REBEL777 Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 I just installed a new Icom A200 radio in my veze and am having a problem with transmitting any distance. I originally had a portable icom with a remote antenna behind the pilot seat in a vertical position and it worked ok but still would only transmit aprox 25 mi. so with the new radio I installed an antenna on the bow leg but it won't even reach out 10 mi. any sugestions on how to get more range. In my earlier yrs. we would attach linears to our CB radios to reach out and touch someone. is there such a thing for vhf radios. thanks the Rebel Quote Rebel Wallace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Erickson Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 I just installed a new Icom A200 radio in my veze and am having a problem with transmitting any distance. I originally had a portable icom with a remote antenna behind the pilot seat in a vertical position and it worked ok but still would only transmit aprox 25 mi. so with the new radio I installed an antenna on the bow leg but it won't even reach out 10 mi. any sugestions on how to get more range. In my earlier yrs. we would attach linears to our CB radios to reach out and touch someone. is there such a thing for vhf radios. thanks the Rebelmost likely the antenna. find someone with a signal strength meter and test the antenna. is that 10 miles in the air or on the ground? remember the signal is line of sight. Quote Evolultion Eze RG -a two place side by side-200 Knots on 200 HP. A&P / pilot for over 30 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Swenson Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Are you using a foil ant on the bow leg? If so, it will break due to the bow flexing. Need to make sure that you have the proper sized ant---and located in an area that won't flex like the bow leg. The meter will help you troubleshoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waiter Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 A couple recommendations 1) The Comm antenna should be as vertical as you can get it. Although a horizontal antenna will work, your signal will be approximately -20db (about 1/10) down from an identical antenna that is vertically polarized. Aviation Comm is vertically polarized, VOR Nav is horizontally polarized. These selections were made to specifically take advantage of the 20db isolation between Vert and Horiz 2) Find a ham operator and see if they will put their VHF VSWR meter on the antenna. (a CB VSWR meter may not work, different frequencies). you need to see about 1.2 to 1.5 across the entire VHF range. (less than 2.0 is acceptable). Waiter Quote F16 performance on a Piper Cub budget LongEZ, 160hp, MT CS Prop, Downdraft cooling, Full retract visit: www.iflyez.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REBEL777 Posted October 20, 2008 Author Share Posted October 20, 2008 thanks for the info I will check our EAA chapter I think we have a meter. Quote Rebel Wallace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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