GPS Antenna Locations

[Charles Davis]

I have some room inside the canard cover fore and aft of the canard, large enough to put (2) GPS antennas and (1) XM Satellite Radio antenna.

I had planned to put these near the pilots shoulders on the top side of the pilots seat, or in the headrest.

Does anyone know if the canard cover location will give the GPS antenna sufficient signal strength and satellite line of site, or do I need to place them elsewhere?

Where do other people place GPS antennas?

I also want to put in a localizer antenna.  The antennas I see are pretty large.  It appears the only area large enough for it is in one of the strakes.  Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I had both my GPS antennas double sticky taped to the top of the radio tray. No problem with coverage

Waiter

[Harry A]

Charles Davis wrote:

<I have some room inside the canard cover fore and aft of the canard, large enough to put (2) GPS antennas and (1) XM Satellite Radio antenna.

I had planned to put these near the pilots shoulders on the top side of the pilots seat, or in the headrest.>

My personal opinion is the higher and more unobstructed the better. my GPS ant in the head rest gives me great results. don't know about XM.


<I also want to put in a localizer antenna.  The antennas I see are pretty large.  It appears the only area large enough for it is in one of the strakes.  Any thoughts?>

I have seen excellent results from the classic RST Inc. style copper tapes installed on the bottom surface of the canard for the nav and winglet for the comm. Simple, cheap and effective, no problems for 20+ years of operation.

Charles I should have a copy of the original Sport Aviation article that Jim Wehr wrote covering this type of antenna.

[easyrider]

I have 3 GPS in my LongEZ( I don't have any VOR)
The Garmin 296 antenna is in the Pilot's headrest
The Appollo GX55 panel mount antenna is on the front access panel in the airflow, nice short co-ax run.
The Garmin Pilot III antenna is the standard unit that comes with the GPS.
I use the Pilot III as a backup and a nav. aid for the passenger when flying from the back seat. It beats keep saying 5deg. left/right every 2 mins.
Easyrider

[Kilo42]

Waiter,

Would it be possible to place a picture on your website of how you have your GPS antenna mounted?


Kilo42

[Anonymous]

Sure,  I have the plane on its back right now, but hope to have it flipped back over this weekend.  Its not a lot of science, the antennas can go anywhere, they will receive through the fiberglass.

I wonder if they would receive if they were mounted sideways, like on the inside of the sides of the fuselage?

Waiter

[Dan Patch]

I wonder if they would receive if they were mounted sideways, like on the inside of the sides of the fuselage?...

I believe that some (most/all?) GPS antennas are highly polarized.  My old Garmin GPS-90 wants its stubby 'stick' antenna pointed vertically and won't work if the antenna is flopped over horizontal.  

As a trivia sidelight, initially I stuck the antenna on the head rest and it didn't work at all.  It didn't take too long to figure out that the antenna couldn't 'see' through the thin titanium/milar film that I was using for a sun screen.  Moving it forward on the canopy clear of the film solved that problem, but this location is a lazy mans mounting that I need to change one of these days to a permanent out-of-sight spot (when I get my new GPS?).