---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 08/15/12: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 08:05 AM - Re: Icom External Antenna (b young) 2. 03:00 PM - Re: Icom External Antenna (Gary Aman) 3. 07:31 PM - western Pa fly in (awcbs) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 08:05:15 AM PST US From: "b young" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Icom External Antenna Gary Aman wrote "This is actually covered in a March post from Boyd Young, but I need some more particulars if you don't mind.Looks like RG58, but what lengths do I start with before tuning with the SWR meter Boyd? Thanx G.Aman " Gary Aman and the group Gary had posted this picture of my antenna attached 'boyd-antenna.jpg' I got to the airport yesterday and what I measured was, the center conductor seemed as best as I could measure "21 1/2 inches" the braid should be just as long but I would have had to remove all the floor panels to measure it. attached are some more pictures of the installation. 'Braid-location.jpg' shows the coax which is RG58 with bnc connector,,, as it goes to the left front of the nose cone. ( the length of the coax is not critical, long enough to reach without kinks and pulls but the shorter the better, the length of the center conductor and braid is critical. with the center conductor length being most critical) also it shows the braid of the coax angling back to under the floor panels. (I had to try different angles to get the best swr. 'antenna-center.jpg' shows the center conductor going up vertical along the left side of the nose cone. and the braid doubling back through the fabric. antennaleft.jpg shows the mid section of the antenna center conductor vertical up the left side and across the top. 'antennaend.jpg' shows the antenna going across the top of the nosecone. the antenna end in the photo coming from the right side is my elt antenna, and the black long rubber duck in the front is my ham radio tracker. with the tracker running, my wife can check my progress on long trips so she does not have to worry. and if the track stops in the middle of nowhere, she knows where to send the search. you can see I mounted the center conductor as well as the braid in short sections of drinking straw siliconed to the inside of the nose cone. sections of duct tape were used in the trials. but with time would fall off. the 21 1/2 inches is the finished measurement + or - my measuring skills while standing on my head, over under around and through the rudders peddles and nose cone. I started with 25 inches and cut to length and changed position of both the center conductor and braid, while using an antenna analyzer that our ham radio club owns. it is not the perfect location and I am sure I could improve radio coverage with an external antenna and a better ground plane. but it works well enough for my needs. boyd young kolb mkiii n1225y ham radio extra n7wfm ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 03:00:57 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Icom External Antenna From: Gary Aman Thanks Boyd, That's pretty much the way I installed it.So far I have'nt found a SWR to t une it with,but it did.not interfere with flying because i just switch the coax at the radio,a quick change from one antenna to the other. Thanks for all the pics.I appreciate all your efforts. G.Aman, P S Marj s ays say hi to Becky! -----Original Message----- From: b young Sent: Wed, Aug 15, 2012 11:05 am Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Icom External Antenna Gary Aman wrote "This is actually covered in a March post from Boyd Young, but I need some more particulars if you don't mind.Looks like RG58, but wha t lengths do I start with before tuning with the SWR meter Boyd? Thanx G.Aman " Gary Aman and the group Gary had posted this picture of my antenna attached 'boyd-antenna.jpg' I got to the airport yesterday and what I measured was, the center conduc tor seemed as best as I could measure "21 1/2 inches" the braid should be just as long but I would have had to remove all the floor panels to measure it. attached are some more pictures of the installation. 'Braid-location.jpg' shows the coax which is RG58 with bnc connector,,, a s it goes to the left front of the nose cone. ( the length of the coax is not critical, long enough to reach without kinks and pulls but the shorte r the better, the length of the center conductor and braid is critical. wi th the center conductor length being most critical) also it shows the bra id of the coax angling back to under the floor panels. (I had to try diffe rent angles to get the best swr. 'antenna-center.jpg' shows the center conductor going up vertical along th e left side of the nose cone. and the braid doubling back through the fabri c. antennaleft.jpg shows the mid section of the antenna center conductor ve rtical up the left side and across the top. 'antennaend.jpg' shows the antenna going across the top of the nosecone. the antenna end in the photo coming from the right side is my elt antenna, and the black long rubber duck in the front is my ham radio tracker. w ith the tracker running, my wife can check my progress on long trips so she does not have to worry. and if the track stops in the middle of nowhere, she knows where to send the search. you can see I mounted the center conductor as well as the braid in short se ctions of drinking straw siliconed to the inside of the nose cone. section s of duct tape were used in the trials. but with time would fall off. the 21 1/2 inches is the finished measurement + or - my measuring skill s while standing on my head, over under around and through the rudders pe ddles and nose cone. I started with 25 inches and cut to length and chan ged position of both the center conductor and braid, while using an antenn a analyzer that our ham radio club owns. it is not the perfect location and I am sure I could improve radio coverage with an external antenna and a better ground plane. but it works well enough for my needs. boyd young kolb mkiii n1225y ham radio extra n7wfm ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 07:31:51 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: western Pa fly in From: "awcbs" Since the UL's and Lsa's have really picked up in this area we have decided to have the first annual fly in at McIntyre Pa private air strip. Slated for Aug 31, thru sept 3. bring a tent and tie downs, or just stop in for a day. will have food drink, fire and good company. Google 15756 and look for the dog leg runway. New north south runway should be completed by then. Drive-in's welcome. we have a firefly and a mix of other ul's based there. anything that flys is welcome. contact me if ya have any questions, AJ Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=381000#381000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message kolb-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Kolb-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/kolb-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/kolb-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.