---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Fri 08/17/12: 11 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 02:49 AM - Re: clasic or extra for sale$$ (Pat Ladd) 2. 05:52 AM - Ultrlight Classification (Jmmy Hankinson) 3. 06:00 AM - Re: Re: Kolb-List Digest: 7 Msgs - 08/11/12 (Gary Aman) 4. 06:15 AM - Re: rf swr meters (Gary Aman) 5. 08:37 AM - Flyin at Houghton Lake (Rick Neilsen) 6. 10:14 AM - Re: rf swr meters (Jack Lockamy) 7. 01:00 PM - Re: Kolb-List Digest: 5 Msgs - 08/16/12 (George Bearden) 8. 02:46 PM - Re: New Firestar II owner - question about elevator oscillations (EricS) 9. 04:38 PM - Re: Re: Kolb-List Digest: 5 Msgs - 08/16/12 (Duane Ransdell) 10. 06:24 PM - Re: Re: Kolb-List Digest: 5 Msgs - 08/16/12 (Gary Aman) 11. 09:02 PM - antennas (b young) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 02:49:29 AM PST US From: "Pat Ladd" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: clasic or extra for sale$$ Hi Malcolm. if you want to import from the UK an immaculate Extra with Jabiru and only 90 hours from new. I am your man. Nothing is selling in the UK at the moment. Guess the squeeze is hitting us all. Pat ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 05:52:33 AM PST US From: "Jmmy Hankinson" Subject: Kolb-List: Ultrlight Classification 1 - 0 of null prev next http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/0/f5/0f56837344e8b7c95a5a954ebb28ec7 f.png The ultralight's use by smugglers has become so ubiquitous that Congress recently updated (2012) their definition of "aircraft" to include ultralights and, therefore, make those caught smuggling drugs with them subject to the same penalties as other aircraft under the Tariff Act of 1930 . The legislation, known as the Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act of 2012, was the last bill sponsored by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is spending big - just under $100 million - to combat drug smugglers who use small aircraft worth only a few thousand dollars Last week the CBP awarded SRCTec , a New York-based research and development company, a $99,955,087.00 contract for a real-time detection system that is specifically designed to pick out ultralight aircrafts, slow-speed rudimentary manned planes that have a very small radar signature, on America's southern border. Often little more than an airframe and engine - that can be bought online or constructed at home from kits for a few thousand dollars. Ultralights do not require a pilot's license Did someone forget to tell us that. This was reported by ABC news. Thought this might be of interest to the list. Jimmy Hankinson Rocky Ford, Ga. 912 863 7384 N6007L, Firefly JYL Sylvania, Ga. ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 06:00:19 AM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: RE: Kolb-List Digest: 7 Msgs - 08/11/12 From: Gary Aman George, Tried that first,found that the GPS was sending a signal through it's power cord that the radio antenna was picking up.Put chokes on the radio power c ord and the radio antenna lead that helped a bunch.Chokes on the GPS power cord did not seem to help.Some noise can be stopped by covering the headpho ne adapters with my hand.The intercom has a double filtered power supply an d it is quiet.The caps for the radio power and alternator output are next. Thanx G.A. PS got the squelch from (icom a5) from 10 down to 4 so far,but weak signals still come in with engine noise from the Jabiru's electric's. )-----Original Message----- From: George Bearden Sent: Thu, Aug 16, 2012 4:01 pm Subject: Kolb-List: RE: Kolb-List Digest: 7 Msgs - 08/11/12 > A large "capacitor" about 21,000 mf always worked Large is always good. I don't know diddly about the 912 but on other simila r problems I have found a handful of small caps liberally sprinkled about the system works well too. A thing that just flashed on me... what if you disconnected the electronics from the airplane electrical system in order to determine how much of the problem comes from the power supply. Maybe you could temporarily power stuf f from a small battery, as a test. This might help you focus your attention i f the problem is in the power being supplied. ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 06:15:47 AM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: rf swr meters From: Gary Aman Boyd, Installed your antenna at 25" using my old cb SWR meter.Cut the center lead off in 1/4" increments until it was down to 23" and I quit there because t he meter still showed deep in the red at 3.5 and was not changing with the trimming.That's when I figured the meters must be different.I have a chart that shows the length of the antenna for frequency desired.123.475 comes ou t to be 22 3/8 approx.It received OK and could transmitt but this was not i n the air or at any great distance just to another hand held on the field a nd I was afraid I might damage the radio so I quit experimenting . Thanx G .A. -----Original Message----- From: b young Sent: Thu, Aug 16, 2012 5:41 pm Subject: Kolb-List: rf swr meters > I wondered if I could use the same SWR meter I am not an expert, but after looking at the way the SWR meter works I woul d think it isn't sensitive to frequency, and that it should work. Worth a try anyway. GeoB >>>>>>>>>>>>> GO TO http://www.martinrfsupply.com/ and on the 4th line down on the left are pictures of the bird rf watmeters elements..... each element is for a different frequency and or power setting. so in short the answer is swr meters are different for differen t frequencies... unless you buy one that has interchangeable elements. o r read the meter specification pages and see if it will work,,, there may be ( I haven't seen any) some conversion charts in the spec pages that would allow you to figure the correct readings if you are out of frequency ranges of the me ter. find a ham radio club, and ask for help. probably get help for free... o r buy the correct equipment. boyd young kolb mkiii driver and ham radio operator ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 08:37:34 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Flyin at Houghton Lake From: Rick Neilsen Chris I was hoping to make it for at least part of the flyin this week end but doesn't look good right now. Could you repost the schedule for the week end. Rick Neilsen Redrive VW Powered MKIIIC ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 10:14:41 AM PST US From: "Jack Lockamy" Subject: RE: Kolb-List: rf swr meters Cut it down to 21" and you will be CENTERED in the VHF Air Band.. Jack in Key West DO NOT ARCHIVE From: owner-kolb-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-kolb-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Gary Aman Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 9:13 AM Subject: Re: Kolb-List: rf swr meters Boyd, Installed your antenna at 25" using my old cb SWR meter.Cut the center lead off in 1/4" increments until it was down to 23" and I quit there because the meter still showed deep in the red at 3.5 and was not changing with the trimming.That's when I figured the meters must be different.I have a chart that shows the length of the antenna for frequency desired.123.475 comes out to be 22 3/8 approx.It received OK and could transmitt but this was not in the air or at any great distance just to another hand held on the field and I was afraid I might damage the radio so I quit experimenting . Thanx G.A. -----Original Message----- From: b young Sent: Thu, Aug 16, 2012 5:41 pm Subject: Kolb-List: rf swr meters > I wondered if I could use the same SWR meter I am not an expert, but after looking at the way the SWR meter works I would think it isn't sensitive to frequency, and that it should work. Worth a try anyway. GeoB >>>>>>>>>>>>> GO TO http://www.martinrfsupply.com/ and on the 4th line down on the left are pictures of the bird rf watmeters elements..... each element is for a different frequency and or power setting. so in short the answer is swr meters are different for different frequencies... unless you buy one that has interchangeable elements. or read the meter specification pages and see if it will work,,, there may be ( I haven't seen any) some conversion charts in the spec pages that would allow you to figure the correct readings if you are out of frequency ranges of the meter. find a ham radio club, and ask for help. probably get help for free... or buy the correct equipment. boyd young kolb mkiii driver and ham radio operator get="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List tp://forums.matronics.com _blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 01:00:57 PM PST US From: "George Bearden" Subject: Kolb-List: RE: Kolb-List Digest: 5 Msgs - 08/16/12 > SWR meters ARE sensitive to frequency. Yes. You guys are right. > They are designed to only work inside a specific range But we don't know what type of SWR meter another fellow might lay hands on. Some work better over a wider range than others. I would think that if you weren't sure, you could just put a 50 ohm dummy load (or whatever your system is designed to work with) on there and see if it shows a zero RSWR. But I am not an educated, experienced ham guy. I'm sure this is not the best suggestion for this situation. ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 02:46:12 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: New Firestar II owner - question about elevator oscillations From: "EricS" I called Kolb and talked to Brian and he had the same suggestions as those above. I tried them all and eventually what worked is the trim tab. I built the trim tab so that it adds nose up pitch per Brian's instructions. My 503 Firestar now trims out around 54 mph and 5,400 RPM versus 63 mph and 5,800 prior to adding the trim tab. The elevator has never fluttered at this slow speed. Now when I pitch forward to increase speed, there is additional control cable tension and stick pressure. Basically, the pilot HAS to keep a hand on the stick to maintain 63-65 mph - the area where the elevator used to occasionally flutter in turbulence. I am slowly building my "bump" tolerance for winds and thermals, but the elevator has not fluttered in any conditions since adding the trim tab, so for now at least, I consider the problem solved. Thanks again for everyone's input, Eric Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=381106#381106 ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 04:38:10 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: RE: Kolb-List Digest: 5 Msgs - 08/16/12 From: Duane Ransdell I would not recommend any guessing in this situation or you are likely going to ruin your radio. The 50 ohm dummy load is not going to do you any good with your antenna. It is only designed to help you with your transmitter. Any SWR meter (except maybe the CB type) will tell you what frequency range(s) it will cover and the power it will handle. Someone mentioned the Bird meters before and those have to have the corresponding 'slug' to measure the target frequency. They are probably some of the highest quality meters out there. Here's one I found on eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/THRULINE-BIRD-WATTMETER-MODEL-43-W-ACCESSORIES-50W-5000W-SLUGS-/370639039238?pt=US_Radio_Comm_Meters&hash=item564bceeb06 Another popular one is the MFJ-259b. *http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-259B *I don't know if anyone has said this already, but in case anyone does not understand, the lower the SWR, the better your antenna will work on transmit. Many people believe that you have to have power to transmit further, but it is actually far more important to have a well tuned antenna than more power.* *SWR or Standing Wave Ratio over simplified means the ratio of how much power is emitted from the antenna vs how much is reflected back to the transmitter. Too high of SWR will ruin the final amplifier circuit of your transmitter. Some radios have a built in protection circuit so they will not transmit with higher than 3:1 SWR. There are many amateur radio clubs around the country and unless you are in a highly rural area, there is probably one near you. Use the link below and look for a club in your area. Email or phone the contact person in that club as I'm sure they would be happy to find someone to help you out with this. http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club Seriously! Amateur Radio operators are to radios what Kolb pilots are to experimental flying. Just think how eager you would be to help a newby pilot learn how to fly or get their plane flying. That's how amateur radio guys are about antennas and radios. It's their passion. On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 2:58 PM, George Bearden wrote: > > > SWR meters ARE sensitive to frequency. > > Yes. You guys are right. > > > They are designed to only work inside a specific range > > But we don't know what type of SWR meter another fellow might lay hands on. > Some work better over a wider range than others. I would think that if you > weren't sure, you could just put a 50 ohm dummy load (or whatever your > system is designed to work with) on there and see if it shows a zero RSWR. > But I am not an educated, experienced ham guy. I'm sure this is not the > best > suggestion for this situation. > > ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 06:24:50 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: RE: Kolb-List Digest: 5 Msgs - 08/16/12 From: Gary Aman Thanks, I'll try to contact a ham op in my area. GA -----Original Message----- From: Duane Ransdell Sent: Fri, Aug 17, 2012 7:38 pm Subject: Re: Kolb-List: RE: Kolb-List Digest: 5 Msgs - 08/16/12 I would not recommend any guessing in this situation or you are likely goin g to ruin your radio. The 50 ohm dummy load is not going to do you any good with your antenna. It is only designed to help you with your transmitter. Any SWR meter (except maybe the CB type) will tell you what frequency range (s) it will cover and the power it will handle. Someone mentioned the Bird meters before and those have to have the corresponding 'slug' to measure th e target frequency. They are probably some of the highest quality meters ou t there. Here's one I found on eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/THRULINE-BIRD-WATTMETER-MODEL-43-W-ACCESSORIES-50W- 5000W-SLUGS-/370639039238?pt=US_Radio_Comm_Meters&hash=item564bceeb06 Another popular one is the MFJ-259b. http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-259B I don't know if anyone has said this already, but in case anyone does not u nderstand, the lower the SWR, the better your antenna will work on transmit . Many people believe that you have to have power to transmit further, but it is actually far more important to have a well tuned antenna than more po wer. SWR or Standing Wave Ratio over simplified means the ratio of how much powe r is emitted from the antenna vs how much is reflected back to the transmit ter. Too high of SWR will ruin the final amplifier circuit of your transmit ter. Some radios have a built in protection circuit so they will not transm it with higher than 3:1 SWR. There are many amateur radio clubs around the country and unless you are in a highly rural area, there is probably one near you. Use the link below an d look for a club in your area. Email or phone the contact person in that c lub as I'm sure they would be happy to find someone to help you out with th is. http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club Seriously! Amateur Radio operators are to radios what Kolb pilots are to ex perimental flying. Just think how eager you would be to help a newby pilot learn how to fly or get their plane flying. That's how amateur radio guys a re about antennas and radios. It's their passion. On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 2:58 PM, George Bearden wrote : > SWR meters ARE sensitive to frequency. Yes. You guys are right. > They are designed to only work inside a specific range But we don't know what type of SWR meter another fellow might lay hands on. Some work better over a wider range than others. I would think that if you weren't sure, you could just put a 50 ohm dummy load (or whatever your system is designed to work with) on there and see if it shows a zero RSWR. But I am not an educated, experienced ham guy. I'm sure this is not the bes t suggestion for this situation. arget="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List http://forums.matronics.com le, List Admin. ="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 09:02:13 PM PST US From: "b young" Subject: Kolb-List: antennas Another popular one is the MFJ-259b. instead of buying an swr meter,,,, an antenna analyzer is an other good tool..... it is basically a transmitter that will go from 2 MHz to 500 MHz,,, and as you adjust the frequency,,, it will report the swr along the way. it is very low power, it will help find the resonant frequency of any antenna. so if you find a ham radio club,,, ask if they have an analyzer, makes it really fast and easy. boyd young ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.