WX wanter WSI
report;
As far as I'm concerned
I'm still not happy. I had my WX 500 removed when I put the WSI in. My WX 500
was never wired correctly so didn't work. I installed the WSI with the standard
antenna. However, I installed the antenna under the glareshield knowing it may
not work. It didn't. I played with it on top of the glareshield and discovered
that it didn't work on headings of 320/360*. After talking a lot to all the
folks involved they said to put it in the tail like Jeff has. After I did that
it still didn't work. They did some more trouble shooting over the phone and as
it turned out Mine wasn't On The Air during the critical 2/3 months that they
were broadcasting a critical update, especially for us West Coast users. That
opened up Beam 5. Previously, they only had Beam 3 for us. I asked if that was
my old problem with the antenna the they said no, that a lot of folks are having
problems with that antenna. I found out that it is made for them at Comant and
it has a tuning problem with the newer Beams or satt link. So, I got the Marine
antenna and installed it into the tail on my Aluminum antenna tray in the dorsal
fin part of the fiberglass vertical stabilizer, where I have my TCAD top antenna
and a GPS antenna, both work excellent. The new antenna receives WSI very well
on the ground with 0 BER or Bit Error Rate. This is required even though they
say 200 won't work and under 10 is OK. By the time I taxi out and take off I
have about 4 or 5 of the things listed on the declutter list. If I sit on the
ground testing, after 20 min. I still don't have Lightning showing on the list.
I have never seen Lightning listed and when I'm in the air my BER goes to about
8 if it isn't 200. That means that my NexRad turns Red and the minutes next to
it goes past 60 meaning it never has updated since I took off. The Gmeter ages
out the same but with different load times. About the time I'm in the landing
pattern after flying across 3 states it starts getting a lower BER. I think from
heading change. I have been told to raise the Marine antenna as high as I can
get because if we used Carbon Fiber to attach the Fiberglass to the fuselage
then I may be masking the antenna? The only other thing may be my vertical tail
is painted with the Color Change paint, but this is not like metallic paint it
only has light reflecting very special prisms in it, unless they are metallic?
Soon, I hope to raise the antenna and give that a try.
Now for the Sirrus
issue. We all need to change the
box, which is only free if you sign up for a 4 year service, $600/yr, and that
box will need another new antenna, I understand. I really don't know if the
Marine antenna will even work with the new boxes? Check it out before you buy
and let me know. I'm open to idea.
Another rubb I have is to
get the Winds Aloft from WSI you need to get the Corporate plan which costs
another $300/yr.
Jim Hergert
N6XE (An Sexy)
L4P 380
hrs.
I have the standard WSI antenna. I have not yet activated
the service, and, thus, have no operational experience.
Is the consensus that the standard antenna is inadequate
while the marine version is up to the task? If so, do you happen to know why?
What is the issue? Is location just as important?
Does anyone else have a WSI system up and running with the
standard antenna? I'd sure like to hear how that is working for you. Just as
important, how about someone who has switched to the marine antenna? How is that
working out?
If it turns out that the marine antenna is the "solution",
then count me in. I'll buy one (in for a penny, in a for a
pound).
Thanks,
Ron
Ron Jones