Cessna 210 star link mini installation

I made a triangular aluminum frame that connects forward, at the coat hanger loop, and aft, at the two tie down eye bolts. The SL free standing adapter is connected to the frame and the antenna can slide in and out. This puts the ‘dish’ pointed up through the rear window for excellent reception regardless of direction of flight. I power it through an Anker 27K MaH power brick for about 7-9hrs use. I will eventually put in a cigar lighter outlet in the baggage area for ship’s power. I pulled the mount from the plane today for revisions. I will take a photo tomorrow and post it. I consider it a prototype and would like suggestions for improvements.
 
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Gary Ward said:
I looked at a 210 last weekend that had it suction cupped to the rear window.
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That can work but will also have a tendency to lose suction as the cabin pressure falls in climb. That is why I abandoned my suction mount for a bracket mounted.
 
Thank you Robin , This is what i thought. which bracket do you use ?
 
Avi Lavon said:
Thank you Robin , This is what i thought. which bracket do you use ?
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Here are some photos of the prototype. Excuse the damage to one of the limbs…. Have proved that it won’t support the lft rear corner weight of a medium SUV .

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My solution does will no allow simultaneous use of the cargo eye bolts for their intended purpose and attaching the SL support bracket. I’m looking for an eye bolt with a larger ring that can accommodate both uses. I plan on producing a more ‘polished’ version once I get that resolved.
 
Check out Scott Dyer on BeechTalk. He made a support from RAM parts that mounts to the hump for the gear.
 
As a follow up.... I made a flight from IYA to T82 (and a tour around the 'real' hill country- Vanderpool/Leakey area...IYKYK ;) ) for lunch with my father last Saturday. I wanted SL service since there were a lot of pop up storms on the beginning/return flight path and an additional source of radar was desired. I did not have my mounting frame with me so I put a towel on top of my tools/spares box in my baggage compartment and nested the SL antenna on the towel pointing straight up through the rear window. It took a few minutes longer to acquire enough satellites for service but I had excellent coverage and even had my network available while eating lunch; the plane was at least 40yds away from our table inside the Hangar Grill. StarLink is the cat's pajamas, for certain.
 
robin ardoin said:
That can work but will also have a tendency to lose suction as the cabin pressure falls in climb. That is why I abandoned my suction mount for a bracket mounted.
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We don't need to worry about pressurization in an LA4-200, but doing a lot of water landings---I also wondered how well the suction cups would hold.
 
WJG-GMT-RootBeer said:
We don't need to worry about pressurization in an LA4-200, but doing a lot of water landings---I also wondered how well the suction cups would hold.
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If you are not changing altitude by more that 4,000' from the altitude you applied the mount, it should perform fine. Mine lost 'vacuum' on the cups around 8,000' MSL after applying the suction cup mount at 75' MSL. If it is on in flight accessible side window, it is simple to reapply it if it fails, particularly if the window is flat. My 210 rear window has a compound curvature, so the suction mount was not the best solution.
 
robin ardoin said:
If you are not changing altitude by more that 4,000' from the altitude you applied the mount, it should perform fine. Mine lost 'vacuum' on the cups around 8,000' MSL after applying the suction cup mount at 75' MSL. If it is on in flight accessible side window, it is simple to reapply it if it fails, particularly if the window is flat. My 210 rear window has a compound curvature, so the suction mount was not the best solution.
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The Lake also has convex windows---but the rear windows are basically flat. Do you happen to know what the unit weighs? We are almost never above 3K AGL, but we do encounter choppy water at times and take offs/landings can get bumpy.
 
WJG-GMT-RootBeer said:
The Lake also has convex windows---but the rear windows are basically flat. Do you happen to know what the unit weighs? We are almost never above 3K AGL, but we do encounter choppy water at times and take offs/landings can get bumpy.
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I don't have the weight, offhand, but it is less than 3lbs and probably closer to 2. I think you will be fine in chop if you mount it to a clean flat surface.

quick internet search....2.56lbs with the included, but detachable stand. The stand weighs probably 6oz. I think you will be fine. If not, plexiglass magnets should work. Ok, Ikeed, Ikeed. LOL
 
robin ardoin said:
I don't have the weight, offhand, but it is less than 3lbs and probably closer to 2. I think you will be fine in chop if you mount it to a clean flat surface.

quick internet search....2.56lbs with the included, but detachable stand. The stand weighs probably 6oz. I think you will be fine. If not, plexiglass magnets should work. Ok, Ikeed, Ikeed. LOL
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I might have to do just that and try this out---we are working-hoping-praying--to switch out to a Renegade soon if the stars align and that would have considerably more space for mounting.

Thanks for the information.
 
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