Antennas: Difference between revisions

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=== Mounting Instructions ===
=== Mounting Instructions ===
*Summary of Rules
**GPS antenna
***2 feet min from COM antennas / transmitting antennas, better 3 feet
***6 inches from other GPS antennas and multiple GPS antennas not in a straight line front to rear, rather offset left and right
***no shadowing, far away from tail
***level
***at least 3 inches back from windscreen
***8 inch diameter ground plane
**COM antenna
***needs 18 inch square ground plane
***6 feet from other COM antennas / transmitting antennas (e.g. DME) for best performance, 3 feet minimum to prevent damage of COM receiver
***far away from ELT antenna
***top and bottom placement if simultaneous transmitting is desired on two radios without interlock
***1 foot from persons (Canada rule)
***1 foot from any protruding metal surface (gear leg, vertical stabilizer)
***far from GPS antennas
**Transponder / ADS-B antenna
***6 feet from other transmitting antennas
***3 feet from receiving antennas
***far from access panels / doors
***3 feet minimum cable length to the transponder unit
***3 inches from any protruding metal surface (gear leg, vertical stabilizer)
**Radar Altimeter antenna
***Should be near the pitch and roll center of rotation to minimize altitude change during maneuvers close to ground
***Must be within 6 degrees of being horizontal during flight
***At least 20 inches from ground when parked
***No obstructions within 120 degree cone
***Far away from other antennas (not spelled out, but generally 3 ft from receiving and 6 ft from transmitting antennas ideally)
** ELT Antenna
*** ELT antenna installation is governed by 14 CFR § 91.207 and AC 91-44A:  It asks for:
**** "Proper installation" (which means you need to follow the installation instruction from the ELT manufacturer)
**** "The presence of a sufficient signal radiated from its antenna" (annual test).
**** The antenna to be vertically mounted
*** You may install the antenna inside the airplane if
**** The airplane skin is non conductive (the RV-10 fiberglass canopy area should be fine) or  the antenna is centered behind a window of at least 12 x 12 inch size
**** You provide a ground plane for it (24 inches radius for 121 MHz!)
*EAA Videos
*EAA Videos
**[https://www.eaa.org/videos/6268473907001Antenna Placement]
**[https://www.eaa.org/videos/6268473907001 Antenna Placement]
**[https://www.eaa.org/Videos/Hints-for-Homebuilders/Electrical/6269497365001 Antenna Drilling Holes]
**[https://www.eaa.org/Videos/Hints-for-Homebuilders/Electrical/6269497365001 Antenna Drilling Holes]
**[https://www.eaa.org/Videos/Hints-for-Homebuilders/Electrical/6270628978001 Antenna Installation]
**[https://www.eaa.org/Videos/Hints-for-Homebuilders/Electrical/6270628978001 Antenna Installation]
Line 9: Line 46:
**[https://www.eaa.org/Videos/Hints-for-Homebuilders/Electrical/38486239001 Antenna Coax Connectors 2]
**[https://www.eaa.org/Videos/Hints-for-Homebuilders/Electrical/38486239001 Antenna Coax Connectors 2]
**[https://www.eaa.org/videos/77829561001 ELT Installation]
**[https://www.eaa.org/videos/77829561001 ELT Installation]
* Doubler Plates
** See chapter 23 of the Garmin G3X Touch installation manuals for GPS doubler plate templates
** Garmin sells the GA56 GPS antenna as kit which includes the doubler plate
** The GA35 GPS antenna does not include a doubler plate
** The Comant antennas don't include doubler plates
** [https://www.steinair.com/product/ga-35-gps-antenna-doubler/ Stainair Garmin GA-35 / GA-55 / GA-56 GPS Antenna Doubler]
** [https://www.steinair.com/product/garmin-gps-xm-antenna-doubler/ Steinair Garmin GA-57X GPS/XM antenna doubler]
** [https://www.chiefaircraft.com/gmn-115-00846-10.html Garmin GA-35 / GA-55 / GA-56 GPS Antenna Doubler (Part  115-00846-10)]
** [https://www.steinair.com/product/bent-whip-com-antenna-doubler/ Steinair Comant CI-121 Bent Whip Antenna Doubler]
** [https://www.steinair.com/product/ci-105-dme-transponder-antenna-doubler/ Steinair Comant CI-105 DME Transponder Antenna Doubler]
** Garmin does not provide a template for a doubler of the new [[GHA-15|GHA-15 Radar Altimeter]]. Builders show possible patterns [https://www.facebook.com/groups/vansrv10/posts/6340273269427052 here] and [https://www.facebook.com/groups/vansrv10/posts/6523286341125743 here]
** BuildFlyGo's [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFHch0x2VHA Video] on doubler design using CAD
** Rodrigo Damazio Bovendorp's [https://www.airplane.build/2023/11/custom-designs.html CAD files]
* Installation Manuals
** [http://static.garmin.com/pumac/GA35GPS_WAAS-antenna_AntennaInstallationInstructions.pdf Garmin GA35 GPS Installation Instructions]
** See the [https://static.garmin.com/pumac/190-01115-01_au.pdf Garmin G3X Touch installation manual] for GPS, VHF, Radar Altimeter antenna location considerations
** see page 115 of the [https://www.advancedflightsystems.com/downloads/AdvancedPanel%20Installation%20Manual%20V6.1.pdf AFS ACM installation manual] for RV-10 specific antenna placement
** See also paragraph 603 (page 98) of [https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC43-206part2.pdf AC43-206 part 2].


=== Antennas ===
=== Antennas ===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|Garmin GPS antenna for G3X||GA56 ('''BNC''' connector)<BR>(not included with G3X)
|Garmin GPS antenna for G3X||GA56 ('''BNC''' connector)<BR>(not included with G3X)<br>"kit" contains doubler plate
|+
|+
|Garmin GPS antenna for certified GPSs (GTN650, GNX,...)||GA35 ('''TNC''' screw-on connector)<BR>(GPS price might include antenna or not, check with vendor, Sarasota includes it)
|Garmin GPS antenna for certified GPSs (GTN650, GNX,...)||GA35 ('''TNC''' screw-on connector)<BR>(GPS price might include antenna or not, check with vendor, Sarasota includes it)
|+
|+
|Transponder / ADS-B antenna||Comant CI-E05 (experimental version)
|Transponder / ADS-B antenna<br>Needs to include 978 to 1090 MHz range||Comant CI-E05 (experimental version of CI-105)
[[File:Xponder.png|132x132px]]
[[File:Xponder.png|132x132px]]
|+
|+
|VHF top antenna
|VHF top antenna
(works better for ground communications)
(works better for ground communications)
|Comant CI-E21 (experimental version)
|Comant CI-E21 (experimental version of CI-121)
[[File:Top vhf.png|141x141px]]
[[File:Top vhf.png|141x141px]]
|+
|+
|VHF bottom antenna
|VHF bottom antenna
(works well when airborne but not necessarily on ground)
(works well when airborne but not necessarily on ground)
|Comant CE-E22 (experimental version)<br>[[File:Bottom vhf.png|120px]]
|Comant CI-E22 (experimental version of CI-122)<br>[[File:Bottom vhf.png|120px]]
|+
|+
|MB antenna||Rami AV-64
 
|+
|+
|VOR/GS antenna||Archer VOR ANT LT Model 1 (different order number for left and right, please check)
|VOR/GS antenna||[[File:catwhisker.png|140x140px]]<br>"Cat Whisker" antennas (for top of VS or bottom of tailcone), e.g. AV-12L (low profile antenna, Spruce Part# 11-05847) or AV-532L (sturdier body, Spruce Part# 11-05101)<br>[[FIle:bobarcher.png|140x140px]]<br>Archer VOR ANT LT Model 1 (Spruce Part# 11-21015-1, but different order number for left and right, please check)
|+
|+
|ELT antenna||(whatever comes with your ELT)
|ELT antenna||(whatever comes with your ELT)
|+
|Marker Beacon antenna||Rami AV-64<br>[[File:Screen Shot 2023-10-07 at 1.17.12 PM.png|140x140px]]
|+
|Radar Altimeter||[[File:gha15.png|140x140px]]<br>Garmin GHA-15, see also page [[GHA-15]].
|}
|}


[[File:NAV_antenna.jpg|600px]]
[[File:NAV_antenna.jpg|600px]]


Example of Bob Archer NAV / Glideslope Antenna mounted in aftermarket Aveo ZipTip.
Example of Bob Archer NAV / Glideslope Antenna mounted in aftermarket Aveo ZipTip. Note how the outer edge of the hinge overlaps to the center line of the attachment plate.
 
See also the Bob Archer original articles on aircraft antennas [http://www.aeroelectric.com/articles/Antennas/Antennas_for_Aircraft.pdf here].
 
Frequency plot of Bob Archer antenna (shows 50 Ohm and resonance in the VOR/LOC frequency range of 108-118 MHz):


[[File:Archer plot1.jpg|600x600px]]
[[File:Archer plot1.jpg|600x600px]]

Latest revision as of 18:43, 5 January 2024

Mounting Instructions

  • Summary of Rules
    • GPS antenna
      • 2 feet min from COM antennas / transmitting antennas, better 3 feet
      • 6 inches from other GPS antennas and multiple GPS antennas not in a straight line front to rear, rather offset left and right
      • no shadowing, far away from tail
      • level
      • at least 3 inches back from windscreen
      • 8 inch diameter ground plane
    • COM antenna
      • needs 18 inch square ground plane
      • 6 feet from other COM antennas / transmitting antennas (e.g. DME) for best performance, 3 feet minimum to prevent damage of COM receiver
      • far away from ELT antenna
      • top and bottom placement if simultaneous transmitting is desired on two radios without interlock
      • 1 foot from persons (Canada rule)
      • 1 foot from any protruding metal surface (gear leg, vertical stabilizer)
      • far from GPS antennas
    • Transponder / ADS-B antenna
      • 6 feet from other transmitting antennas
      • 3 feet from receiving antennas
      • far from access panels / doors
      • 3 feet minimum cable length to the transponder unit
      • 3 inches from any protruding metal surface (gear leg, vertical stabilizer)
    • Radar Altimeter antenna
      • Should be near the pitch and roll center of rotation to minimize altitude change during maneuvers close to ground
      • Must be within 6 degrees of being horizontal during flight
      • At least 20 inches from ground when parked
      • No obstructions within 120 degree cone
      • Far away from other antennas (not spelled out, but generally 3 ft from receiving and 6 ft from transmitting antennas ideally)
    • ELT Antenna
      • ELT antenna installation is governed by 14 CFR § 91.207 and AC 91-44A: It asks for:
        • "Proper installation" (which means you need to follow the installation instruction from the ELT manufacturer)
        • "The presence of a sufficient signal radiated from its antenna" (annual test).
        • The antenna to be vertically mounted
      • You may install the antenna inside the airplane if
        • The airplane skin is non conductive (the RV-10 fiberglass canopy area should be fine) or the antenna is centered behind a window of at least 12 x 12 inch size
        • You provide a ground plane for it (24 inches radius for 121 MHz!)

Antennas

Garmin GPS antenna for G3X GA56 (BNC connector)
(not included with G3X)
"kit" contains doubler plate
Garmin GPS antenna for certified GPSs (GTN650, GNX,...) GA35 (TNC screw-on connector)
(GPS price might include antenna or not, check with vendor, Sarasota includes it)
Transponder / ADS-B antenna
Needs to include 978 to 1090 MHz range		 Comant CI-E05 (experimental version of CI-105)

VHF top antenna

(works better for ground communications)

Comant CI-E21 (experimental version of CI-121)

VHF bottom antenna

(works well when airborne but not necessarily on ground)

Comant CI-E22 (experimental version of CI-122)
VOR/GS antenna
"Cat Whisker" antennas (for top of VS or bottom of tailcone), e.g. AV-12L (low profile antenna, Spruce Part# 11-05847) or AV-532L (sturdier body, Spruce Part# 11-05101)

Archer VOR ANT LT Model 1 (Spruce Part# 11-21015-1, but different order number for left and right, please check)
ELT antenna (whatever comes with your ELT)
Marker Beacon antenna Rami AV-64
Radar Altimeter
Garmin GHA-15, see also page GHA-15.

Example of Bob Archer NAV / Glideslope Antenna mounted in aftermarket Aveo ZipTip. Note how the outer edge of the hinge overlaps to the center line of the attachment plate.

See also the Bob Archer original articles on aircraft antennas here.

Frequency plot of Bob Archer antenna (shows 50 Ohm and resonance in the VOR/LOC frequency range of 108-118 MHz):

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