FLARM antenna question (hindrance from metal)

Ted et al:
Saw an interesting FLARM antenna installation in Pete Alexander's ASG29 which according to Pete works fine. This seems a good option for any glider with carbon in the nose. The dipole antennas were protruding through the glare shield either side of center, with just one pole of the antenna in the pilot's view. I didn't pull the canopy off to see where the left hand one was relative to the vent pushrod. Suppose this could be done in tandem too, but the vent door may block reception directly forward.
Jim

Any suggestion on mounting the Dipole antennas in a 1-26B (aluminum nose)

On Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 1:02:03 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Any suggestion on mounting the Dipole antennas in a 1-26B (aluminum nose)

An external mount might be a good option on a 1-26.

Does it have a nonmetal (fabric or fiberglass) nosecone?

On top of the instrument cover might be an option.

Chris

On top of the instrument cover might be an option.

Chris

Chris, I'd guess you're not familiar with a 1-26:

The instrument cover is the metal nose cone. Top of the panel is the outside skin of the (metal)glider

On Thu, 09 Mar 2017 10:02:02 -0800, johnfwahl wrote:

Any suggestion on mounting the Dipole antennas in a 1-26B (aluminum
nose)

On top of the fuselage behind the cockpit?


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

At 08:29 10 March 2017, Martin Gregorie wrote:
On Thu, 09 Mar 2017 10:02:02 -0800, johnfwahl wrote:

Any suggestion on mounting the Dipole antennas in a 1-26B (aluminum
nose)

On top of the fuselage behind the cockpit?

Not a dipole, but 1/4-wave.

If a suitable place can be found, Below the fuselage might be better,
giving better reception from the direction where you cannot see.

On Fri, 10 Mar 2017 09:38:37 +0000, Tim Newport-Peace wrote:

At 08:29 10 March 2017, Martin Gregorie wrote:
On Thu, 09 Mar 2017 10:02:02 -0800, johnfwahl wrote:

Any suggestion on mounting the Dipole antennas in a 1-26B (aluminum
nose)

On top of the fuselage behind the cockpit?

Not a dipole, but 1/4-wave.

Yep, apologies - I meant a bottom-fed rod antenna, using the 1-26 alloy
fuselage as a ground plane. Didn't think of 1/4 wave, being sometimes a
bear of very little brain.

If a suitable place can be found, Below the fuselage might be better,
giving better reception from the direction where you cannot see.

Judging from photos, there isn't much clearance between a 1-26 and the
ground, so antennae mounted on the underside may get a lot of damage.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

On Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 1:02:03 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Any suggestion on mounting the Dipole antennas in a 1-26B (aluminum nose)

John,

When I had 192, I mounted them on a piece of plastic running between two arms of the A frame pretty high under the rear canopy. This seemed to work pretty well. I did have a clear rear canopy.

Kevin Anderson

A Metal nose (not the nose cap) 1-26B would be a bit rare, most have a fiberglass nose I believe the 1-26A had a fabric nose. in which case mounting high in the nose would probably work good to fair. Of course a 1-26D or E has the metal nose so mounting an external 1/4 wave antenna is probably a good solution.

On all except the E model, one could consider mounting a dipole antenna as far back and low as possible in the Fuselage, As far back to minimize the cockpit metal from blocking the forward signal an as low as possible to get it as far away from the upper aluminum deck on the fuselage.

Brian
CFIIG/ASEL

I own a B4 with a plastic nose cone. I have a dipole strapped to the front most frame.
This gives me a very good range forward and still a decent range in other directions.

I used to have a mono pole mounted on the back of the glider, just behind the wings. This gave me horrible coverage in most directions. Especially downwards, due to the wings.