uAvionics ADS-B Install Kitfox 7

[Dave S]

Finally did what several others have done; and, installed an Echo UAT/SkyFYX ADS-B combo in our S7.


A few considerations for this choice.


1) Known good luck that others have had with this equipment.



2) Already had a good Garmin Transponder; and, the Echo UAT pings off the transponder antenna for Mode C data without any additional wires.



3) Uncomplicated installation - one antenna and cable for the ADS-B, one antenna and cable for the SkyFYX WAAS GPS (since I did not have a compliant WAAS GPS, power leads + and -. That's it.


4) Reasonably priced - $995 for the ADS-B unit and $450 for the WAAS GPS addition.


5) No need to mess much with the panel other than to add one 3 amp circuit breaker and switch.


6) Extremely small size and little weight - the components can be located in a variety of places.


7) WIFI for ADS-B in with both frequencies.


As you can see, the $ was about equal in weight to the equipment


What comes in the package including the Echo UAT and SkyFYX is shown in photo #2 The miniature Coax pigtail is a necessary part of the equipment because a normal BNC connector is way too big to attach.


A 12" by 12" thin aluminum sheet was riveted in for a ground plane and to provide support for the antenna. This location was chosen out on the bottom of the tail cone, port side, behind the baggage bay on the advice of the uAvionix tech due to the distance requirements from other existing antennas and the location of the main gear on a tri gear kitfox.


The Ucho UAT and SkyFYX were located on a small panel affixed to two of the tubes between the fabric and baggage bay near the port alieron rod behind the pilots seat. This location also made it easy to observe the LEDs for initial startup and setup by leaving the baggage side cover out of the way (recommended access per the instructions)



Although I don't have a photo, the GPS antenna (little black square with the black cord) was mounted with its magnetic base top center of the front carrythrough tube at the junction of the top tube braces - which made an easy run back down the tube mostly out of sight.


Running the test flight resulted in a 0.00% fail PAPR report of all parameters - couldn't be happier with that.



Also had a friend with his Ipad mini work the ADS-B in on the WIFI and that worked perfectly. Grief, there are a lot of airplanes out there!


I don't have my own screen for the ADS-B In yet; but, I can see that coming.