CI-256 and CI-196 Antenna Information

[Marauder]

I am considering changing out my 42 year old CI-156 antenna (see the picture) on my 1975 F. The CI-156 is still available but not easily ordered. The CI-196 which is found on later model Mooneys can be ordered. Does anyone know if the hole configuration of the CI-196 matches up with the CI-156?

[jetdriven]

They Have  the same base bolt pattern and BNC location. 

Edited July 28, 2017 by jetdriven

[Marauder]

11 hours ago, jetdriven said:

They Have  the same base bolt pattern and BNC location. 

Thanks Byron for the response!

[peevee]

I had one for sale nib a bit ago but dumped it on eBay 

[OR75]

The CI-156 is a good antenna . If it is working , I would not change it and risk of getting interferences etc ...

agree it does have a retro look to it 

[Marauder]

The CI-156 is a good antenna . If it is working , I would not change it and risk of getting interferences etc ...
agree it does have a retro look to it 

Been working through reception and open squelch issues with the radio the CI-156 is attached to. The coax and the antenna are original equipment (i.e. 42 years old). The CI-156 is showing some wear of the outer shell (top). The second radio was converted to a new bottom mount during the upgrades done in 2012. There is a dramatic performance difference between the two radios.

I had the cable to the radio checked and it should be fine based on the SWR and other contunity testing that was done. That said, when you lose confidence in the equipment, it's time to make some changes. I'm installing a new coax (RG-400) and will replace the CI-156 since I need to access the base of the antenna.






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[jetdriven]

that antenna is a lot of work to access, its under the headliner and even under the riveted-on air plenum duct.  If I went that far, I'd change the coax and the antenna too.

perhaps before going through all that trouble, swap the coax on the COM radios and see if the problem follows the radio or the antenna.  Also, GTN- series radios, some of them, early ones mostly, have been known for intermittent but constant squelch break and generally crappy COM radio performance.  A friend of mine has a GTN750 like that. Its something that Garmin has addresed with a few updates of software etc but AFAIK the affected units haven really not been able to be satisfactory. In the setup menu you can adjust the COM squelch sensitivity from 1-100. Default is 1.

Edited July 29, 2017 by jetdriven

[Marauder]

that antenna is a lot of work to access, its under the headliner and even under the riveted-on air plenum duct.  If I went that far, I'd change the coax and the antenna too.
perhaps before going through all that trouble, swap the coax on the COM radios and see if the problem follows the radio or the antenna.  Also, GTN- series radios, some of them, early ones mostly, have been known for intermittent but constant squelch break and generally crappy COM radio performance.  A friend of mine has a GTN750 like that. Its something that Garmin has addresed with a few updates of software etc but AFAIK the affected units haven really not been able to be satisfactory. In the setup menu you can adjust the COM squelch sensitivity from 1-100. Default is 1.

Yeah I already scoped out the challenge of changing it out. It is as you said, under the plenum.

The GTN I own had some of the open squelch issues that were resolved by firmware updates. Other than a weird JPI interference issue, it has been rock solid. Something happen since the upgrade done earlier this year.


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