mocfly Posted December 19, 2013 Report Share Posted December 19, 2013 Has anyone added an extra external antenna for use with a portable radio? Primary use would be recieve only, while transmitting would require a more advanced wiring scheme. My AC has the additional audio input in the aircraft that is silenced when a radio transmission is either received or made, I find it useful in my 172 to be able to get arrival airport information prior to being handed off by a center or other controlling authority prior to having the airport in sight. I have found listening to uncontrolled airport frequencies as I approach airport the airport can provide useful information, and some humor, especially if it un-controlled. Lastly I also like to monitor 121.5 when the chatter is light or the hour is late. (Old habits die hard) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rookie Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Hi Chris, I've added an external VHF antenna for my Sportys SP-400 hand held Nav/Com. I did it for the same reason your considering, to monitor alternate frequencies. An added bonus was the NAV function as a back up should GPS fail, remarkably easy to use, unlike the Bendix King I had in my Skyhawk. If you have any questions or would like some pictures send me an email. al, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Lastly I also like to monitor 121.5 when the chatter is light or the hour is late. (Old habits die hard) Why is it an "old habit?" From the AIM: 6-2-5. Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) d. Inflight Monitoring and Reporting. 1. Pilots are encouraged to monitor 121.5 MHz and/or 243.0 MHz while inflight to assist in identifying possible emergency ELT transmissions. On receiving a signal, report the following information to the nearest air traffic facility: A Your position at the time the signal was first heard. B Your position at the time the signal was last heard. C Your position at maximum signal strength. D Your flight altitudes and frequency on which the emergency signal was heard: 121.5 MHz or 243.0 MHz. If possible, positions should be given relative to a navigation aid. If the aircraft has homing equipment, provide the bearing to the emergency signal with each reported position. (Bolded mine). As soon as I leave the traffic pattern, I switch to 121.5. In my career I've probably reported about a half dozen ELT's. In addition, if the National Airspace System were ever shut down, due to a terrorist attack, let's say, I'd kinda like to know right away. Of course, this does not apply if you have flight following or are otherwise taking to ATC or if you have a reason to be monitoring another frequency. Beyond that, monitoring 121.5 is a good idea. Good article on it here: http://www.aviationchatter.com/2012/04/just-monitor-guard/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 As another option, if you have a big enough window, how about an external antenna mounted to a suction cup. If and when you need it, just stick it outside. Placement might be less than idea, but just a thought... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mocfly Posted December 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Why is it an "old habit?" From the AIM: 6-2-5. Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) d. Inflight Monitoring and Reporting. 1. Pilots are encouraged to monitor 121.5 MHz and/or 243.0 MHz while inflight to assist in identifying possible emergency ELT transmissions. On receiving a signal, report the following information to the nearest air traffic facility: A Your position at the time the signal was first heard. B Your position at the time the signal was last heard. C Your position at maximum signal strength. D Your flight altitudes and frequency on which the emergency signal was heard: 121.5 MHz or 243.0 MHz. If possible, positions should be given relative to a navigation aid. If the aircraft has homing equipment, provide the bearing to the emergency signal with each reported position. (Bolded mine). As soon as I leave the traffic pattern, I switch to 121.5. In my career I've probably reported about a half dozen ELT's. In addition, if the National Airspace System were ever shut down, due to a terrorist attack, let's say, I'd kinda like to know right away. Of course, this does not apply if you have flight following or are otherwise taking to ATC or if you have a reason to be monitoring another frequency. Beyond that, monitoring 121.5 is a good idea. Good article on it here: http://www.aviationchatter.com/2012/04/just-monitor-guard/ Ed, Why is it an old habit? With only one radio I find it kinda hard to monitor 121.5 when 99% of my flights are with flight following, which is typically what I do when flying my 172. Why not ask a question and wait for an answer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mocfly Posted December 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 As another option, if you have a big enough window, how about an external antenna mounted to a suction cup. If and when you need it, just stick it outside. Placement might be less than idea, but just a thought... I do not find that as permanent an install as I would like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 My only point was, it's still a good habit, and one that I think pilots should take on as a "new" habit! But irrelevant if on flight following, unless you can monitor a second comm, in which case it's still a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin2 Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 Topic moved to a new location. Due to a request this topic was split. External antenna stays here and flight following thread drift was moved to flight planning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 Good move. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runtoeat Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 Chris, here's a link to previous discussion of aux. radio. Might be some useful info for you. http://ctflier.com/index.php?/topic/2380-handheld-radios/ I've got an aux. external antenna with dedicated BNC connection to this on my panel. Carry antenna adapter to hook-up my hand held radio to this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 Hi Chris, All this of course is just a personal choice. You can mount a antenna and run a separate cable to the cockpit for a handheld radio. It isn't rocket science and works well. Don't try and piggy back into you main radio cable as I have seen several times now that it causes problems. I don't have a separate cable and just keep the handheld for that emergency on cross country flights because I should be close enough to not need the extra distance for an external antenna. If I'm local is have my cell phone for tower comms blue toothed into my Zulu 2 headset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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