Filser ATR-500

I am thinking of buying a Filser ATR-500 comm radio
for our club. Does anyone have any experience with
it, especially reliability and repair-wise?

I like the idea that it just plugs in where the previous
ATR-57 was. But I am concerned because the ATR-57
has to go back to the factory for repair because there
are no US repair stations. And the factory advises
that it is more expensive to repair than to replace
it. I don't want to have to buy another radio again
5 years from now.

Thanks in advance,
Roger

On 15 Jul., 23:07, Roger Fowler wrote:
I am thinking of buying a Filser ATR-500 comm radio
for our club. Does anyone have any experience with
it, especially reliability and repair-wise?

I like the idea that it just plugs in where the previous
ATR-57 was. But I am concerned because the ATR-57
has to go back to the factory for repair because there
are no US repair stations. And the factory advises
that it is more expensive to repair than to replace
it. I don't want to have to buy another radio again
5 years from now.

Thanks in advance,
Roger

I have a ATR500. Because I've only had it since April I haven't had to
send it anywhere for repairs yet.

What I do know is that the broadcasting distance as well as reception
are very poor. But given the fact that the glider factory mounted the
FLARM antenna in such a way that it couldn't possibly work (i.e.
hidden behind lots of carbon) it might not have anything to do with
the ATR500.
Has anybody else had installation issues with radios/antennas in new
Schleicher planes?

Regards
Marcel Duenner

On Jul 16, 12:40 pm, MaD wrote:
Has anybody else had installation issues with radios/antennas in new
Schleicher planes?

Nope. AFAIK, they install the radio antenna in the fin or perhaps
rudder, which is fiberglass.

Where was your FLARM antenna installed?

-Tom

Where was your FLARM antenna installed?


Do you mean - Where was it installed as in which factory? Schleicher,
Germany, in a brand new '29

Or do you mean - Where was it installed as in location in Cockpit? The
structure carrying both the instrument panel and the canopy is made of
CFRP. The antenna was placed on the flight computer which is halfway
down the panel. So the antenna really only could transmit up and
backwards.
I repositioned it so it looks out of the top of the panel cover and
has a 360° clear view.

Regards
Marcel Duenner

...
Where was your FLARM antenna installed?

-Tom

Hi Tom

Do you mean where was it installed as in: Who did it? Schleicher,
Germany, in a brand new '29

Or do you mean where was it installed as in: position in the glider?
The structure carrying the instument panel and the canopy is made of
CRFP and has a U-shaped cross section with varying size. The FLARM
antenna was placed on the housing of the LX7007 which is about half
way down the panel. So the "view" of the antenna was obstructed by
carbon on four of six possible sides. The sinals could only get in/out
up and backwards.

I now have it sticking out of the top of the panel cover with a clear
360° view. Vecro-ed to the underside of said cover with a big enough
hole in the cover for the antenna to easily slip through in case I
ever have to jettison the canopy.

Regards
Marcel Duenner