Matronics Email Lists Forum Index Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists
 
 Get Email Distribution Too!Get Email Distribution Too!    FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

AeroElectric-List Digest: Garmin SL-30

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
dean.psiropoulos(at)veriz
Guest





PostPosted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 5:38 pm    Post subject: AeroElectric-List Digest: Garmin SL-30 Reply with quote

Andy:

I bought an SL-30 brand new when I was building my RV but it sat on the
shelf for 5 years before the airplane flew. I did the wiring of the
airplane, which has a full IFR stack of UPS AT gear. The radio received
well but had a bit of scratchy transmission and there were a couple times
that I noticed it causing my electric pitch trim to move when I keyed the
Mike. Also, I have a comant dual element VOR/ILS antenna under the vertical
stabilizer on the bottom of the fuselage. While this would seem like a good
place to put it, my VOR reception has not been great out past 25 miles or so
from a VOR. Spotty between 20 and 25 but rock solid below 20 miles out (3500
MSL). Since most VORs are supposed to be good for about 40 miles out and I
live in the flat lands of Florida this is a bit disconcerting. The radio
display quit working around 200 hours and Garmin fixed it, only to have it
crap out again about 6 months later (Garmin fixed it free the second time).
Later I did find that the coax connector to my bent whip (com) antenna was
not crimped well and replaced it, seemed to cure the pitch trim interference
but transmission still scratchy. VOR reception about the same, I inspected
both ends of the coax and connectors but can't see anything obvious. I
assume if the COAX or connectors were shorted I wouldn't get any reception
on the Nav at all. I did use RG-58 and it's a long run from the instrument
panel down the firewall and the length of the fuselage to the VOR antenna so
maybe there is a bit too much attenuation there to get a full 40 mile
reception range. I'm going to rework the radio stack to put in a new ADS-B
out transponder and I think I'll replace the RG-58 with RG-400 to see if
that helps. My GX-65 GPS/COM radio works fine and it also uses RG-58 to the
bent whip and has an Icom splitter box in the line (for plugging a handheld
into the bent whip when an electrical or complete COM radio failure occurs).
So...I use the SL-30 for AWOS/ATIS reception and ground control and the
GX-65 for air to air/ground. Given what the SL-30 cost it's a little
disappointing but the avionic shop (Gulf Coast avionics in Lakeland FL has a
test fixture for UPS AT gear) plugged it into their test fixture and said
that there is nothing wrong with the radio so all I can think is that the
wiring may be the issue. Have not tried installing an SWR meter in the line,
might give a better clue but the bent whip has no way to adjust SWR so I
don't know how I would fix that if it was a problem (the GX-65 uses the same
brand of bent whip for COM so I don't know why the SL-30 would have a
problem). Just some data points from my experience, let me know if you
find out anything on your setup. Regards

Dean Psiropoulos
RV-6A N197DM
Tarpon Springs, FL

________________________________ Message 2
_____________________________________
Time: 08:04:30 AM PST US
From: "Andy Elliott" <a.s.elliott(at)cox.net>
Subject: Debug plan for flaky NavCom operation?

I have recently purchased an RV with an SL-30 as the #2 radio. Operation of
this radio is very inconsistent. Typically on the ground on battery power I
get good reception and transmission on local frequencies. Sometime after
engine start, I pick up a *lot* of background static on some, but not all,
frequencies. At least on the ground, I can still talk and receive on these
frequencies, overcoming the static.
But in the air, this radio is very flaky, both com and nav. Sometimes it
seems to work OK, but sometimes I can't receive the local ATIS from 10 miles
away when it is clear on the #1 radio. The static sometimes is there and
sometimes not. Sometimes the VOR reception is good and correct, and
sometimes it loses lock or report an obviously wrong radial. (I haven't
tried the ILS yet.)
My first thought was that there must be a bad ground somewhere, but before
going in with the flashlight and meter (which is not a trivial process, of
course), and before considering pulling the radio and having it tested
(Garmin's flat repair prices are $$$.), I thought I would try to get a debug
plan from the group here. Basically, I need a sequence of things to check
in order, hopefully going from simple to more difficult, which would lead to
(a) resolution of the problem or (b) a decision to send the radio for
check/repair.
Anyone have such a plan??

Thanks,

Andy Elliott

--------------------------

Andy Elliott, RV-8, N303RV

CL: 480-695-9568


- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List
Back to top
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group