- Joined
- May 18, 2021
- Messages
- 300
- Reaction score
- 166
I have a whip antenna mounted right below the pilot seat, offset to the left. The antenna is mounted on a sheet of aluminum that is about 6” x 6”, serving as a too small ground plane. The sheet is grounded to the fuselage truss with a bonding strap.
I have two problems with my setup:
1: Ignition noise. At high power settings the EMI from the ignition causes constant static in the radio. I have a shielded spark plugs. Not sure about the p-leads. The noise goes anyway when I pull the power to land.
2: Coverage. I can’t hear stations directly in front of me unless I’m very close. I can’t hear the AWOS from 5 miles. If I turn 20 degrees or so, it comes in good.
I have some ideas to improve my setup:
A: Disconnect the ground plane from the fuse. I’m not sure if it is correct to connect the antenna ground to the fuse.
B: Add strips of aluminum tape to improve the ground plane.
C: Remove the whip and install a dipole antenna in the fuse behind the cabin.
Any ideas on what I should do?
Thanks,
Sam
I have two problems with my setup:
1: Ignition noise. At high power settings the EMI from the ignition causes constant static in the radio. I have a shielded spark plugs. Not sure about the p-leads. The noise goes anyway when I pull the power to land.
2: Coverage. I can’t hear stations directly in front of me unless I’m very close. I can’t hear the AWOS from 5 miles. If I turn 20 degrees or so, it comes in good.
I have some ideas to improve my setup:
A: Disconnect the ground plane from the fuse. I’m not sure if it is correct to connect the antenna ground to the fuse.
B: Add strips of aluminum tape to improve the ground plane.
C: Remove the whip and install a dipole antenna in the fuse behind the cabin.
Any ideas on what I should do?
Thanks,
Sam
