Replace (Fix) ADF?

I had an old ADF that didn't work. I also did not have a DME, but a VFR
GPS. When I started my training I found out, like the other post, that
DMEs and ADF were required for several approaches. I pulled out the ADF
and traided the GPS for a reconditioned King KLN 89/B and associated
hardware. Works for me.

ross

Tom Nery wrote:

My '66 Cherokee 180C currently has a T12C ADF. Even though it has analog
tuning, the previous owner installed a Davitron digital frequency
read out so it's not as bad to tune as you'd think.

Anyway, it now longer points to the NDB (actually the needle never moves)
but can successfully tune am radio stations. So my choices a 1 Fix it,
2 Replace it, 3 Remove it.

My plane is currently certified for instrument operation (and I plan
on starting my IFR training shortly). I also have a Garmin 196 (primary)
and a Garmin 195 (backup - came with the plane).

Given the fact that ADF is (someday) being phased up (maybe), what is
the collective wisdom of the group? Which of the three choices
should I pursue?

Tom

It's could be the right time to get the IFR GPS since you are getting ready
to train. A VFR unit is nice backup but can't replace it in IFR ops. Then
junk it. It would be a waste of money and training time to fix it.

AM radio? Is there stuff on there? Get an Ipod and plug it into your
intercom.

"Tom Nery" wrote in message
news:bfElb.540$9E1.5435@attbi_s52...
My '66 Cherokee 180C currently has a T12C ADF. Even though it has analog
tuning, the previous owner installed a Davitron digital frequency
read out so it's not as bad to tune as you'd think.

Anyway, it now longer points to the NDB (actually the needle never moves)
but can successfully tune am radio stations. So my choices a 1 Fix it,
2 Replace it, 3 Remove it.

My plane is currently certified for instrument operation (and I plan
on starting my IFR training shortly). I also have a Garmin 196 (primary)
and a Garmin 195 (backup - came with the plane).

Given the fact that ADF is (someday) being phased up (maybe), what is
the collective wisdom of the group? Which of the three choices
should I pursue?

Tom

On Wed, 22 Oct 2003 23:18:32 GMT, "Tom Nery"
wrote:

So my choices a 1 Fix it,
2 Replace it, 3 Remove it.

Actually you have a fourth choice which is to leave it as is g.

That is the choice I would use -- but that's for me, here.

The reason: My local airport's altimeter setting can ONLY be received on
the ADF. Without being able to receive that frequency, I have to use a
remote altimeter setting, and the MDA is increased by 160'

This is not true in most parts of the country, so you may not want the
hassle of keeping it.

Now, I don't need it to point -- only to receive the station.

If the stock market is good to me, I'm looking to install a CNX80 this
winter. But I will keep the ADF.


Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 23:30:37 -0700, Tim Bengtson
wrote:

Ron Rosenfeld wrote:

The reason: My local airport's altimeter setting can ONLY be received on
the ADF. Without being able to receive that frequency, I have to use a
remote altimeter setting, and the MDA is increased by 160'

What approach is that?

Any of the approaches to EPM. There are two NDB, one overlay GPS, and one
stand-alone GPS

Does the plate say "ADF Required"?

No. But it's handy to have if you are executing one of the NDB approaches
and don't have a GPS :-)).

If not, I
wonder if it would be legal to get the altimeter with a garden-variety
AM radio.

Perfectly legal. In addition, if there were someone on the ground, they
could relay the information via Unicomm.

But I've not seen a garden-variety AM receiver that would tune to 260. If
you know of one, please let me know. The one's I've seen don't go much
below the AM broadcast band.




Ron (EPM) (N5843Q, Mooney M20E) (CP, ASEL, ASES, IA)

Ron Rosenfeld wrote:

The reason: My local airport's altimeter setting can ONLY be received on
the ADF. Without being able to receive that frequency, I have to use a
remote altimeter setting, and the MDA is increased by 160'

What approach is that? Does the plate say "ADF Required"? If not, I
wonder if it would be legal to get the altimeter with a garden-variety
AM radio.

Tim

"Tom Nery" wrote:
Anyway, it now longer points to the NDB (actually the needle never
moves) but can successfully tune am radio stations. So my choices
a 1 Fix it, 2 Replace it, 3 Remove it.

My plane is currently certified for instrument operation (and I plan
on starting my IFR training shortly). ...

Given the fact that ADF is (someday) being phased up (maybe), what
is the collective wisdom of the group? Which of the three choices
should I pursue?

Remove it and get a certified-for-approaches GPS installed. It would be
silly to train for the rating without a GPS in today's world. Many small
airports now have *only* GPS approaches. If you do much IFR traveling, you
will find the GPS useful. I have found mine essential on two recent
occasions; without it I simply wouldn't have been able to get where I needed
to go when I wanted to go there.

The ADF still may be necessary in some instances, but they are dwindling. I
have an ADF in my airplane that I will keep using as long as it still works,
but I when it breaks, it's gone.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

"Tom Nery" wrote in message
news:bfElb.540$9E1.5435@attbi_s52...
My '66 Cherokee 180C currently has a T12C ADF. Even though it has analog
tuning, the previous owner installed a Davitron digital frequency
read out so it's not as bad to tune as you'd think.

Anyway, it now longer points to the NDB (actually the needle never moves)
but can successfully tune am radio stations. So my choices a 1 Fix it,
2 Replace it, 3 Remove it.

My plane is currently certified for instrument operation (and I plan
on starting my IFR training shortly). I also have a Garmin 196 (primary)
and a Garmin 195 (backup - came with the plane).

Given the fact that ADF is (someday) being phased up (maybe), what is
the collective wisdom of the group? Which of the three choices
should I pursue?


Those GPS receivers won't count for much in your IFR training, but, for the
ADF, I'd dump it.

ADF approaches and transmitters are being decommissioned around the country
wholesale, and replaced by GPS approaches which are more accurate than ADF
anyway.

I noticed the price of a new Garmin 155XL IFR-certified GPS is now down to
just over $2,000.

As soon as I can I plan to get rid of both my ADF and my DME now that GPS
can substitute legally for DME. They're just taking up useful load.

If you need a solution to the loss of capability to listen to AM radio, I
just read an interesting article on AvWeb about satellite radio, which
eliminates the need to keep tuning new stations on the ADF when you fly out
of range of the stations. You have to pay $10/month for the service, but
that's pretty cheap for an elegant solution to the problem, and cheaper than
most anything else in aviation, that's for sure.

Ron Rosenfeld wrote in
:

But I've not seen a garden-variety AM receiver that would tune to 260.
If you know of one, please let me know. The one's I've seen don't go
much below the AM broadcast band.

An old one can be modified without too much effort. The newer ones (with a
single digital IC for both AM/FM operation can't be.

Probably time to whip out the old Galena crystal and cat's whisker. [Okay,
I'm showing my age again. G]

-----------------------------------------------
James M. Knox
TriSoft ph 512-385-0316
1109-A Shady Lane fax 512-366-4331
Austin, Tx 78721
-----------------------------------------------

Tim Bengtson wrote:

Good point; I forgot about that. If you are seriously interested in
going this route you might check out the various shortwave receivers
that are available.

I saw a Grundig unit advertised recently in a mail-order catalog. Might've
been the Sportsman's Guide, but I'm not sure.

George Patterson
You can dress a hog in a tuxedo, but he still wants to roll in the mud.

"CriticalMass"
Those GPS receivers won't count for much in your IFR training, but, for
the
ADF, I'd dump it.

ADF approaches and transmitters are being decommissioned around the
country
wholesale, and replaced by GPS approaches which are more accurate than ADF
anyway.

That's a little contradictory isn't it? If you are going to fly GPS
approaches at small airports why wouldn't it count for much in your IFR
training?

I think I know where you are coming from but that position may be a bit of a
problem. Outside of learning to do ILSs, everything else is button pushing.
Rather than practice NDB approaches with an ADF, you do the overlay with a
GPS. Same with VOR overlays. The made for GPS approaches themselves are
pretty easy but there is still button pushing and it is not self-evident -
especialy on misses and units like.....

I noticed the price of a new Garmin 155XL IFR-certified GPS is now down to
just over $2,000

Or at least the 300XL which I'm familiar with.

I agree with totally with your recommendation - but get it before you train.