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Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:34:13 -0400
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From: "Robert Pastusek" <rpastusek@htii.com>
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Dennis Ramsey asked: 

...   I was wondering what the antennae model number recommendations were of
IV owners and where you hid them.  I assume the com is in the vertical and
the Nav's in the wing tips, marker beacon in the wing root?  GPS in the
tail?  I appreciate any help you can provide on your solution and how it is
working for 
you.  Thank you

Dennis, I'll give this a go. Lance Niebauer spent particular attention to
hide all the antennae, just as you outlined above...except that I don't
think he considered GPS in those days(?). In any case, I built my IV-P with
VOR antennae (2) in the fiberglass winglets, marker beacon antenna in the
wing root, Comm antenna in the fiberglass vertical and a second whip comm
antenna on the lower fuselage centerline. (BTW, I ran my 406 MHz ELT antenna
up into the vertical as far separated from the comm antenna as I could.) I
also installed a transponder antenna on the lower fuselage centerline. I
provided metal ground planes for both lower fuselage mounted antennae.  I
later took out the left winglet VOR antenna in favor of a retractable
landing light in that location (I also deleted the second VOR radio from my
panel configuration). 

Although I use the remaining right winglet antenna primarily for ILS
reception, and only use the VOR as a cross check to my dual GPS primary nav
systems, it works well for both. Ditto for the marker beacon antenna...which
I use even less. The comm antenna in the tail works, but it definitely
doesn't provide the range of the whip antenna on the lower fuselage. I've
confirmed similar experience with other Lancair builders. 

Both of my GPS antennae are mounted on top centerline of the fuselage; one
between the door hinges, and the second 28" further aft. I'd recommend you
not install GPS antennas "inside" anything. The signal is pretty weak, and
even fiberglass degrades it a small amount. As this is a WAAS system, I need
all the signal strength I can get. 

Although I have departed from Lance's golden rule to keep the airframe
completely clean, I am very pleased with my configuration. Everything works,
I don't have any interference with other components in the airplane nor
among the radio systems, and I think this is a minimum drag configuration
that provides excellent coverage for my several radios...

If you are installing two radios like I did, I'd recommend you connect the
lower whip antenna to your primary radio, and the internal tail antenna to
the secondary radio. If you are single-radio, install a whip on the bottom;
you'll appreciate the extra range...especially in a Lancair.

Hope this helps.

Bob