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Radio Static Help

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ScooterF15

Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 136

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 3:33 pm Post subject: Radio Static Help

Hi,

  

 I appreciate all the suggestions regarding my radio static problems. I  finally got my hands on another SL-30 unit and slid it into the tray... problem  solved. Turns out my brand new SL-30 radio was the culprit. I just got word from  Garmin that there was a bad solder joint inside my radio. 

  

 -Jim

 40134

  

 In a message dated 10/29/2007 3:37:35 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  JSMcGrew(at)aol.com writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		     4 years ago today I placed my order for RV-10 tail kit #40134 as a    birthday present to

   myself. Now, 2500 building and 100 flying hours later, I can say it was a    pretty nice gift

   and well worth it... unfortunately I haven't got all the bugs worked out    yet:

    

   I've spent the last few weeks trying to track down a problem with    radio static on my

   Garmin SL-30 Nav/Comm. The SL-30 is attached to a Garmin GMA-340 Audio    panel.

   The static itself sounds random (i.e. not obviously uniform like I would    expect from an ignition

system), however, it is somehow associated with    engine throttle setting. The

static starts around 2000 RPM and gets    progressively worse as throttle increases.

   On takeoff, it is so bad you can not comprehend any received    transmissions. During cruise it appears

to be somehow associated with    manifold pressure (i.e. throttle setting, not RPM). It makes

listening to    ATC difficult to impossible. I also think it may be affecting my    radio

transmissions as well, because when I have a hard time comprehending    ATC, they

also have a hard time understanding me. This static appears to be    only affecting

the Comm audio, there is no static on NAV audio reception. I    have a belly mounted

bent whip VHF antenna and a wingtip VOR antenna. My    handheld ICOM VHF radio

   does not have any static when used inside the cockpit.

    

   I have searched various lists for ideas and tried to solve this problem,    but

I have had no success in changing it at all (for better or worse). Any    

suggestions for what to try or where to look will be welcome. Below is a    list

of some things I have tried with no luck.

    

    

   General 

-Shut off all avionics (except SL-30) and both ignition    systems (not both at the same time)

       --So it doesn't appear to be interference from    other electronics

    

   Antenna/Coaxial cable

-Added ferrite signal filters at various    locations along comm coax.

-Connected SL-30 to a different comm antenna    using a piece of RG-400 (tried

various routings to antennas)

-Connected    SL-30 Comm to VOR antenna (great reception, still static)

       --So it doesn't appear to be antenna  related

    

   Power/ground

   -Ensured engine grounding cables have good contacts on both ends

   -Apparently new Slick Magnetos have internal suppression and do    not need a filter 

   -Separated SL-30 power/ground leads from bundle to reduce potential    interference from other wires

-Ran SL-30 +12V and ground leads directly to    battery 

   -Disconnected serial connection between my SL-30 and EFIS    indicator

-Connected SL-30 to separate 12V battery sitting on floor of    aircraft, disconnected power/ground

to GMA-340. Attached ICOM handheld    antenna directly to unit (SL-30 completely isolated

from    aircraft)-reception still has static

-Ran ground wire from battery to SL-30    tray

-Checked to ensure headseat jacks were isolated from aircraft    ground.

   -Checked the shield connections for tachometer and fuel flow sensor    wires

    

    

   I can't think of anything else to try. Again, I'd be happy to hear any    suggestions.

    

   Thanks.

    

   -Jim

   N312JE

    

   Jim    "Scooter" McGrew

http://www.mit.edu/~jsmcgrew

	


 



  

 Jim "Scooter"  McGrew

http://www.mit.edu/~jsmcgrew



Check out AOL Money & Finance's list of the hottest products and top money wasters of 2007.

  [quote][b]

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n8vim(at)arrl.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 4:35 pm Post subject: Radio Static Help

Great news!

 

 Is your SL-30 RoHS compliant? I ask because the lead-free solder tends to be much more brittle than the regular lead-based solder (and tin whiskers are a problem). where I work, in the medical field, we have an exemption (as does the military) - but with everyone EOLing (End Of Life) their components we're being taken along for the ride and have had these problems as well.

 

 Its really funny.... lead-free solder was a big problem in the early 1900's. The solder would grow 'tin whiskers' and short out connections. In the 1940's, it was discovered that you could avoid problems by adding some lead to the tin. Now, in the lead-free craze, brittle connections and tin whiskers are back! The most public result of this problem (documented in "Engineering Disasters 20" (I think its #20, possibly 18 or 19) was the loss of the G4 satellite in 1998

 

 -Jim 40384

 

 JSMcGrew(at)aol.com (JSMcGrew(at)aol.com) wrote: [quote]                  Hi,

    

   I appreciate all the suggestions regarding my radio static problems. I finally got my hands on another SL-30 unit and slid it into the tray... problem solved. Turns out my brand new SL-30 radio was the culprit. I just got word from Garmin that there was a bad solder joint inside my radio. 

    

   -Jim

   40134

    

   In a message dated 10/29/2007 3:37:35 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, JSMcGrew(at)aol.com (JSMcGrew(at)aol.com) writes:

    	  Quote: 	
		       4 years ago today I placed my order for RV-10 tail kit #40134 as a birthday present to

     myself. Now, 2500 building and 100 flying hours later, I can say it was a pretty nice gift

     and well worth it... unfortunately I haven't got all the bugs worked out yet:

      

     I've spent the last few weeks trying to track down a problem with radio static on my

     Garmin SL-30 Nav/Comm. The SL-30 is attached to a Garmin GMA-340 Audio panel.

     The static itself sounds random (i.e. not obviously uniform like I would expect from an ignition

 system), however, it is somehow associated with engine throttle setting. The

 static starts around 2000 RPM and gets progressively worse as throttle increases.

     On takeoff, it is so bad you can not comprehend any received transmissions. During cruise it appears

 to be somehow associated with manifold pressure (i.e. throttle setting, not RPM). It makes

 listening to ATC difficult to impossible. I also think it may be affecting my radio

 transmissions as well, because when I have a hard time comprehending ATC, they

 also have a hard time understanding me. This static appears to be only affecting

 the Comm audio, there is no static on NAV audio reception. I have a belly mounted

 bent whip VHF antenna and a wingtip VOR antenna. My handheld ICOM VHF radio

     does not have any static when used inside the cockpit.

      

     I have searched various lists for ideas and tried to solve this problem, but

 I have had no success in changing it at all (for better or worse). Any 

 suggestions for what to try or where to look will be welcome. Below is a list

 of some things I have tried with no luck.

      

      

     General 

 -Shut off all avionics (except SL-30) and both ignition systems (not both at the same time)

         --So it doesn't appear to be interference from other electronics

      

     Antenna/Coaxial cable

 -Added ferrite signal filters at various locations along comm coax.

 -Connected SL-30 to a different comm antenna using a piece of RG-400 (tried

 various routings to antennas)

 -Connected SL-30 Comm to VOR antenna (great reception, still static)

         --So it doesn't appear to be antenna related

      

     Power/ground

     -Ensured engine grounding cables have good contacts on both ends

     -Apparently new Slick Magnetos have internal suppression and do not need a filter 

     -Separated SL-30 power/ground leads from bundle to reduce potential interference from other wires

 -Ran SL-30 +12V and ground leads directly to battery 

     -Disconnected serial connection between my SL-30 and EFIS indicator

 -Connected SL-30 to separate 12V battery sitting on floor of aircraft, disconnected power/ground

 to GMA-340. Attached ICOM handheld antenna directly to unit (SL-30 completely isolated

 from aircraft)-reception still has static

 -Ran ground wire from battery to SL-30 tray

 -Checked to ensure headseat jacks were isolated from aircraft ground.

     -Checked the shield connections for tachometer and fuel flow sensor wires

      

      

     I can't think of anything else to try. Again, I'd be happy to hear any suggestions.

      

     Thanks.

      

     -Jim

     N312JE

      

     Jim "Scooter" McGrew

     http://www.mit.edu/~jsmcgrew

     	
   

   

    

   Jim "Scooter" McGrew

   http://www.mit.edu/~jsmcgrew

   

   

   

      Check out AOL Money & Finance's list of the hottest products and top money wasters of 2007.

    	  Quote: 	
		  

	
 [b]

- The Matronics RV10-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV10-List

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