Antenna mount locations?

[Zzz]

Where did you guys mount your comm antennas? I think I saw Jared had his mounted to the wing not far from the root. Is there any disadvantage to other locations?

How about ELT? I've seen some people do them internally just inside the fabric, but range may be hampered by being inside the fuselage. The argument is that if the aircraft is on its back, the antenna could be broken off anyway. Thoughts?

Transponder is generally the stubby on the belly.

No plan for a VOR antenna.

Thanks.

[tps8903]

I own a tube and fabric aircraft....not a Bearhawk yet. I found ground planes are difficult with fabric aircraft, mounting directly to the steel frame does not work very well. This is the one area that makes an all aluminum aircraft nice. What I eventually did which worked out really well is lining the turtle deck and top of the aircraft with aluminum window screen underneath the fabric most of the length of the aircraft, and on the bear hawk you could even attach it to the aluminum wings to make a larger plane.. This provided an excellent ground plane that still works today and is very light weight. I tried many methods before this and had varying amounts of success, however this has worked the best.

Of course use unpainted or untreated aluminum screen.

[jaredyates]

Mine are outboard of the fuel tanks, because I wanted to have two and was concerned about proximity between the two coms and the ELT. Their placement was based on a guess and not science, so don't take too much from that. Generally I've found that antenna questions are best addressed to an enthusiastic HAM radio hobbyist. Those folks tend to know lots of theory and have SWR meters and such.

[mswain]

I'm a long way from worrying about comm antennas, but my plan is to try and put 1/2 wave antennas inside the fuselage, behind the passenger compartment bulkhead. You don't need a ground plane for 1/2 wave. Downside is they're about 3.5 feet long. I know of at least one company that makes them for aircraft, http://www.advancedaircraft.com/ I am trying to keep my plane as slick as possible.

I've built many 1/2 wave antennas for VHF back when I was active in Ham radio, they are good performers.

[mikeno]

My Rans S-6ES is tube and fabric and I've used a fine copper mesh attached to the aft part of the skylight and the quarter wave antenna ground with copper tape. It was relatively cheap and easy to install.

[tailwind]

Com antenna is mounted between fuel tank and fuselage in the first rib bay. Elt and gps antennas are mounted on tail cone. Xponder antenna is mounted on forward portion of boot cowl betweem the gear legs. The ADSB antenna is mounted on the opposite side and back slightly enough to get appropriate spacing.

[N942VT]

My Com antenna is in the first wing bay, the .032 section. ELT is in a tray behind the baggage station with the stock antenna centered in the space.. Transponder center lower boot cowl. My avionics guy checks the output reading of each of these and all is good. I have found no interference issues with any electronics including my ADAHRS which is located behind the baggage station. My advice is to make the runs as short and accessible as possible.