Sunday, July 07, 2013 10:04 AM

To:  aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Re: AeroElectric-List:  Trouble transmitting...

 

 Thanks Bob and Dave!

 



 I have a starting point now and will get going on it tomorrow...

 



 Tom



 [quote]   

...reception is perfect

...transmit light on A200 illuminating    

...my radio is being heard by ATC intermittently



Where should I    start troubleshooting?



   Given the long history of    un-eventful and

   satisfactory performance, the first    rocks

   to peek under are things most likely to

      have CHANGED. 



   The first thing I would do is get an    SWR/PWR

   meter and check both transmitter power    output

   -AND- antenna SWR. Two things that might    have

   changed is condition of the transmitter's    power

   output stages or condition of the    antenna

   and its feed line.



   Here's a good    example of a tool for this task.



http://tinyurl.com/k4t2pn9



   We    reviewed this product here on the List a

   couple of years ago.    It's a great performer

   at a very reasonable price. Every EAA    chapter

   ought to have one to lend to members.    Problems

   like these yield only to quantifiable    measurement.



   If you acquire one of these, you will want    to

   acquire N-male to F-BNC adapters.



http://tinyurl.com/ksmdxch



   and a    short piece of good coax (about 2' long)

   with a BNC-Male on    each end.



http://tinyurl.com/cgr42l5 (scroll down to RB-142 Cable    Assemblies)



   Lord Kelvin expressed it thusly:         “When you can measure what you are speaking about,      and express it in numbers, you know something about it,      when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge      is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the      beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely, in      your thoughts advanced to the stage of science.”      



     

  Bob . . .  	  Quote: 	
		  



	






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