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External antenna options

Dugaru

Dugaru

Well Known Member
Okay so I've built a Stratux that looks like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ERQPPWU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Using these radio/antenna gadgets:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7NMWCD/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Everything is working great, BUT what I've discovered is that my antennas aren't well positioned. I have the unit sitting behind my head, velcroed to the crossbar, and I think the antennas (which are sticking up into the air behind my left ear, basically) are getting "blanked" by the aircraft structure in various directions. For example, I notice that they often only pick up towers on the pilot side of the airplane.

It seems to me that the ideal situation would be to have an external antenna or two instead. Several questions about that:

1. What kind of antenna(s)?
2. Presumably on the belly?
3. How does one hook them up to the Stratux? (I know zilcho about antennas and radios).

For what it's worth, my "out" solution is a Garmin 390ES (1090) and I've configured it so that it will solicit info from ground towers, as here:

https://support.foreflight.com/hc/e...30-to-enable-ADS-B-traffic-within-ForeFlight-

Thanks in advance for any help!!
 
My dual-band Stratux uses a single transponder antenna on the belly of the RV-6 about 3/4 of the way to the tail (as far back as I could 'easily' reach back into the tailcone). A splitter connects the single RG400 coax from the antenna to the two receivers in the Stratux:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015ASUJ48/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I used a Ted antenna:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TED-104-12-Aircraft-Transponder-DME-ADS-B-Post-Antenna-/140958325304?hash=item20d1c55a38:m:mPotFwG_HJqxr1lH285Bmgw&vxp=mtr

The system works very well, and the Stratux is attached out-of-sight to the sidewall of the baggage compartment just above the flap mechanism cover.
 
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FWIW the best thing is for the antennas to have a clear and unobstructed view of the ground which is where the ADS-B towers are. Having the entire airplane shield the antennas by placing them on top isn't very optimal.

:cool:
 
Sam Buchanan said:
My dual-band Stratux uses a single transponder antenna on the belly of the RV-6 about 3/4 of the way to the tail (as far back as I could 'easily' reach back into the tailcone). A splitter connects the single RG400 coax from the antenna to the two receivers in the Stratux:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015ASUJ48/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I used a Ted antenna:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TED-104-12-Aircraft-Transponder-DME-ADS-B-Post-Antenna-/140958325304?hash=item20d1c55a38:m:mPotFwG_HJqxr1lH285Bmgw&vxp=mtr

The system works very well, and the Stratux is attached out-of-sight to the sidewall of the baggage compartment just above the flap mechanism cover.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I needed to know - thanks very much!!!
 
Dugaru said:
Okay so I've built a Stratux that looks like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ERQPPWU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Using these radio/antenna gadgets:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7NMWCD/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Everything is working great, BUT what I've discovered is that my antennas aren't well positioned. I have the unit sitting behind my head, velcroed to the crossbar, and I think the antennas (which are sticking up into the air behind my left ear, basically) are getting "blanked" by the aircraft structure in various directions. For example, I notice that they often only pick up towers on the pilot side of the airplane.

It seems to me that the ideal situation would be to have an external antenna or two instead. Several questions about that:

1. What kind of antenna(s)?
2. Presumably on the belly?
3. How does one hook them up to the Stratux? (I know zilcho about antennas and radios).

For what it's worth, my "out" solution is a Garmin 390ES (1090) and I've configured it so that it will solicit info from ground towers, as here:

https://support.foreflight.com/hc/e...30-to-enable-ADS-B-traffic-within-ForeFlight-

Thanks in advance for any help!!
Click to expand...

Do you have a ground plane for these? I use the same antennae and have them mounted on the longeron behind the pilot seat. I usually get 5-8 antennas visilble. I suppose there are more that I am missing, but have never been out of coverage. My antenna ground planes are tied to the airframe. Dmurray ships these with a copper foil stripe because they require a ground plane of some sort. I originally put the Nooelec antenna on the crossbar behind the seat back between the two pilots (all signals had to go through the a/c structure to get to this) and got decent reception.

Larry
 
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lr172 said:
Do you have a ground plane for these? I use the same antennae and have them mounted on the longeron behind the pilot seat. I usually get 5-8 antennas visilble. I suppose there are more that I am missing, but have never been out of coverage. My antenna ground planes are tied to the airframe. Dmurray ships these with a copper foil stripe because they require a ground plane of some sort. I originally put the Nooelec antenna on the crossbar behind the seat back between the two pilots (all signals had to go through the a/c structure to get to this) and got decent reception.

Larry
Click to expand...
Short answer: I don't. I'll investigate. Thanks!
 
Mine is mounted like yours

I have mine mounted the same way you've described. It now works great there BUT to make it work there I have to Velcro bands around each antenna and then run another Velcro band across the top to hold them "up and out" to ensure good reception. Once I did this my reception greatly improved and the antennas stay up and in clear view of the sky - just as if it was mounted on the glare shield. Try it!
 
Have any of you found a good 12v DC to 5v DC converter to wire into the aircraft electrical system. There are a bunch of them on Amazon but I'm concerned about them potentially creating noise on the radios and wondered if anyone has experience with a good converter?
 
On my RV-9 the Transponder antenna is mounted just behind the firewall, inboard of fuel vent on the right side and the ADS-B antenna is mounted on the left side, just inboard of the left fuel vent.

No problems with receiving or transmitting.
 
DSmith said:
Have any of you found a good 12v DC to 5v DC converter to wire into the aircraft electrical system. There are a bunch of them on Amazon but I'm concerned about them potentially creating noise on the radios and wondered if anyone has experience with a good converter?
Click to expand...

I have one of these devices powering my Stratux:

https://www.amazon.com/HOBBYMATE-Switch-Mode-UBEC-Quadcopter-MultiRotors-Helicopter/dp/B01KHGHNOC/ref=pd_sbs_21_6?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01KHGHNOC&pd_rd_r=13AME60M6R0YFKAYD6HQ&pd_rd_w=xSAo8&pd_rd_wg=xuT0F&psc=1&refRID=13AME60M6R0YFKAYD6HQ

I haven't detected any noise.
 
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lr172 said:
Do you have a ground plane for these? I use the same antennae and have them mounted on the longeron behind the pilot seat. I usually get 5-8 antennas visilble. I suppose there are more that I am missing, but have never been out of coverage. My antenna ground planes are tied to the airframe. Dmurray ships these with a copper foil stripe because they require a ground plane of some sort. I originally put the Nooelec antenna on the crossbar behind the seat back between the two pilots (all signals had to go through the a/c structure to get to this) and got decent reception.

Larry
Click to expand...

So I made copper strip ground planes and so far there seems to be real improvement in reception. I may not even bother putting an antenna in the belly now. Thanks again for this info, I had totally missed it.
 
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