Handheld problem in NORDO plane

Squelch is a "dumb" device on cheap radios. It just looks
at the total RF signal level, from any source. You said
that the frequency was 122.7, which is a common frequency,
at 200-300 feet AGL, you're getting your mags [which
probably are not shielded on a NORDO aircraft], and all the
hundreds of transmitters within 200 miles line of sight.
Your hand held may also not be sensitive enough to reject
the adjacent frequencies.


"john smith" wrote in message
...
| In article
,
| Mark Morissette wrote:
|
| *Only* when you hit a few hundred feet...or anytime the
engine is running?
|
| Personally I'd venture to take a guess that it's picking
up electrical
| interference from an ignition component.
|
| I thought that too, but it doesn't make sense that it
would start
| 100-200 feet AGL. If it is ignition, it will be present
any time the
| engine is running.

wrote:
Hey folks,

I just bought a Luscombe 8A and am launching tomorrow to fly it home.

The problem is the handheld transceiver I'm using to communicate. It
works fine on the ground. But as soon as I get 100-200 feet off the
ground it gets overwhelmed with static, like the squelch is wide open.

It's a Vertex VXA-300 attached to an external antenna.

I' ve tried turning the squelch to max. I haven't checked whether it
occurs on all frequencies because that didn't occur to me until I had
put the plane back in the hangar.

Any ideas what's going on here? All help is appreciated.

Anything that would block the signal at that altitude? Have you tried
other frequencies? Other airports?

On 18 Aug 2006 18:41:54 -0700, wrote:

Hey folks,

I just bought a Luscombe 8A and am launching tomorrow to fly it home.

The problem is the handheld transceiver I'm using to communicate. It
works fine on the ground. But as soon as I get 100-200 feet off the
ground it gets overwhelmed with static, like the squelch is wide open.

It's a Vertex VXA-300 attached to an external antenna.

I' ve tried turning the squelch to max. I haven't checked whether it
occurs on all frequencies because that didn't occur to me until I had
put the plane back in the hangar.

Any ideas what's going on here? All help is appreciated.

Try using the antenna that came with the radio. I know it sounds
counter-intuitive, but it can eliminate one device in the problem.
You might not have the range with the rubber ducky antenna, but it
will be enough to get you home if the external antenna is bad.

I had a similar problem years ago, but with the radio stack in a
Cessna 172. I squawked it and got another plane. The first plane
was back on the line the next day, so the problem couldn't have been
too bad. I didn't think to ask at the time what was wrong.

Ron Kelley

If you are using a handheld GPS, try moving the transceiver away from the
gps. My ICOM breaks squelch badly when it is near the Garmin 196 display
(even on batteries). I move it a few feet and it goes away.

On Sat, 19 Aug 2006 13:53:47 GMT, "Ron A." wrote:

If you are using a handheld GPS, try moving the transceiver away from the
gps. My ICOM breaks squelch badly when it is near the Garmin 196 display
(even on batteries). I move it a few feet and it goes away.

Sounds like a Garmin family foible. I have the same problem (though
only on trasmit) between my 296 and my Vertex Standard. Since I really
have no option, and since the Cub is so obviously Nordo anyhow, I just
don't use them at the same time. When I have my destination in sight,
I turn off the Garmin. After I'm clear of the pattern on takeoff, I
turn it on again and go to the waypoint for the home airport
(whatever). Awkward, but I don't own the plane.



-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

Busted ground wire off the coax at the antenna end.

Jim


wrote in message
ups.com...




Any ideas what's going on here? All help is appreciated.

Tailwinds and blue skies,
Mike

Busted ground wire off the coax at the antenna end.

While I've got you, (heh heh) what's your take on a car radio that
buzzes (ignition noise) much louder than the radio station coming in,
but intermittently? I'd guess the same thing, but we haven't been able
to find it.

Jose
--
The monkey turns the crank and thinks he's making the music.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

On 18 Aug 2006 18:41:54 -0700, wrote:

The problem is the handheld transceiver I'm using to communicate. It
works fine on the ground. But as soon as I get 100-200 feet off the
ground it gets overwhelmed with static, like the squelch is wide open.

Is it only when you transmit? (Sparkplugs likely, in that case.)


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com