Powerflarm in a Libelle

I am curious about Flarm installation in Libelles. I can see that I will
have to install one at some point. Either a rental or bite the bullet
and buy one. Where do you Libelle drivers mount the antennas?

Thanks

WB
H301 #19

On Thursday, March 21, 2013 5:32:42 PM UTC-4, WB wrote:
I am curious about Flarm installation in Libelles. I can see that I will have to install one at some point. Either a rental or bite the bullet and buy one. Where do you Libelle drivers mount the antennas? Thanks WB H301 #19

Hi Wally,

have been flying with a PF brick and a panel mounted Butterfly display since last year's Parowan contest. I installed the antennas on either cockpit side wall where the wall-lining stops. That way, they are out of the way and still pretty much vertical. You can't get them apart any further in a Libelle.

Uli 'GM' H301 #14

On Thursday, March 21, 2013 2:32:42 PM UTC-7, WB wrote:
I am curious about Flarm installation in Libelles. I can see that I will

have to install one at some point. Either a rental or bite the bullet

and buy one. Where do you Libelle drivers mount the antennas?



Thanks



WB

H301 #19

Wally,
I put mine on an acrylic angle cantilevered off the front of the instrument tray. With the libelle it's cramped and dark in there.
I'll have to see how folks receive me once the season gets going.

Regards, OD

In article ,
wrote:

On Thursday, March 21, 2013 2:32:42 PM UTC-7, WB wrote:
I am curious about Flarm installation in Libelles. I can see that I will

have to install one at some point. Either a rental or bite the bullet

and buy one. Where do you Libelle drivers mount the antennas?



Thanks



WB

H301 #19

Wally,
I put mine on an acrylic angle cantilevered off the front of the
instrument tray. With the libelle it's cramped and dark in there.
I'll have to see how folks receive me once the season gets going.

Regards, OD

Thanks, Dave, Uli,

Great suggestions. I was thinking along Dave's lines, since that I what
I initially did with the antenna on my pcas unit. I like Uli's idea
since it gets the antennas well apart.

All the best,

WB

On Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:46:45 -0500, Wallace Berry wrote:

In article ,
wrote:

On Thursday, March 21, 2013 2:32:42 PM UTC-7, WB wrote:
I am curious about Flarm installation in Libelles. I can see that I
will

have to install one at some point. Either a rental or bite the
bullet

and buy one. Where do you Libelle drivers mount the antennas?



Thanks



WB

H301 #19

Wally,
I put mine on an acrylic angle cantilevered off the front of the
instrument tray. With the libelle it's cramped and dark in there.
I'll have to see how folks receive me once the season gets going.

Regards, OD

Thanks, Dave, Uli,

Great suggestions. I was thinking along Dave's lines, since that I what
I initially did with the antenna on my pcas unit. I like Uli's idea
since it gets the antennas well apart.

I use a standard RedBox FLARM in a Libelle, rather than a Power FLARM,
but hopefully this will be a useful starting point.

I am using the optional dipole antenna mounted on a non-conductive
assembly I made from a section of fibreglass fishing rod and a moveable
wooden block using nylon screws to lock it onto the rod section and to
hold the dipole in place. This projects roughly horizontally forward from
the front of the instrument tray so the dipole is as high up as possible
inside the nose and roughly half-way between the front of the tray and
the rudder pedals. This is my version of a mount design I got from
Thorsten Mauritsen, a Danish Libelle driver. Details and the rationale
behind this set-up are he

http://www.gregorie.org/gliding/libe...ole_mount.html


I've checked the coverage using the FLARM tool at:

http://www.flarm.com/support/analyze/index_en.html

A little experimentation showed that the fore and aft placement is quite
critical: moving the antenna even 6mm (1/4") makes a noticeable
difference. The analyser shows my coverage is approximately 6km round an
arc that extends +/- 120 degrees from straight ahead. Behind that, the
coverage forms a roughly straight line between these points and with a
worst case range of 2km directly behind me. Even the worst case is twice
the recommended minimum for speeds of up to 200 km/h (110 kts).


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

On Friday, March 22, 2013 3:02:43 PM UTC-7, Martin Gregorie wrote:
On Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:46:45 -0500, Wallace Berry wrote:



In article ,

wrote:



On Thursday, March 21, 2013 2:32:42 PM UTC-7, WB wrote:

I am curious about Flarm installation in Libelles. I can see that I

will



have to install one at some point. Either a rental or bite the

bullet



and buy one. Where do you Libelle drivers mount the antennas?







Thanks







WB



H301 #19



Wally,

I put mine on an acrylic angle cantilevered off the front of the

instrument tray. With the libelle it's cramped and dark in there.

I'll have to see how folks receive me once the season gets going.



Regards, OD



Thanks, Dave, Uli,



Great suggestions. I was thinking along Dave's lines, since that I what

I initially did with the antenna on my pcas unit. I like Uli's idea

since it gets the antennas well apart.



I use a standard RedBox FLARM in a Libelle, rather than a Power FLARM,

but hopefully this will be a useful starting point.



I am using the optional dipole antenna mounted on a non-conductive

assembly I made from a section of fibreglass fishing rod and a moveable

wooden block using nylon screws to lock it onto the rod section and to

hold the dipole in place. This projects roughly horizontally forward from

the front of the instrument tray so the dipole is as high up as possible

inside the nose and roughly half-way between the front of the tray and

the rudder pedals. This is my version of a mount design I got from

Thorsten Mauritsen, a Danish Libelle driver. Details and the rationale

behind this set-up are he



http://www.gregorie.org/gliding/libe...ole_mount.html





I've checked the coverage using the FLARM tool at:



http://www.flarm.com/support/analyze/index_en.html



A little experimentation showed that the fore and aft placement is quite

critical: moving the antenna even 6mm (1/4") makes a noticeable

difference. The analyser shows my coverage is approximately 6km round an

arc that extends +/- 120 degrees from straight ahead. Behind that, the

coverage forms a roughly straight line between these points and with a

worst case range of 2km directly behind me. Even the worst case is twice

the recommended minimum for speeds of up to 200 km/h (110 kts).





--

martin@ | Martin Gregorie

gregorie. | Essex, UK

org |

I am getting similar results with my powerlfarm antennas installed in the nose of my 27a. IMHO the nose of the glider, if carbon free and far enough from the rudder pedals is probably the best place to put your antennas. I wouldnt worry too much about them being a bit tilted and a bit closer than the recommended distance. The most important is that they will have pretty much unobstructed half sphere view of the area in front of you which is where your threat will most likely be. An added benefit will be not to have to stare at antennas sticking out from the glare shield.

Ramy

On Monday, March 25, 2013 4:13:07 PM UTC-4, Ramy wrote:
On Friday, March 22, 2013 3:02:43 PM UTC-7, Martin Gregorie wrote: On Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:46:45 -0500, Wallace Berry wrote: In article , wrote: On Thursday, March 21, 2013 2:32:42 PM UTC-7, WB wrote: I am curious about Flarm installation in Libelles. I can see that I will have to install one at some point. Either a rental or bite the bullet and buy one. Where do you Libelle drivers mount the antennas? Thanks WB H301 #19 Wally, I put mine on an acrylic angle cantilevered off the front of the instrument tray. With the libelle it's cramped and dark in there. I'll have to see how folks receive me once the season gets going. Regards, OD Thanks, Dave, Uli, Great suggestions. I was thinking along Dave's lines, since that I what I initially did with the antenna on my pcas unit. I like Uli's idea since it gets the antennas well apart. I use a standard RedBox FLARM in a Libelle, rather than a Power FLARM, but hopefully this will be a useful starting point. I am using the optional dipole antenna mounted on a non-conductive assembly I made from a section of fibreglass fishing rod and a moveable wooden block using nylon screws to lock it onto the rod section and to hold the dipole in place. This projects roughly horizontally forward from the front of the instrument tray so the dipole is as high up as possible inside the nose and roughly half-way between the front of the tray and the rudder pedals. This is my version of a mount design I got from Thorsten Mauritsen, a Danish Libelle driver. Details and the rationale behind this set-up are he http://www.gregorie.org/gliding/libe...ole_mount.html I've checked the coverage using the FLARM tool at: http://www.flarm.com/support/analyze/index_en.html A little experimentation showed that the fore and aft placement is quite critical: moving the antenna even 6mm (1/4") makes a noticeable difference. The analyser shows my coverage is approximately 6km round an arc that extends +/- 120 degrees from straight ahead. Behind that, the coverage forms a roughly straight line between these points and with a worst case range of 2km directly behind me. Even the worst case is twice the recommended minimum for speeds of up to 200 km/h (110 kts). -- martin@ | Martin Gregorie gregorie. | Essex, UK org | I am getting similar results with my powerlfarm antennas installed in the nose of my 27a. IMHO the nose of the glider, if carbon free and far enough from the rudder pedals is probably the best place to put your antennas. I wouldnt worry too much about them being a bit tilted and a bit closer than the recommended distance.. The most important is that they will have pretty much unobstructed half sphere view of the area in front of you which is where your threat will most likely be. An added benefit will be not to have to stare at antennas sticking out from the glare shield. Ramy

I'm not so sure I agree Ramy. I'm not so worried about who I"m going to hit as who is going to hit me.
Given this point of view, I prefer the PF antenna up on the glare shield where it sees "mostly" all around.
UH

On Monday, March 25, 2013 2:40:12 PM UTC-7, wrote:
On Monday, March 25, 2013 4:13:07 PM UTC-4, Ramy wrote:

On Friday, March 22, 2013 3:02:43 PM UTC-7, Martin Gregorie wrote: On Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:46:45 -0500, Wallace Berry wrote: In article , wrote: On Thursday, March 21, 2013 2:32:42 PM UTC-7, WB wrote: I am curious about Flarm installation in Libelles. I can see that I will have to install one at some point. Either a rental or bite the bullet and buy one. Where do you Libelle drivers mount the antennas? Thanks WB H301 #19 Wally, I put mine on an acrylic angle cantilevered off the front of the instrument tray. With the libelle it's cramped and dark in there. I'll have to see how folks receive me once the season gets going. Regards, OD Thanks, Dave, Uli, Great suggestions. I was thinking along Dave's lines, since that I what I initially did with the antenna on my pcas unit. I like Uli's idea since it gets the antennas well apart. I use a standard RedBox FLARM in a Libelle, rather than a Power FLARM, but hopefully this will be a useful starting point. I am using the optional dipole antenna mounted on a non-conductive assembly I made from a section of fibreglass fishing rod and a moveable wooden block using nylon screws to lock it onto the rod section and to hold the dipole in place. This projects roughly horizontally forward from the front of the instrument tray so the dipole is as high up as possible inside the nose and roughly half-way between the front of the tray and the rudder pedals. This is my version of a mount design I got from Thorsten Mauritsen, a Danish Libelle driver. Details and the rationale behind this set-up are he http://www.gregorie.org/gliding/libe...le_mount..html I've checked the coverage using the FLARM tool at: http://www.flarm.com/support/analyze/index_en.html A little experimentation showed that the fore and aft placement is quite critical: moving the antenna even 6mm (1/4") makes a noticeable difference. The analyser shows my coverage is approximately 6km round an arc that extends +/- 120 degrees from straight ahead. Behind that, the coverage forms a roughly straight line between these points and with a worst case range of 2km directly behind me. Even the worst case is twice the recommended minimum for speeds of up to 200 km/h (110 kts). -- martin@ | Martin Gregorie gregorie. | Essex, UK org | I am getting similar results with my powerlfarm antennas installed in the nose of my 27a. IMHO the nose of the glider, if carbon free and far enough from the rudder pedals is probably the best place to put your antennas. I wouldnt worry too much about them being a bit tilted and a bit closer than the recommended distance. The most important is that they will have pretty much unobstructed half sphere view of the area in front of you which is where your threat will most likely be. An added benefit will be not to have to stare at antennas sticking out from the glare shield. Ramy



I'm not so sure I agree Ramy. I'm not so worried about who I"m going to hit as who is going to hit me.

Given this point of view, I prefer the PF antenna up on the glare shield where it sees "mostly" all around.

UH

Good point, but the main difference is the coverage behind, and since the closing speed from traffic behind you (assuming glider) is significantly lower than from the front or side, and as such reducing to coverage to one mile from behind should be plenty.

Ramy

On Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:40:12 -0700, unclhank wrote:

I'm not so sure I agree Ramy. I'm not so worried about who I"m going to
hit as who is going to hit me. Given this point of view, I prefer the PF
antenna up on the glare shield where it sees "mostly" all around.

Agreed, but remember the OP asked about installation in a Libelle, where
the equivalent to mounting the antennae "up on the glare shield" would
involve poking them up through holes in the nose that you'd drilled in
front of the canopy. Remember that the face of the panel is forward of
the canopy rim and locking mechanism.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

On Monday, March 25, 2013 8:35:43 PM UTC-4, Martin Gregorie wrote:
On Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:40:12 -0700, unclhank wrote: I'm not so sure I agree Ramy. I'm not so worried about who I"m going to hit as who is going to hit me. Given this point of view, I prefer the PF antenna up on the glare shield where it sees "mostly" all around. Agreed, but remember the OP asked about installation in a Libelle, where the equivalent to mounting the antennae "up on the glare shield" would involve poking them up through holes in the nose that you'd drilled in front of the canopy. Remember that the face of the panel is forward of the canopy rim and locking mechanism. -- martin@ | Martin Gregorie gregorie. | Essex, UK org |

Understood.
I was simple pointing out that there is a real benefit, in my view to trying to get a complete a field of view for the antennas as possible.
The idea of putting the antennas on the side walls in the Libelle seems like a good one,given available options.
UH