V16 transmit getting RED Antenna

The expanding range of MGL's innovative RF avionics
Forum rules
Please keep your posts friendly and on topic. No politics or discussions of a controversial nature not related to our favorite subject of flying and avionics. Offending posts may be removed or moderated.
Post Reply
royerm
Posts: 29
Joined: Sun Feb 06, 2022 1:43 pm

V16 transmit getting RED Antenna

Post by royerm »

Here's the situation.
on the ground on 122.300 I get VSWR 1.0 and on 126.700 VSWR is 1.1
Pretty good in my book :D

I get in the air and transmitting on 122.300 is good.
In the air again transmitting on 126.700 I get the RED Antenna fault :roll:

I'm at lost with that one.

Regards
rainier
Site Admin
Posts: 647
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2020 7:03 pm

Re: V16 transmit getting RED Antenna

Post by rainier »

The VSWR reading is not the same as you typically get with a proper inline VSWR meter due to the measurement location in the transmit line - it is quite possible to get very low readings at the point of measurement due to phase relationships of the reflected signal - and that is frequency dependent.
Changing your frequency changes that relationship and the results can be dramatically different. So I suspect you have a open or short circuit somewhere along the line - that will do it and the effect will depend on the frequency and length of cable to the point the problem lies.

The antenna fault you get if the VSWR measurement goes very high so you definitely have something that reacts strongly to the tuned frequency (and therefor wavelength) in combination with a tuned stub - which is the length of your cable to the fault.
royerm
Posts: 29
Joined: Sun Feb 06, 2022 1:43 pm

Re: V16 transmit getting RED Antenna

Post by royerm »

Thx Rainier.

I would like to add a few more details.

If I choose 5W or 10W for transmission on the ground and engine not running (12.5V)
all is fine.
In the air with engine running and now with 14 V, I'm good transmitting at 5W but at 10W
I get the RED ANTENNA message..
royerm
Posts: 29
Joined: Sun Feb 06, 2022 1:43 pm

Re: V16 transmit getting RED Antenna

Post by royerm »

As a follow-up on my Radio High VSWR

After trying a few different length of coax trying to get a perfect fit
For my range of frequency, I decided to connect the V16 to my top of fuselage
Antenna which is used to my spare Icom 200(old radio).

Bang!! ……. No SWR at either 5W or 10W, I even noticed that it is putting out +-11.5W when flying with 14.2Volts.

So.. My under the belly Antenna location is reacting to something!!!!!! That creates bad SWR.

Cheers
Post Reply