VOR antenna question

woodmanrog · #1 11-28-2013, 05:43 AM

When we first purchased our plane, I removed the VOR antenna from on top of the tail to reduce drag. Now my wife needs it on in order to practice tracking VOR's. My question is---does a VOR antenna only work to receive VOR frequencies or does it also pull in other NAV freq's such as approach beacons? I would really not want to install a wingtip antenna for technology that is on it's way out.
Thanks to all and have a great Turkey Day.
Woodman

Bill.Peyton · #2 11-28-2013, 06:39 AM

The VOR antenna is used just as a "receive only" for the VOR/localizer frequencies 108- 118 MHZ. It can also be used to receive the Glide Slope portion of the ILS signal which is transmitted at ~330 mhz. Many aircraft use a separate antenna for the glide slope.

In addition to the VOR navigation signal, FSS use the VOR audio channel to transmit weather, which is a receive only broadcast.

I would suggest it would not be difficult to install an Archer wingtip antenna which would accomplish both, or to reinstall the old Nav antenna that was removed, especially if the old coax is still in place.

Hope this helps

woodmanrog · #3 11-28-2013, 07:36 AM

Thanks for the info Bill. I guess we'll go with the wingtip install and that should take care of the issues. We have a Val-Nav glideslope and I think that the original VOR antenna was also controlling that instrument. I removed all of the cabling to reduce weight at the aft end of the plane so a wingtip Archer is the answer.

cfiidon · #4 11-28-2013, 08:35 AM

If your receiver radio does not have an internal splitter you will need one to split the GS off of the antenna coax.

A typical splitter like this has one antenna input and a separate NAV and GS output.

Don

Jesse · #5 11-28-2013, 08:47 AM

What nav radio do you have besides the Val? That will determine what splitter/diplexer you need.

BobTurner · #6 11-28-2013, 02:50 PM

What did you mean by "approach beacons"?
If you meant the ILS signals, as others said, the VOR antenna will bring them in. If you meant marker beacon signals, the answer is no, you'll need another antenna (wing tip marker beacon antennas are available and work okay, just pull two coax lines out to the wingtip.)