Here's what the copper tape guy, Jim Weir of RST says. It's
structural flexing usually. Never on a gear leg; wrapping around the
corner of a big winglet not good either. Within the laminate the
surface of a very flexible wing not good. Jim says a frequent failure
is the soldered connection, due to flexing and temp coefficients. A
curve in the wires at the joint, plus potting in RTV fixes. In any
case, the wire routing from the connection must be mechanically solid
so it doesn't move in vibration.
He says also that you can tack-solder thin, tinned-copper stranded
wire along the length, down the middle, every few inches. Antenna
will still work as well if the tape fractures.
Nothing really magic about copper either. Thin 2024 aluminum strips
will work. While less conductive (tiny change in performance anyway),
the thicker stock makes up for it. Can make it wider for flatter
bandwidth. Will need ring terninals and cad-plated hardware
connections of course, not solder.
Best,
Fred F.
> Tony and All
>
> I would be interested in the outcome of this antenna failure. I have plans
> to use the "copper tap" antennas in my plane and I installed them in Bob's
> "Beep Beep" .
>
> Tell me if the solder to tape joint failed or is there a brake elsewhere in
> the tape. The coax connectors could be at fault too.
>
> Cliff Shaw
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