Earthstar Forums

I got in a bit of trouble flying into a controlled airport because of my crappy radio.
So I went nuts and bought the MGL V 10. I mounted it and did a test. Everyone hears me load and clear, but I still am not happy with what I am hearing. So I have ordered a high end bent antenna and a high end coax cable.
I will let you guys know how that works out.

It hasn't taken me long to figure out why aviators don't have any money.
As soon as they get some, they blow it all on their airplanes!
It's a disease!

Fred

I'm curious to see how this new radio works out in the real world. The features appear wonderful.

Skot

In a message dated 9/19/2011 5:56:02 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
SWeidemann@aol.com writes:


I'm curious to see how this new radio works out in the real world. The
features appear wonderful.

Skot

On Sep 19, 2011, at 4:34 PM, "Fred" <_gayford@golden.net_
(mailto:gayford@golden.net) > wrote:

>
> I got in a bit of trouble flying into a controlled airport because of my
crappy radio.
> So I went nuts and bought the MGL V 10. I mounted it and did a test.
Everyone hears me load and clear, but I still am not happy with what I am
hearing. So I have ordered a high end bent antenna and a high end coax cable.
> I will let you guys know how that works out.
>
> It hasn't taken me long to figure out why aviators don't have any money.
> As soon as they get some, they blow it all on their airplanes!
> It's a disease!
>
> Fred
>



Hi Fred
make sure that your antenna is mounted on top of the windshield and grounds
to the steel tube frame and the aluminum top window support and the Dcell
attachment is clean and makes a good connection so that the Dcell acts as a
good ground plane. The little ss antenna that we build generally works
better than the bent antennas if there not tight. The secret to success is how
careful you are at taking care of the details. aseptically with the radio.
Also make sure that your coax cable is not parallel to any AC wires that
will induce static in to the cable.
Happy Flying
Mark

Hey Fred, when the radio is right, you can hear quite well, even above the din of the engine.................when they are speaking up. I sometimes have to pipe up and ask them to speak louder. I think that some of those quite announcing pilots are probably wearing ANR headsets in their already quieter airplane. It's nice having a new radio, and I kinda like the top of the wing mounting of the antennae like mine came with, but my friend Jerry's Titan works just fine too with the antennae on the belly. My plane also has a fiberglass bottom, and that's probably why the antennae has to be on top.


kb

In a message dated 9/19/2011 10:44:46 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
kessb@wavecable.com writes:

Hey Fred, when the radio is right, you can hear quite well, even above the
din of the engine.................when they are speaking up. I sometimes
have to pipe up and ask them to speak louder. I think that some of those
quite announcing pilots are probably wearing ANR headsets in their already
quieter airplane. It's nice having a new radio, and I kinda like the top of
the wing mounting of the antennae like mine came with, but my friend Jerry's
Titan works just fine too with the antennae on the belly. My plane also has
a fiberglass bottom, and that's probably why the antennae has to be on top.


kb



Hi Kess
The antenna is on top because it uses the connection to the wing as an
extended ground plane. the titan, being a modified copy of the J series has
aluminum belly skins and this allows a ground plane but down there it is
subject to damage and the wing Dcell focusses the waves better. wile flying i
have talked to friends flying thundergulls over 200 miles away with the small
hand held radio and the top mounted antenna ground plane combination. Make
sure the powdercoating in removed from the connection on the Dcell to the
frame.
Happy Flying,
Mark

That's what I was kinda thinking.

kb

thanks Mark.
I will keep that in mind.
I know there isn't room to put the antenna on the floor pan, but if you could would that be the better location?
Or... Just thinking here. What about mounting it half way between the bottom and the side
on the curve or 45 degrees looking from the front.
This would give some clearance and still be below some what.
If this discription is unclear imagine it coming out at the same angle as the rear gear leg on the left side of the plane pointing backward. But being mounted more to the front 1/2 way.
Fred

Hi Fred
The best place that we have found for the antenna is the top of the
windsield. we have tested 10 different locations. The bottom was the worst.
aseptically if it gets bumped and the connection is broaken and than the radio
is trying to pump out the high power signal and cant send it through the
antenna and feeds back against the transmitter damaging the transmitter. Think
of the antenna as sending out a huge donut that is hovering around the
antenna like a haylo if it is some od angle than it will not communicate as
well with the antennas that are vertically polarized ours is not exactly
vertically polarized because it is aimed at the receiver due to the angle that
is blit in to it. it actually does not receive as well from behind but does
a better job from the front. I can talk to someone 200 miles away from the
front but only 150 from behind. Most of the time I am pointed at the
station I want to talk to any way.
Happy flying
Mark

Hi Mark
Your testing will save me time trying to re-invent the wheel so to speak.
I will mount it in the same place you suggested. I am totally new at dealing with radios and transmissions.
Thanks
Fred

Oh, by the way, the best antennae location on the Titans wound up on the top of the wing also.

kb