Here's my story concerning transponders.Rick Human gave a good description of Mode S and ADSB.I removed my KT-76 and ACK30 encoder from the KR because it was dead weight as far as I was concerned.The units worked fine but my flying was not in class A,B,or C airspace.And yes it is better to have one and not need it than need it and not have one.The KT-76 in my plane was as good as they come.I gave $400 bucks for it years ago.I was able to install it and do the 2 year tests because I spent the last 40 years in avionics.I put the transponder,encoder,and harness on barnstormers for $250 and it sold the first day.The buyer was leery because it was so cheap.Told him to try it and if it did not work send it back for a refund.Here is the caveat.I started installing GA avionics in 1975 when the KT-76 not the KT-76A was state of the art.No one should think a 40 year transponder is worth what people regularly give for them for the fact that the RF cavity could fail any minute and render the bargain transponder useless.Sure you can repair it,for about the cost of a new transponder[Mode C].The same is true for any used Mode C unit.ADS-B "OUT" is mandated for Class A,B,and C airspace by 2020.ADS-B out can be accomplished using Mode S with extended squitter.It will NOT give the aircraft you are in the info "IN" just the required ADS-B OUT.A UAT transceiver such as the GarminGDL 39 will be used for ADS-B IN or into the plane you are flying.The new system using satellite technology is up and running.It works well an will only get better and it is up to the owner operator to take advantage of the capability afforded to us by the best ATC system in aviation.Tommy W.
On Wed, Jun 4, 2014 at 7:30 AM, Robert7721 via KRnet <krnet at list.krnet.org> wrote: > My airplane setup is pretty close to what you are describing. I have a > Dynon D6 and use its encoder output to provide altitude to a used Collins > Transponder I purchased on the ebay avionics list for $400. It hasn't > change from 1200 since the day I installed it but it does work fine. The > Collins 850 was the only "old" transponder type I could find to fit behind > my panel as it is only 8.5" deep. > > > Rob Schmitt > N1852Z > www.robert7721.com > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Mike T via KRnet <krnet at list.krnet.org> > To: brian.kraut <brian.kraut at eamanufacturing.com>; KRnet < > krnet at list.krnet.org> > Sent: Wed, Jun 4, 2014 12:08 am > Subject: Re: KR> How do you test a transponder? > > > I'm planning on getting a Dynon D6 EFIS, which is currently $1600. This > replaces all the primary instruments and several others as well, and its > altimeter is encoding. I'm waiting on that because the price will only go > down (unless Dynon introduces a new model -- then it will REALLY go down). > > So at the moment, I don't have an encoder, an antenna, or anything else. > But the transponder was a Terra 250 D, which I've lusted after for a long > time. I was flying a few weeks ago with a guy who just put one in his > Kitfox and loves it. > > However, it's not so rare that I can't wait awhile, especially if Mode S is > really going to be required. I wish someone would introduce a cheap > transponder for sport pilot planes and others who only fly VFR. It would > be fine with me if it only broadcast at 1200. > > Mike Taglieri > > > On Tue, Jun 3, 2014 at 11:18 PM, via KRnet <krnet at list.krnet.org> wrote: > > > Reminds me of something I did on my plane. As an electronics designer, > > this would be too embarassing to tell this story, but hopefully it will > > save someone else from doing the same thing. > > > > When I bought my M2 I knew that it needed a transponder test before I > > could operate mode C legally. Wanting to make sure it at least worked > > before I brought it to a shop to pay for a static test I thought I would > > check it first. Went up a few thousand feet and called a tower to > > confirm that they could read my code. Then switched on Mode C and they > > had no altitude report. Tried again the next week and same thing even > > though the guy I bought it from said it worked fine. > > > > Pulled the transponder and brought it to a friend that had the test > > equipment and he confirmed it was fine so must be the encoder. No > > problem, I had a spare. Put it in the plane, called a tower, turned on > > Mode C, no altitude. Arrrgh. > > > > Bought a used one from Wentworth and tried it, no luck. Had them send > > me another, still no good. > > > > Transponder and all wiring good so I decided that I must be overlooking > > something so I built an encoder test set (fairly easy with just > > resistors and LEDs to read the grey code). Hooked it up with tubing > > through a T going to the encoder and an altimeter so I could read the > > code and verify it was correct. Powered up and altitude read something > > like 200' and would not change on all three encoders, weird. > > > > While pondering what could be wrong all of a sudden the altitude changed > > and I verified by pulling vacuum with the syringe that it was correct. > > Turns out that the old style encoders need the temperature to stabilize > > for about two minutes before they start sending altitude. Not wanting > > to be reporting without knowing if it worked I had been turning the > > encoder on just before asking for an altitude check and the unit was not > > warmed up yet. Live an learn. Anyone want to buy three tested good > > encoders? > > > > Brian Kraut > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. > > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org > > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to > change > > options > > > _______________________________________________ > Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change > options > > > _______________________________________________ > Search the KRnet Archives at http://tugantek.com/archmailv2-kr/search. > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to KRnet-leave at list.krnet.org > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change > options >
