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GPS Antenna Doubler?
I'm installing my ADS-B GPS Antenna on the top of the fuselage in front of the vertical stabilizer. I'm questioning whether or not I need a doubler. The skin is very rigid back there and the antenna very flat. There's no leverage to generate a bending motion. I'd rather not put rivets in my nice paint job.
Michael- |
I made a backing plate that was roughly 1/3 larger than the antenna. I put rivet nuts on it and screwed the antenna into it such that it and the antenna sandwiched the skin.
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Me to
I am switching my GPS from inside mount to on top in back same as you and also plan to use a piece of aluminum as a backing plate without riveting it to the skin. Kind of like a big washer held in place with lock nuts.
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To OP, I would use a doubler plate as skins are thin and any point mass attached locally will work on them with high potential of skin crack at the fasteners. Plus you potentially get a better ground plane for better antenna performance. |
Glue
Glue the doubler on with 3m 2216 or equivalent. You will get some vibration damping in the process 👍
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When I paint the airplane I'll bond antenna and doubler but for now just held in place with screws - torqued to Garmin specs of course. |
I made my own. Garmin sells one for $50. I will rivet it in today. On the question of nutplates vs nuts, once I finally get my window installed the GPS will still be removable by one person.
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i promised myself not to do this but
PLEASE go read 43.13. The nut plate method described does not transfer the loads, resulting in local stresses in the skin - which in your case is a STRUCTURAL MEMBER. The bonding method MAY be sufficient: how were the surfaces prepared? Was there a test model? Was that article tested to failure? Was the application methodology tested [temperature/ compression/ clamping]?
There are some metal to metal bonding methods that work, obviously, and have been for some time. BUT -- I have seen some otherwise great systems fail when used in the field. Sorry, but this would not pass my inspection. Touch up paint is a lot cheaper than replacing a fuselage skin that cracks - or fails. |
How about a different GPS antenna
![]() How about using a different GPS antenna to save on installation work? This GPS antenna works with the Stratus ES/ESG. I spent a little money using this GPS antenna to save installation work. |
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