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Radio Noise

 
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rv7a(at)cox.net
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:43 am    Post subject: Radio Noise Reply with quote
Here is a tough one that maybe some of you guys can point me in the right direction to look. Set up is: RV-7A with an SL-30, Bob Archer antenna in left wingtip, with PTT on stick also FWIW I have a P-Mag and E-mag. Radio is excellent on ground in both transmit and receive, reception in air is OK however when I press the PTT the noise is horrible with static and breaking up. This has been a consistent condition. Attempts to correct the problem have been: checking antenna installation in wingtip, everything seems fine, Checking connectors where stick PTT plugs into the system, the PTT pin may not have been fully seated, it is now, trying different headsets. Nothing has solved the problem to date. I have been working with the tower on this flying the same circuit and when I contact them it is always somewhere between almost NORDO to just generally poor communications. When I'm back on the ground everything is just fine again. Ideas, directions or suggestions?

Jim Thorne
RV-7A CHD
About 12 Hours now.
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pitts_pilot(at)bellsouth.
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 10:12 am    Post subject: Radio Noise Reply with quote
Some more info:
Jim Thorne wrote:
Quote:
Here is a tough one that maybe some of you guys can point me in the right direction to look. Set up is: RV-7A with an SL-30, Bob Archer antenna in left wingtip, with PTT on stick also FWIW I have a P-Mag and E-mag. Radio is excellent on ground in both transmit and receive, reception in air is OK however when I press the PTT the noise is horrible with static and breaking up.


In your headset, or the tower's?
Quote:
This has been a consistent condition. Attempts to correct the problem have been: checking antenna installation in wingtip, everything seems fine, Checking connectors where stick PTT plugs into the system, the PTT pin may not have been fully seated, it is now, trying different headsets. Nothing has solved the problem to date. I have been working with the tower on this flying the same circuit and when I contact them it is always somewhere between almost NORDO to just generally poor communications. When I'm back on the ground everything is just fine again.


Even with high RPM on the ground???
Quote:
Ideas, directions or suggestions?


Does the noise change with changes in RPM in the air??
Horrible static sounds like fairly high current arcing is taking place in the air. Pull all the accessories off-line (switches, fuses, ckt breakers open) and try transmissions with only the radios powered. Turn off the alternator. You may even have to turn off the mags and glide for a transmission or two. Don't have any experience with P or E-mags so don't know if they need or have P-lead filters. Let us know what the testing does.
Linn
[quote] do not archive

Jim Thorne
RV-7A CHD
About 12 Hours now.


Quote:


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href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com
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carl.froehlich(at)verizon
Guest
PostPosted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 4:59 pm    Post subject: Radio Noise Reply with quote
Jim,

My guess is you have a classic example of installing a fairly complex antenna, following instructions, but then not doing the antenna testing and tuning to make it work. >From your description you have RF getting back into the audio, either via the radio or audio panel. The first thing I would look at is antenna tuning. If not properly tuned, the antenna will reflect some of the transmit energy back to the radio via the feed line. While a very poor antenna will always receive and transmit something, both will be degraded. On the ground the proximity to the earth may mask this problem.

I built two wingtip antennas similar in design to the Archer antenna. I also have 30 years of playing with all kinds of antennas and some basic test equipment to verify they are properly tuned. The one op check I did with someone flying next to me using an out of the box Archer antenna resulted in the controller hearing me but not hearing the other guy. I can also verify the wingtip communication antenna does not work as well as a belly mounted whip (my primary antenna), but it works good enough.

The Archer is a good product, but without tuning it or not having it properly mounted the performance could be hit or miss. Recommend you find yourself a knowledgeable Amateur Radio Operator to come over and take a look.

Carl Froehlich
KV4U
RV-8A (540 hrs)
RV-10 (system install)

From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Jim Thorne
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 1:42 PM
To: rv-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Radio Noise



Here is a tough one that maybe some of you guys can point me in the right direction to look. Set up is: RV-7A with an SL-30, Bob Archer antenna in left wingtip, with PTT on stick also FWIW I have a P-Mag and E-mag. Radio is excellent on ground in both transmit and receive, reception in air is OK however when I press the PTT the noise is horrible with static and breaking up. This has been a consistent condition. Attempts to correct the problem have been: checking antenna installation in wingtip, everything seems fine, Checking connectors where stick PTT plugs into the system, the PTT pin may not have been fully seated, it is now, trying different headsets. Nothing has solved the problem to date. I have been working with the tower on this flying the same circuit and when I contact them it is always somewhere between almost NORDO to just generally poor communications. When I'm back on the ground everything is just fine again. Ideas, directions or suggestions?



Jim Thorne

RV-7A CHD

About 12 Hours now.


Quote:
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emrath(at)comcast.net
Guest
PostPosted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 5:01 am    Post subject: Radio Noise Reply with quote
Jim,
I have a newly minted RV-6A with a similar set up, about 10 hours on it now.
I had to adjust my Side Tone on the SL-30 because of feedback thru the mike.
The procedure should be in your manual. I turned the side tone down and it's
now much better. Strange, I'm using DC 13X headset but the new DC 11X I
purchased for my co-pilot doesn't have the same problem. Also, the transmit
noise seems to be worse with the ANR turned off. Hope this helps.
Marty in Brentwood TN

Time: 11:12:24 AM PST US
From: Linn Walters <pitts_pilot(at)bellsouth.net>
Subject: Re: Radio Noise

Some more info:
Jim Thorne wrote:
Quote:
Here is a tough one that maybe some of you guys can point me in the
right direction to look. Set up is: RV-7A with an SL-30, Bob Archer
antenna in left wingtip, with PTT on stick also FWIW I have a P-Mag
and E-mag. Radio is excellent on ground in both transmit and receive,
reception in air is OK however when I press the PTT the noise is
horrible with static and breaking up.
In your headset, or the tower's?

Quote:
This has been a consistent condition. Attempts to correct the
problem have been: checking antenna installation in wingtip,
everything seems fine, Checking connectors where stick PTT plugs into
the system, the PTT pin may not have been fully seated, it is now,
trying different headsets. Nothing has solved the problem to date. I
have been working with the tower on this flying the same circuit and
when I contact them it is always somewhere between almost NORDO to
just generally poor communications. When I'm back on the ground
everything is just fine again.
Even with high RPM on the ground???

Quote:
Ideas, directions or suggestions?
Does the noise change with changes in RPM in the air??

Horrible static sounds like fairly high current arcing is taking place
in the air. Pull all the accessories off-line (switches, fuses, ckt
breakers open) and try transmissions with only the radios powered. Turn
off the alternator. You may even have to turn off the mags and glide
for a transmission or two. Don't have any experience with P or E-mags
so don't know if they need or have P-lead filters. Let us know what the
testing does.
Linn
Quote:
do not archive
Jim Thorne
RV-7A CHD
About 12 Hours now.
*


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grenwis(at)aol.com
Guest
PostPosted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 5:42 am    Post subject: Radio Noise Reply with quote
Jim,

I have the Icom A200 radio, but the symptoms sound similar enough. I would suggest you
turn down the Mic Gain in the radio. For my first flights, it was painful to key the mic as
the noise in my ears was like a sledgehammer. The cockpit of the RV's is a really noisy
place and that noise gets into the mic and gets amplified. On the Icom, there is a foil
sticky on the top surface of the radio. Peel that back and there is a variable resistor inside.
Note where it is, then turn it down some. I think in my case it was originally about half way
and I turned it down to about 1/4 and took a flight to check. After about three flights, you'll
zero in on where you want it. I hope this is the cause of your problem because it is an
easy fix.


Rick Grenwis
RV-6A 220 hours Denver, CO



Quote:
________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________
Time: 10:43:01 AM PST US
From: "Jim Thorne" <rv7a(at)cox.net (rv7a(at)cox.net)>
Subject: Radio Noise

Here is a tough one that maybe some of you guys can point me in the
right direction to look. Set up is: RV-7A with an SL-30, Bob Archer
antenna in left wingtip, with PTT on stick also FWIW I have a P-Mag and
E-mag. Radio is excellent on ground in both transmit and receive,
reception in air is OK however when I press the PTT the noise is
horrible with static and breaking up. This has been a consistent
condition. Attempts to correct the problem have been: checking antenna
installation in wingtip, everything seems fine, Checking connectors
where stick PTT plugs into the system, the PTT pin may not have been
fully seated, it is now, trying different headsets. Nothing has solved
the problem to date. I have been working with the tower on this flying
the same circuit and when I contact them it is always somewhere between
almost NORDO to just generally poor communications. When I'm back on the
ground everything is just fine again. Ideas, directions or suggestions?

Jim Thorne
RV-7A CHD
About 12 Hours now.

______



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