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Richard Pike
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1671
Location: Blountville, Tennessee
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 Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 4:54 pm Post subject: Radio antenna question |
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For several years we had receive problems with radio coms on the FSII N582EF, transmit was ok, but receive was terrible, could not hear squat. Discovered putting the antenna on the vertical fin was great, solved all sorts of problems.
Since it worked so good on that airplane, I tried it on the MKIII N420P and test flew it today. Reception was wonderful, ATC sounded better than they ever have before. Unfortunately, they could not understand anything I said. I was totally unreadable.
Since I am electronically challenged, do any of you guys who understand this stuff better than me have any suggestions as to why this might be? I am using a Terra TPX 720 that has always worked well in the previous setup (antenna location here on the belly: http://www.bcchapel.org/pages/0003/pg9.htm )
And it was Ok before, and I can put it back like it was, but any of you guys have any ideas of why it did this? Or suggestions to try next?
For context: used new coax, used the same antenna, but straightened, extended straight up from atop the front side of the vertical fin, slightly ahead of the brace wires and rear vertical fin tube. Do not know if the antenna mount is grounded to the airframe. Is that necessary? Aside from that, no other changes from the previous setup.
Thanks
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Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0
Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing. |
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Herb Graff
Joined: 21 Sep 2009
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 6:12 pm Post subject: Radio antenna question |
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Hi Richard,
First, yes, the mount for the antenna should definitely be grounded to the frame, which will then act as the needed counterpoise. (It affects signal strength)
Except, I don't think that will solve your problem. If ATC can hear you, but you are unintelligible, I would suspect some problem with the microphone cabling, like RF feedback into the phone wiring.
I would suggest to find a buddy with a handheld transceiver, and see how it operates on the ground, starting with engine off. If there are problems already, check all the sensitive cabling like the phone input has its shielding properly grounded. This is not a real easy problem to find and various experiments may be needed, like keying up the transmitter with the Mike not connected, etc, etc.
Let us know the results and if the problem is still in existence, the kind of noise /distortion/ interference/ motorboating is heard at the receiving end.
Herb Graff
Mk III, 246KT
In a message dated 3/31/2014 8:55:04 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, richard(at)bcchapel.org writes:
| Quote: | --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Richard Pike" <richard(at)bcchapel.org>
For several years we had receive problems with radio coms on the FSII N582EF, transmit was ok, but receive was terrible, could not hear squat. Discovered putting the antenna on the vertical fin was great, solved all sorts of problems.
Since it worked so good on that airplane, I tried it on the MKIII N420P and test flew it today. Reception was wonderful, ATC sounded better than they ever have before. Unfortunately, they could not understand anything I said. I was totally unreadable.
Since I am electronically challenged, do any of you guys who understand this stuff better than me have any suggestions as to why this might be? I am using a Terra TPX 720 that has always worked well in the previous setup (antenna location here on the belly: http://www.bcchapel.org/pages/0003/pg9.htm )
And it was Ok before, and I can put it back like it was, but any of you guys have any ideas of why it did this? Or suggestions to try next?
For context: used new coax, used the same antenna, but straightened, extended straight up from atop the front side of the vertical fin, slightly ahead of the brace wires and rear vertical fin tube. Do not know if the antenna mount is grounded to the airframe. Is that necessary? Aside from that, no other changes from the previous setup.
Thanks
--------
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0
My soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation. Psalm 35:9
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=421408#421408
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Richard Pike
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1671
Location: Blountville, Tennessee
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 5:18 am Post subject: Re: Radio antenna question |
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Thanks to all who emailed me with suggestions, I think I found the problem: while redoing the switch panel this winter I modified how the 12V power gets to the radio and apparently that is the problem. I think if I go back to wiring the radio directly to the battery things will improve.
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_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0
Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing. |
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jbhart(at)onlyinternet.ne
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:39 am Post subject: Radio antenna question |
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At 05:54 PM 3/31/2014 -0700, you wrote:
| Quote: |
For several years we had receive problems with radio coms on the FSII N582EF, transmit was ok, but receive was terrible, could not hear squat. Discovered putting the antenna on the vertical fin was great, solved all sorts of problems.
Since it worked so good on that airplane, I tried it on the MKIII N420P and test flew it today. Reception was wonderful, ATC sounded better than they ever have before. Unfortunately, they could not understand anything I said. I was totally unreadable.
Since I am electronically challenged, do any of you guys who understand this stuff better than me have any suggestions as to why this might be? I am using a Terra TPX 720 that has always worked well in the previous setup (antenna location here on the belly: http://www.bcchapel.org/pages/0003/pg9.htm )
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0
My soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation. Psalm 35:9
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Richard,
You can purchase ferrite snap beads from allelectronics.com for about $2. They are wonderful for chasing problems such as yours. Snap it over the microphone and/or power lead and see if it helps. Easy to do and it helps define where the problem is and when you find it just leave it in place.
Jack B. Hart FF004
Winchester, IN
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Richard Pike
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1671
Location: Blountville, Tennessee
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 6:46 am Post subject: Re: Radio antenna question |
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Found the problem with the radio: removed the radio's power input from the avionics buss and ran it straight off the battery. Substantial improvement, but still not good. Borrowed a different headset and ka-ching! Turned out my old headset had something wrong with it.
Took a kid flying this morning and called TRI Approach, told them I was trying out a new headset & antenna; how did it sound? "Five by five with a little background noise."
Time to quit fooling with it. Thanks to all those who were helpful.
PS: anybody got a good spare headset they want to sell? I am now in the market for one. PM me.
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_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0
Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing. |
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byoungplumbing(at)gmail.c
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| Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 9:01 am Post subject: Radio antenna question |
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Richard
I have a headset. "Pilot PA 11-60" I used it for about 100 hours, then bought some noise canceling headsets. Here is a photo, let me know if you are interested. As you can see it is still in the box.
Boyd
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