On Mon, 26 May 2008 13:23:04 -0600, "Bill Daniels"
bildan@comcast-dot-net wrote:


"Ralph Jones" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 25 May 2008 17:57:22 -0700 (PDT), Brad
wrote:

My buddies tell me my handheld is too painfull to listen to anymore. I
would put in a panel mount, but since I have a mostly carbon aircraft,
where should I put the antenna? Too late to install it in the rudder,
or is there a solution that would allow me to install one in the
rudder??

I think the main issue with the handheld, is line-of-sight from the
antenna to who I am talking to, it works fine when the aircraft is
pointing towards them, or they are on the side of the glider the radio
is on, but as I turn (while thermalling) I am told the transmissions
cut out.

I've seen a few ships that had a small whip antenna mounted on the
gear door. With the gear down, of course, the antenna was horizontal,
and if mounted close to the hinge line, it was high enough not to get
ground damage on most fields.

But that won't work if you trailer your ship with the gear up...

rj

Hmm, well, if you mounted a BNC thru-bulkhead connector on the gear door,
and the antenna had a mating BNC connector, it could br removed for
trailering. That said, antenna wires have a LOT of drag so maybe a rubber
duckie....

Actually, the one I remember best was on the 1-36 that Big John
Brittingham owned briefly, and he used it as a gear warning once...he
was well into his landing flare when he heard the antenna scraping on
the pavement, pulled up, slammed the gear, and touched down.

Don't think I would have asked for a broken wrist to save some sheet
metal work...;-)

rj