REFLECTOR: Metallic paint and antennas

[KeithHallsten]

Al had recently asked about the advisability of silver metallic paint on the
underside of his Velocity.  Here's a recent post to the Aeroelectric list on
the subject of metallic paint and embedded antennas.
Keith


Date: October 29, 2004
Time: 06:22:59 AM PST US
From: "Robert L. Nuckolls, III" <b.nuckolls at cox.net>
Subject: Re: AeroElectric-List: Metallic Paint and built in antennas

--> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "Robert L. Nuckolls, III"
<b.nuckolls at cox.net>

At 11:10 AM 10/28/2004 -0400, you wrote:

>--> AeroElectric-List message posted by: Bristolsabre at aol.com
>
>I plan to use metallic paint on my composite Mustang replica.
>The radio and VOR antennas are inside the verical and horizontal surfaces.
>I have heard from other builders that this will work, but none have been
able
>to tell me if the signal strenght/range is affected.
>Anybody have any experience with this?
>Tore

   That's easy.  It IS affected. Now's the hard part. Few folks
   will be able to tell you how much and even if we could
   tell you EXACTLY (Hey, Tore. Putting that antenna inside the
   vertical fin as you've described is going to attenuate your
   signal by 1.383 dB), how would that help you?

   Is changing paint an option? If not, use what you've planned.
   If radio performance proves to be less than satisfactory, then
   you KNOW where your investigation for improved performance will
   begin. You may find that the antennas work fine for the way
   you use your airplane and no further action is called for.

   Bob . . .