Stratus External Antenna Connector Specs

[HRM]

Kal at Appareo tech support was very gracious about revealing the connectors used on their Stratus units (I was shocked frankly as companies can be difficult about these sorts of things).

Here's the transcript:

ADS-B Connector
Connector Type (to Stratus): MS-151-C(LP) connector
Connector Type (to antenna): Reverse Polarity SMA
If you are looking to make your own ADS-B antenna cable, these links may be helpful to you:
 
Sporty's sells a 10 ft ADS-B cable with a reverse polarity SMA, which may prove easier than trying to find the part yourself: http://www.sportys.com/PilotShop/product/17675
 
Datasheet for Reverse Polarity connector to Stratus: http://www.hirose.co.jp/cataloge_hp/e35802159.pdf
 
If you do decide to source it yourself, here's a link to the connector that would mate with the ADS-B port:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/MS-151-C(LP)/H11886-ND/241Hi5101
 
GPS
Connector Type: MCX Connector
GPS Antenna MCX to BNC Adapter Cable
http://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/mcx-to-bnc-adapter-cable.html
Part #5955A

The external antenna is an active GPS antenna.

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I am planning to put my S2 on the hatrack where I have master switch power. If I don't get adequate reception with it back there I'll add external antennas and I am thinking of foil tape on the windows.

 

[kpaul]

I have the Stratus 2 (not 2S)  I Velcro it upside down to the ceiling above my right shoulder. Works well there, not on the dash so out of the sun and not in the way, also helps me remember to turn it off.   I have not reception issues, I think you will be fine with it on the hat rack.  I have also used it while it was on the floor in the back of a Seneca and in the back of a PC-12 without any reception issues. 

[cnoe]

1 hour ago, HRM said:

Kal at Appareo tech support was very gracious about revealing the connectors used on their Stratus units (I was shocked frankly as companies can be difficult about these sorts of things).

Here's the transcript:

Thanks for that info; it may come in handy some day.

1 hour ago, kpaul said:

 

I have the Stratus 2 (not 2S)  I Velcro it upside down to the ceiling above my right shoulder. Works well there, not on the dash so out of the sun and not in the way, also helps me remember to turn it off.   I have not reception issues, I think you will be fine with it on the hat rack.  I have also used it while it was on the floor in the back of a Seneca and in the back of a PC-12 without any reception issues.

 

In my experience with the Status units (first a Stratus 2 and now a Stratus 2S) the internal antennas work pretty well at moderate altitudes and above, particularly in areas with good tower coverage. But if you find yourself at a lower AGL dodging storms you'll wish you had an external antenna (or XM), particularly in areas without great coverage (like New Mexico). YMMV.

[M016576]

I bought my extension cable to the blade antenna on eBay for about ten bucks- it has SMA connectors.  You can find the connector adaptors on amazon for very cheap.  I used that blade antenna initially for a GDL-39, then a stratus 2, and now it's feeding a Stratux.  When I had the stratus 2 on its internal antenna- it would see one tower near where I'm based, and only after I climbed through 3000'.  After getting it on the blade antenna, it had the first by 1500', then 3 towers at cruise- with one almost 75 miles away.  I kept the stratus 2 in the hat rack.

the stratux I built has identical performance to the stratus 2 I had, except  no AHRS- it uses GPS inputs to simulate the stratus ahrs function.  In practice, it's not quite the fidelity from an attitude reference, but it's accurate certainly enough to use in an emergency.  Weather and traffic are the same.  Pocketed $500 to spend on avgas after I sold my stratus 2 on eBay.