antenna ground plane

[mkoxxy]

In Rahul's thread, Mark said
"Antenna on top of rudder or tail is a bad idea due to cable routing and no
flat ground plane. Best place is top of windshield. With wing Dcell as
ground plane."

Since it is quiet on the forum, here is my input on that topic.

I recently improved my ground plane by gluing copper foil inside the
fiberglass fairing. But I also wanted to make sure the copper makes
electrical contact with the D-cell. I asked a friend make me a thin nut
plate with a 1/4" long 8-32 hole, which I riveted to the D-cell (see
photos). I think that did little to compromise the wing's strength.

I have the Quark tied down outside, and since this is Oregon, it will get
wet (raining hard today!). Some weatherstripping keeps the water out, and a
washer under the fairing lets me tighten the bolt without distorting the
fairing while also making the electrical connection.

First indications are my outgoing signal strength has improved.

I'm still hoping to get a few opportunities to fly this year, but the
weather is nasty and I worry about the Quark. Is the season over? As last
year, I'll take the (28ft!) wing off, leave it in the back of someone's
hangar, and haul the fuselage home on my utility trailer.

Don't forget the effect on gross takeoff weight when you have your
Thanksgiving dinner!

Martin

[sadowin]

I use an old peltor headset with an Icom A6. It is set up like Mark suggests and everyone always comments on how good they can hear me. It seems like some radio and headset combinations don't work well together.

[blaswichk]

My Gull 2000 had an aluminum liner inside the eyebrow that was poorly connected to the wing. When I moved up from a handheld radio to a Val 2000 panel mounted with an 8 watt output, the radio got blown out twice because the ground plane was too small. I installed a GA type antenna (Rami) that is equipped with an internal loading coil. Now the radio sounds like a Cessna and I get good “loud and clear” feedback. The little stainless steel whip is ok for the usual 1/2 watt coming out of a handheld, but needs a good ground plane for higher powered in-panel radios. Just my .02.