GDL-39 Mounting Ideas?

[Andy95W]

I just bought a GDL-39 and will pair it with an Aera 500 and an iPad running Garmin Pilot.

Does anyone have any experience with heat when mounting the GDL39 on the glareshield?

Does anyone have any experience putting the GDL39 in any other location and still getting good reception without using external antennas?

I read on a Vans Air Force forum that one guy had put it between the seats and it still worked fine.

Any opinions? Or should I just leave it on the glareshield like I originally intended?

[Marauder]

Bought mine last Fall and use it on the glare shield without any problems. Haven't had it a full summer yet, but think it will be fine.

[MooneyBob]

I used it all summer last year on the glare shield with no issues.

My iPad on my knee shuts off from overheating long before the GDL.

[FlyDave]

I've had mine on the glareshield for about 6 months with no problems. I don't have the antenna vertical - it's angled back so I can push it forward on the glareshield and out of the right-seater's field of view.

I did not get the battery with it and I'm not sure if that would produce different heat characteristics. Batteries tend to get hot when charging so if the unit is getting heat from the battery and heat from the sun, heat related problems ensue. Just a thought.

 

Dave

[scottfromiowa]

I have battery/glareshield set-up. No problems. I do put cover on if overnight on the road...and it is hangered. You have to remember to power it down if you have it on battery (at shutdown) or it will run down battery and create heat...combined with sun? Could be a problem. Cabin cover and check-list/post shut-down manual off with battery are key.

[Andy95W]

Glareshield it is!

Thanks to everybody for the information.

Has anybody tried an external antenna, or is it not worth the trouble?

[Marauder]

Glareshield it is!

Thanks to everybody for the information.

Has anybody tried an external antenna, or is it not worth the trouble?

 

I haven't had any issues with reception in the Northeast. 

[carusoam]

External/remote antennae are nice to get things off the glare shield...

Passenger driven challenge...

It bugs them being in turbulence.

It bugs them even more when important looking stuff, lands in their lap!

If you fly alone, this won't apply to you...

Panel mounted (radio bay in back) device, and external antennae would be best...

Best regards,

-a-

[flyboy0681]

So I take it that nobody has placed it on the hat rack. I'd be curious to know how the signal is from back there.

[larryb]

I would like to place one of these in the tailcone and use my old and unused dme antenna. I also have the fiberglass belly and was thinking of using a stick antenna inside the belly panel.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[jetdriven]

That antenna on the glareshield can still receive signals from stations 100 MN away and it even works great folded down. I did cover mine with some white sailclotch to keep it from getting hot, it hasnt overheated ever in two years.  For a few bucks you can wire the power cord into the airplane.

[dfgreene61]

Mine is on the hat rack. My plane has a power receptical on the hat rack as we'll. I have the remote antennas mounted to the rear window with suction cups. It works great in this location. It's a pretty amazing little device.

[wishboneash]

Mine was installed behind the panel on the right side. It has an external antenna on the glare shield. The only time I need to access it is the rare occasion I have to pair a bluetooth device. I can reach from under and press the button to do that.

[jrp]

I put an external antenna on the belly just aft of the left wing root.  This allowed moving the GDL 39 under the glare shield, which works great. 

 

Reception has been flawless thus far. 

[gacoon]

Ran mine on the glare shield for a couple of months to see how it worked.  Recently hooked unit up to an old DME antenna on the belly and mounted the 39 under the dash on the left side of the center console.  Still using cig lighter plug in.  Its a nice neat installation, out of the way and works great.  The belly mounted DME antenna actually works better than the stock antenna on the glare shield.

 

Gerry

M20J

[Andy95W]

Ran mine on the glare shield for a couple of months to see how it worked.  Recently hooked unit up to an old DME antenna on the belly and mounted the 39 under the dash on the left side of the center console.  Still using cig lighter plug in.  Its a nice neat installation, out of the way and works great.  The belly mounted DME antenna actually works better than the stock antenna on the glare shield.

 

Gerry

M20J

Great idea, thanks. Short term I'll put it on the glare shield with a final plan to eventually use an external antenna on the belly and hide the unit under the panel.

[slowflyin]

dfgreene61,

 

Would you share the antenna make and model?  I too have power on the hat rack and think this would be ideal.   Also, the manual indicates you have to turn the unit on.   I'm hoping when you turn on the master it comes on.  Is this the case?   Battery/No Battery?

 

thanks,

 

joe 

[slowflyin]

..

[thinwing]

Comant 104 series dme/ transponder antenna on rear belly panel as external mount...should be at least 3.5 ft away from existing transponder antennas...gdl 39 mounts nicely on copilots right knee panel above map pocket.Besides the bluetooth to ipad ,I have mine wired to Garmin 696 in a panel dock...external belly mount is ideal for ground station reception...200 miles at times...