PCAS Monroy ATD-300

[kmach]

Hi everyone,

I had a close call last week and am considering a passive collision
avoidance system.

I think my wig wag landing lights and strobes from Aeroleds saved my bacon. the 172 passed level from 1 oclock to my 9 from out of the late evening sun while I was in the downwind of a private unregistered strip. I had completed a position report on the enroute freq a minute or two earlier and changed to the airfield freq and called the downwind, I was completing the landing check, when my passenger called "plane", I looked up to see it go by at the 11 pos 100yds away. I think if I didn't have a passenger , I don't think I would of ever known of it's presence!

I have tried the Zaon XRX last year , but was unable to calibrate its internal compass , it did not like the electonics in my dash, so I sent it back.

I am now considering the Monroy ATD-300 with the externally mounted antenna .



I know of the pcas limitations , but, just maybe one might save an incident, alerting of an aircraft that your mark II eyeballs can't see while your head is swiveling, also a person has to look at the panel once in a while !

Anyone use one of these, are they another useful tool ? Experiences ?

[DesertFox4]

Kevin , Dan B has a traffic alert device but I'm not sure of the name brand.
It's about the size of a pack of cigarettes and sits on top of the glare shield. Seems to work pretty good.

I purchased a new Area 500 Garmin gps and the ADS-B receiver also from Garmin. It's amazing how many aircraft are out there that you don't see with your eyes but this thing finds. Sometimes you still can't see them even when you know where to look. Kind of alarming at times.

Glad you saw yours in time. The other guy likely never saw you at all and never knew how close he came to another aircraft.

P.S.
I also fly 100% of the time with all strobes and the AeroLed wig-wags going.

[SS7Flyer]

I know a fellow that installed a very basic smoke system. He pops a couple second burst on downwind and base at every field. This was his solution after he survived a middair. Something to consider or do what I do and stay below 1000agl where the spam cans don't fly.

[SkySteve]

LOL. Looks like your finger got stuck on the zero and added an extra one!

[SS7Flyer]

Didn't want to get the safety police excited and for people to start quoting 91.119.

[SkySteve]

Oh yea. I must have misread your post. I thought you said you were landing!

[N8053H]

Not sure why only one pic went through but here are more...

[kmach]

Hi N8053H, Thanks for sending the pictures.

Are you using the Monroy patch cord for the audio? It turns my headsets to mono , I only hear the traffic warnings in my left ear, so I need to wire it differently.Maybe into the intercom.

In the top picture, is that the units "portable" antenna? on top of the glare shield, or is it for something else.

[N8053H]

I use this unit. It works great. Keeps me alert of traffic so I can look out for slower traffic that does not use a transponder.
I fly from a small airpark that has a fuel stop for the local Air-e-vac team. Some times these guys and gals come in a few times when I am flying. Now I see them 5nm out and can keep an eye out for them long before I see them with the naked eye.
For the buck its a great little unit and sometimes you can pick up a used unit as I did and save some cash.


Harold

[kmach]

Hi, I am using the ATD -300 in its portable configuration right now, and am going to install the external antenna sometime in the near future. How do you have yours setup ? mounting location , antenna setup etc. Did you wire into your audio , if so how ? as you know pictures are always welcome