I am installing a Garmin GTR 200. The old radio had a ground plane about 2 inches by 3 inches tucked under the antennae. The Garmin says it needs a ground plane at least 18 x 18 with an antennae. What do you all use?
Thanks,
Steve Sands
I am installing a Garmin GTR 200. The old radio had a ground plane about 2 inches by 3 inches tucked under the antennae. The Garmin says it needs a ground plane at least 18 x 18 with an antennae. What do you all use?
Thanks,
Steve Sands
I very thin piece of aluminum is all you need.
Dave
KitFox 6 Taildragger
912 ULS
Whirlwind 70” Prop
Garmin G3x
All around nice guy
I use a ground plane of 4 copper wires, about 18" long, in a cross pattern under my antenna. The wires are easy to zip tie to the structural tubing, and exact 90 degree quadrants are not required.
Jim Ott
Portland, OR
Kitfox SS7 flying
Rotax 912ULS
I use the airframe and the airframe only. Tony Bingelis of Experimental Aircraft fame suggested it (when talking about steel tube airframe) so I followed. I have not had anyone complain and I haven't any complaint either. I use that same radio. I suppose you would need to know what antenna I was using to get the truth as to whether you would get the same mileage. But, apparently a ground plane is unnecessary. Possibly I could get more range maybe but in this slow airplane I always reach my contacts within plenty of time before I reach their airspace.
Eddie Forward
Flying
SS7, 912iS, Garmin G3X
18x18! Wow.
According to Garmin you'd have to locate your magnetometer about 50' from the aircraft for it to work properly. Yes joking, but they seem super conservative on their installation instructions.
Kitfox 5 (under construction)
Commercial SE/ME, CFII
Paul , you are entering a whole new mission envelope with the Kitfox, and totally a different speed profile than your previos RV line . As a matter of fact the slogan for the Kitfox is "its not how fast , but how fun". While it is a great STOL perforner , FOR THIS CATEGORY of airplane its no slouch with the standard (not the STOL) wing airfoil and although I don't have a rotax on my Series 5 (Continental IO-240) , my plane is happy at a 120 MPH TAS cruise speed. I think you will see responses from more owners with differing powerplants that will verify that 120 MPH is pretty standard on the later model Kitfoxes. In my dream world , my Kitfox and an IFR capable RV-7 in my hangar would be the perfect fleet, but I haven't won the lottery yet. Bruce N199CL
Decent antenna's, and a solid installation is really the key. Ground plane probably has influence
but I'm not sure it's that critical IF your installation is well grounded.
I have in N85AE a Garmin, and a Bendix King KX-155 with the identical Antenna on each (RAMI) I
simply made sure they are well grounded to the airframe and I get really good range with both.
I have been able to talk to KUGN tower from 50 miles away with the KX-155, the Garmin is not
quite as good for range but has never been a problem. KX-155 is pretty old school, but is a really
fine radio
Either Radio has more range than I will ever need in N85AE at normal speeds, and in areas where
I fly (Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota)
Jeff