DIY DF device

"Ron Wanttaja" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 12 Apr 2004 18:27:05 GMT, "Bill Daniels"
wrote:

I'd like to have one of these in the aircraft. That way if I'm listening
in
on approach, I'd have an idea of the relative bearing to another aircraft
that is transmitting. For example, another aircraft reporting over the
same
fix - it would be nice to know which direction to look. A circular 8 LED
display would be fine.

Ummm. Personally, I think it's better to keep one's attention OUTSIDE the
cockpit at a time like this. It takes a finite amount of time to remove
your attention from the exterior, focus on a panel-mounted dial. By the
time you've realized the guy is reporting the same location and look at
your readout, he's probably let loose of the mike button and the LED is
dark.

Sure, you could set up some sort of latching system, but on busy days, as
soon as one guy quits transmitting someone else punches the button.
Inaccurate data is far worse than no data at all. If you're close and
maneuvering, the relative positions are probably changing rapidly, anyway.

Ron Wanttaja

I'd still like to have the DF on the comm radio. When somebody is talking,
I'd like to know what direction they are coming from. So, maybe instead of
LED's we need a 3D aural display so the voice seems to come from the
direction of the transmitter.

Bill Daniels