Thorp Air Command - T18.net

My comm antenna is behind the canopy (of my T-18), I would like to add another comm antenna for my iCom A14 and was hoping to mount it close to the existing antenna.

Is that possible? I would only have one radio or the other powered up at a time (if that matters).

You can see from the picture there isn't much room on the turtle deck behind the canopy; the antenna under the canopy is for the ELT.



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If your only going to have one com powered up at a time you can share the same antenna and switch between them.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Put it on the belly, just off centerline behind the seats about 8 inches. Made my installation easy. S/S "bent" and it works 4.0. No problem with ground clearance or reception.

Lee is right...forgot about the switching.

RB

Thanks for the ideas.

Rich; I was wondering if you had a picture of your install and wonder if it creates any clearance problems (close to dragging in the grass?).

Actual pics of the installation, no. It was not difficult. The antenna came with a template. Lay it in place and mark the hole locations. The only concern I had was a possible clearance problem getting the A/C on and off the trailer, but it is not an issue. I measured the clearance from the end of the ant. (lowest point) to the pavement and it is about 6 inches. I could have "bent" the ant. up a bit (inch or two) if clearance was a problem. You must be talking TALL grass ! Here is a pic with the ant. installed...maybe a little hard to pick out ? Like I said, I have had no problems with transmitting or receiving ground control/tower on the airport.

RB

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Tim, I have the installation that Rich mentions on my T-18 and it works great. I can swing by the hangar tonight and snap photos inside and out of the installation if that will help?

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Patrick
T-18 N8AL

Yes please and thanks Rich and Patrick

Here you go Tim. Let me know if you need better photos.

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Patrick
T-18 N8AL

I forgot to mention that the previous owner/builder made this antenna himself, but you can buy them just like this for about $18 through Aircraft Spruce.

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Patrick
T-18 N8AL

Three items on antenna's. 1. antenna switches with BNC type connectors are hard to find and expensive. The HAM radio folks make a switch, but uses PL 59 connectors and can be adapted to BNC.
2. Antenna's are a science, you can make a antenna from a coat hanger and it will work, how good will depend on you ability to cut it to the right length. Frequencies, power output depend on wave length and the antenna needs to match this frequency to be of optimum transmit quality. All this will determine quality of voice and distance. 3. Somewhere I read that antenna's need to be 18" from each other or airframe to prevent feedback.

I just bought the 45 degree antenna (for experimental a/c)for $22 with 10 ft of RG58A/U and a BNC male plug (to plug into my A-14 from ACS). I am going to mount it on the bottom, thanks all.