On 4/6/2013 7:10 AM, Steve Koerner wrote:
Ramy,

That's exactly what I've thought. I would have put my Flarm antenna
in the nose of my glider like you did except that space was already
occupied by a transponder antenna. So, last fall I embarked on
designing and modelling a dipole like antenna that is constructed of
thin spring wire (visually unobstructive). It has a 4 element wire
counterpoise that lives below the glare shield with a single vertical
element above the glare shield. I'm using a small breakaway coaxial
antenna which also comprises the mounting through the glareshield.
I'm planning to attend the Perry contest so I should get data on how
well it performs there.

I had in mind that I might manufacture this antenna as a commercial
endeavor. However, when I disclosed the design to Flarm they had
certain objections. The objection that I couldn't dismiss was that
the Flarm radio circuit can be damaged by static discharge and the
thin exposed element would increase that suseptibility.

Perhaps a small ball on the end like a transponder antenna? Or is it the
exposed wire that is the problem? The "classic" Flarm seems to have a
plain wire antenna with a small button on top.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)