Today's Message Index:
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1. 07:15 AM - Transponder antennas (Harley)
2. 10:38 AM - Re: Transponder antennas (Robert L. Nuckolls, III)
3. 11:42 AM - Re: Transponder antennas (Harley)
Message 1
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| Subject: | Transponder antennas |
Now that I'm finally finished with construction, and in the
process of getting the instruments and engine installed, I
decided yesterday to collect all the little bags of pieces and
parts that I've acquired over the years to see what I have, and
what I may need.
In the process, I found that I have two transponder antennas.
Apparently, one I got from RST when I bought the antenna set for
my Long EZ from him, and the other came with the Microair
transponder. They are slightly different, and is there any
reason to believe that one is better than the other?
Jim Weir's (at least I THINK RST supplied it. It's been too many
years ago! <G>) is simply a straight aluminum rod, threaded on
one end. It comes with tab type connectors and grommets (to
isolate it from the ground plane) that mount between the nuts for
the wires to attach.
The other one was made by TED Manufacturing of Kansas for
Microair, looks more "professional" and already terminates in a
BNC connector. The other end has a ball tip, and although not
magnetic appears too hard and shiny to made of aluminum. I
believe it is stainless steel. The antenna is solidly mounted
through the center of the BNC connector, isolated from the
outside by a plastic sleeve.
The Microair unit did not come with a ground plane (I guess they
assume I have a metal aircraft), but the RST unit did. So, I'll
be using the RST ground plane plate (it's a 5-1/2 inch diameter
octagon) with either one.
They are both EXACTLY the same length (tip to connector), So, the
questions...
In identical location installations, which one might prove to be
better as a transpoder antenna in a Long EZ? Does the ball tip
do anything other than not poking out an eye? Is the stainless a
worse application for the antenna than the aluminum one? Is the
"professionally" manufactured unit with the antenna mounted
directly to, but isolated from, the BNC connector a more robust
mounting.
Or doesn't it make any difference (since many of you simply use a
bolt)?
Harley Dixon
Long EZ N28EZ
www.agelesswings.com
Message 2
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| Subject: | Re: Transponder antennas |
Now that I'm finally finished with construction, and in the process
of getting the instruments and engine installed, I decided yesterday
to collect all the little bags of pieces and parts that I've acquired
over the years to see what I have, and what I may need.
In the process, I found that I have two transponder
antennas. Apparently, one I got from RST when I bought the antenna
set for my Long EZ from him, and the other came with the Microair
transponder. They are slightly different, and is there any reason to
believe that one is better than the other?
Depends on what you call "better". From a performance perspective,
there is probably no observable difference.
Jim Weir's (at least I THINK RST supplied it. It's been too many
years ago! <G>) is simply a straight aluminum rod, threaded on one
end. It comes with tab type connectors and grommets (to isolate it
from the ground plane) that mount between the nuts for the wires to attach.
The other one was made by TED Manufacturing of Kansas for Microair,
looks more "professional" and already terminates in a BNC
connector. The other end has a ball tip, and although not magnetic
appears too hard and shiny to made of aluminum. I believe it is
stainless steel. The antenna is solidly mounted through the center
of the BNC connector, isolated from the outside by a plastic sleeve.
The Microair unit did not come with a ground plane (I guess they
assume I have a metal aircraft), but the RST unit did. So, I'll be
using the RST ground plane plate (it's a 5-1/2 inch diameter octagon)
with either one.
They are both EXACTLY the same length (tip to connector), So, the questions...
In identical location installations, which one might prove to be
better as a transpoder antenna in a Long EZ? Does the ball tip do
anything other than not poking out an eye? Is the stainless a worse
application for the antenna than the aluminum one? Is the
"professionally" manufactured unit with the antenna mounted directly
to, but isolated from, the BNC connector a more robust mounting.
Or doesn't it make any difference (since many of you simply use a bolt)?
Your plastic airplane drives a requirement for
adding a ground plane under the antenna. Whether
you fabricate one or use the RST part makes no
difference. The TED product is probably more robust
and makes a cleaner interface with the feed line.
So a plan to pick the best of parts from two
antennas in search of the most elegant solution
is sound.
Could you photograph the RST product and post
the picture to the list?
I searched the 'net for a picture and/or references
to the RST transponder antenna and stumbled across this
entry by Jim Wier:
I'm starting my Oshkosh forum writing and I need to know if anybody has a spare
commercial transponder antenna -- the kind with a BNC connector on
one end and a
little chrome BB on the other end, mounts in a single hole. I had
three or four
of them and have given them away over the years to folks that needed one.
Beg, borrow, steal, or buy. Your choice. Happy to reciprocate some day when
YOU need something. I'll be happy to send a SASbox if that is your preference.
Jim
It does give one pause to wonder why he wasn't installing
one of his own antennas . . . or it may well be that
the antenna you have didn't come from RST. In any
case, I'd like to see it . . . or if you have no
plans to use it, might I have it?
Bob . . .
Message 3
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| Subject: | Re: Transponder antennas |
Since there is functionally no difference between the two
antennas, sure, you can have the "RST" unit, Bob...I'll use the
TED antenna (it looks more professional!)...and fabricate a new
ground plane plate for it.
Now you've got me wondering. If it was not from RST, then I have
no idea where else I would have got that aluminum antenna
from...it was on a shelf at my hangar with the parts that I did
get from RST that I didn't use (nav antenna and some BNC
connectors and cable)...and the octagon ground plane was with
it. BTW...now that I've had it in my hand, the grommet is fiber,
not rubber.
I'll send the ground plane along with it...where do you want me
to send them?
Here's two pictures of the front and back of it that I just took
a few minutes ago (I assembled it...the small parts all came in a
small plastic bag...the ground plane was separate):
What do you plan to do with it?
Harley
-----------------------------------------------------------------
On 10/25/2011 1:34 PM, Robert L. Nuckolls, III wrote:
> Now that I'm finally finished with construction, and in the
> process of getting the instruments and engine installed, I
> decided yesterday to collect all the little bags of pieces and
> parts that I've acquired over the years to see what I have, and
> what I may need.
>
> In the process, I found that I have two transponder antennas.
> Apparently, one I got from RST when I bought the antenna set
> for my Long EZ from him, and the other came with the Microair
> transponder. They are slightly different, and is there any
> reason to believe that one is better than the other?
>
> Depends on what you call "better". From a performance
> perspective,
> there is probably no observable difference.
>
> Jim Weir's (at least I THINK RST supplied it. It's been too
> many years ago! <G>) is simply a straight aluminum rod,
> threaded on one end. It comes with tab type connectors and
> grommets (to isolate it from the ground plane) that mount
> between the nuts for the wires to attach.
>
> The other one was made by TED Manufacturing of Kansas for
> Microair, looks more "professional" and already terminates in a
> BNC connector. The other end has a ball tip, and although not
> magnetic appears too hard and shiny to made of aluminum. I
> believe it is stainless steel. The antenna is solidly mounted
> through the center of the BNC connector, isolated from the
> outside by a plastic sleeve.
>
> The Microair unit did not come with a ground plane (I guess
> they assume I have a metal aircraft), but the RST unit did.
> So, I'll be using the RST ground plane plate (it's a 5-1/2 inch
> diameter octagon) with either one.
>
> They are both EXACTLY the same length (tip to connector), So,
> the questions...
>
> In identical location installations, which one might prove to
> be better as a transpoder antenna in a Long EZ? Does the ball
> tip do anything other than not poking out an eye? Is the
> stainless a worse application for the antenna than the aluminum
> one? Is the "professionally" manufactured unit with the
> antenna mounted directly to, but isolated from, the BNC
> connector a more robust mounting.
>
> Or doesn't it make any difference (since many of you simply use
> a bolt)?
>
> Your plastic airplane drives a requirement for
> adding a ground plane under the antenna. Whether
> you fabricate one or use the RST part makes no
> difference. The TED product is probably more robust
> and makes a cleaner interface with the feed line.
> So a plan to pick the best of parts from two
> antennas in search of the most elegant solution
> is sound.
>
> Could you photograph the RST product and post
> the picture to the list?
>
> I searched the 'net for a picture and/or references
> to the RST transponder antenna and stumbled across this
> entry by Jim Wier:
>
> *I'm starting my Oshkosh forum writing and I need to know if
> anybody has a spare
> commercial transponder antenna -- the kind with a BNC connector
> on one end and a
> little chrome BB on the other end, mounts in a single hole. I
> had three or four
> of them and have given them away over the years to folks that
> needed one.
>
> Beg, borrow, steal, or buy. Your choice. Happy to reciprocate
> some day when
> YOU need something. I'll be happy to send a SASbox if that is
> your preference.
>
> Jim
>
> * It does give one pause to wonder why he wasn't installing
> one of his own antennas . . . or it may well be that
> the antenna you have didn't come from RST. In any
> case, I'd like to see it . . . or if you have no
> plans to use it, might I have it?
>
> Bob . . .
>
> *
>
> *
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