On Monday, October 15, 2012 7:26:02 AM UTC-7, Andy wrote:



If so, could this have any bearing on the unsatisfactory PCAS

performance reported by some owners?



Andy

Andy,

It would have some bearing, as transponders operate at 1090MHz vs PF centered at 916MHz or so. The "new" shorter ADS-B/PCAS is tuned for 1090. But, when you consider that radio receive function is less critical of antenna matching than transmit, and that the power output of ADS-B and Xponders is much higher than Flarm, I suspect that the short range brick PCAS is more a software issue than antenna.

On my brick, I'm using the short 1090MHz dipole mounted in the nose as on "PK", and PCAS receive is still not great, PF is fine though. On my portable, with rubber ducky antennas and no PF-B antenna, it's just the opposite - great PCAS and just acceptable PF range.

Disclaimer: Only three flights with the brick so far, so brick comments based on only a few hours. Also, all antenna cables are shortened.

bumper