Frank;

I absolutely HATE noise in the system!!!   Radio problems can be a pain but 
usually they're all logical.  First start with your grounds, ALL of them.  
Engine to airframe, control surfaces to airframe, battery to airframe and 
avionics (including the phone plugs) to airframe.  Then why not go ahead and 
replace the little bit of coax you need with the good stuff, RG400.  Remember 
that the 400 will use a different part number for the connector.  Believe me, 
not those who say they're the same.  Next, the item I would look at would be 
the condition of your battery.  Try to get it to a shop that can properly test 
an aviation battery.  I'll assume that your mag condensers are new and that the 
voltage regulator was also checked when the alternator was serviced.  

That about covers it all from what I can tell.  Maybe someone else can lend a 
hand.

Good luck.

Al DeMarzo
Visit the Ercoupe Swap Page 
Free, Easy and No Membership Required
http://www.ercoupeowners.com/swap/swapbook.htm

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: fnelson913 
  To: [email protected] 
  Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 5:48 PM
  Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Electrical and Radio Systems


  My yellow and blue bird is flying again with $1,200.00 worth of 
  encouragement. The alternator was rebuilt and a broken wire leading 
  to the voltage regulator was discovered and fixed.

  Of course, that is the good news. The better news is that my magnetos 
  needed some love and attention. The gold dust found there didn't make 
  me richer, only the opposite. Both mags are now rebuilt but there is 
  more news.

  The best news is that I still have radio problems. I did some touch-
  and-go's after exercising my check writing hand (boy did I get 
  rusty... on the landings) and my radio reception was crap. It was 
  garbled but readable. I can't describe it as static the way I did 
  before the repairs. I flew in the pattern for three quarters of an 
  hour and it didn't change.

  After I landed, I shut down and contacted ground control for a 
  communications check. Reception was clear and she reported loud and 
  clear from me. I fired the engine back up and listened. Again I got 
  bad radio reception. I don't know if my radio transmission while in 
  the pattern was bad, but I didn't get any complaints from the tower. 
  They usually let you know if they are having trouble copying your 
  radio.

  My thoughts are that there might be a loose antenna connection that 
  is sensitive to the vibration of the engine. Or maybe there is a 
  radio frequency filter somewhere that needs to be replaced.

  Does anyone have any ideas for me?

  Thanks.

  Frank Nelson
  N51DV - 415C
  TOA



   

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