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Europa Classic Pre Purchase Advice

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Griffo

Joined: 18 Mar 2021
Posts: 70
Location: The Oaks, NSW, Australia

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 6:45 pm Post subject: Europa Classic Pre Purchase Advice

I have just completed my finale purchase inspection of a Europa Classic. 



If the purchase proceeds, I will probably replace the transceiver 



As you will know the Europa's composite skin facilitates the installation of an internal transceiver antenna. I this case a dipole, in the vertical tail/fin. 



My question is: Is the dipole inherently "tuned" ? or could it require SWR  adjustment ?



In my research, I checked every Europa Mandatory& Recommended Modification - all Mandatory's have been done EXCEPT a LAA "Standard Modification"  No SM11906, Issue 2, "Stabilator Torque Tube Drive Assembly Your comments/advice on this omission wold be much appreciated

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rowlandcarson(at)gmail.co
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 12:07 am Post subject: Europa Classic Pre Purchase Advice

On 2021-04-29, at 03:45, Griffo <scangriffin(at)bigpond.com.au (scangriffin(at)bigpond.com.au)> wrote: 	  Quote: 	
		  I have just completed my finale purchase inspection of a Europa Classic. If the purchase proceeds, I will probably replace the transceiver As you will know the Europa's composite skin facilitates the installation of an internal transceiver antenna. I this case a dipole, in the vertical tail/fin. My question is: Is the dipole inherently "tuned" ? or could it require SWR  adjustment ?



	




Griffo - the nominal installed length of the dipole does require to be trimmed to get optimum SWR across the aeronautical band. My comm radio (Funkwerk ATR833) requires SWR better than 3 across the operating band.



The Europa build manual, appendix C, includes (inter alia) the following:



“The recommended antenna for installation is a dipole type, the total length of which is to be a half wave length at the middle of the frequency range (127.35 MHz if you are using a 760 channel radio). The calculated length of the antenna would make each half of the dipole 588 mm (23.15”) long; however there are certain effects to be taken into consideration before the final length is determined. “End effect” makes the antenna apparently longer than it is, and so does the “dielectric effect” of the glass fibre upon which it is mounted. Both of these effects require the dipole to be shortened to bring the effective length to match the mid-frequency half wave length. The only way to take these effects into account is by use of a Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) meter.”



However, the last sentence of that extract has been overtaken by technology and I found that the easiest way to tune the dipole is by using a nanoVNA. See my build journal at:



http://www.rowlandcarson.org.uk/aviation/europa_435/nanovna_final.php



I found that the optimum frequency for the minimum SWR was not quite in the centre of the band, but the NanoVNA made it easy to get both ends of the band to the same SWR. It would have been quite tedious doing this with a VSWR meter, which can only take a reading at a single frequency. {I’m prepared to travel (but not to Australia!) with my NanoVNA to measure other builders’ antennae, when COVID precautions allow.}



If the aircraft you are purchasing has already flown, I would expect that the builder has already done what she can to tune the antenna, and you may not need to worry. But if you decide to replace the comm radio, you’ll have ready access to the antenna coax and can perform tests at that time.



Hope this helps.



in friendship



Rowland

 | Rowland Carson          ... that's Rowland with a 'w' ...| <rowlandcarson(at)gmail.com (rowlandcarson(at)gmail.com)>            http://www.rowlandcarson.org.uk| Skype, Twitter: rowland_carson      Facebook: Rowland Carson

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budyerly@msn.com

Joined: 05 Oct 2019
Posts: 288
Location: Florida USA

Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 4:50 am Post subject: Europa Classic Pre Purchase Advice

If you don't mind paying a bit, I find the AAE composite antennas are trouble free.  You can mount the com behind the bulkhead bonded to the fuselage and they work flawlessly.  No tuning or anything.

Aircraft Spruce has them.  I also find the transponder antenna really easy to use.  About $120USD for piece of mind plug and play.



Bud Yerly



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Griffo

Joined: 18 Mar 2021
Posts: 70
Location: The Oaks, NSW, Australia

Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 8:30 pm Post subject: Re: Europa Classic Pre Purchase Advice

Thanks for all that. I will asses the transmit/receive quality of the new radio when fitted.

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