TailBeaconX

The uAvionix TailBeaconX is a very cool little beast.  Has its own GPS, mode S transponder, and ADSB in and out.  Oh, and a light...

AND, its supported by the AFS-5600, so you can drive it from the PFD and MFD.

The wiring is pretty simple.  Power, ground, RS232 TX and RX.

In my case, I am mounting it inside the fuselage about 12" behind bulkhead A.  The mounting bracket and unit weigh less than half a pound.  The wiring weighs the same, if not more.

Other than the fact that when I wired it I mixed up the TX and RX lines, it worked right away.

The TailBeaconX is configured through wifi.  There is an app for your smartphone, and you set everything up through that.

Using the app should be straightforward, and once you follow this process it does work.  Took me awhile to find it.

Advanced already setup the PFD and MFD to talk to it, you just have to initialize it through the Set->Admin>Transponder menu.

Unfortunately our house has foil in the roof, and is stucco.  Basically a faraday cage.  No traffic being shown, but one day I will push it outside and see what I can see.

So after some fussing about, I realized that the TailBeaconX only does ADSB-OUT - not IN.  That is fine, since I have a separate dual band ADSB receiver from Dynon.

Mounting... simple fiberglass bracket bonded just behind bulkhead A.

The transponder and mounting bracket weigh 5.25 oz.

Installed, wired and configured...

Still need to secure the wires, but the mounts are already in place (and epoxied in).

Dont know if it is actually working or not, but it seems to be.

One really important note:  Some of the configuration needs to happen on the tail beacon.  This is done through the build in wifi access point in the TBx itself.  You can only configure it when the transponder is in standby - which makes sense.  I was trying to verify the configuration and had the transponder 'ON" on the EFIS.... uAvionix support figured that out really fast.

Super cool technology.

Miscellaneous 'STUFF'

Have been diligently working away on a number of items.  So this is a real grab bag of things that are underway.

Headset Jacks

In my package from Advanced, I received a harness for all of the audio jacks.  4 phones, 4 mics, plus a hardwired music input.  I did tell them how long to make it :-).

I was debating on where to put the jacks.  There were a number of options:

1. Overhead cable cover (right behind the pilot / copilot's heads)
2. Overhead console (from Fibertech composites).  I have my tailwheel lock and light installed in here.  Could use the sides, but they are not terribly strong.

So after a bunch of debate I decided to put them where Glasair does.... in the aft center of the cable cover.  Most just drill holes and seat the jacks.  I decided to get a nice little engraved and painted plate to mount there.

I had been looking for an excuse to try Front Panel Express. They have their own design software, and give you a price.  Below is my final design using their software.

For small stuff, you can print to scale.  Below is a previous version of the design that I printed and checked.

I ordered the plate on a Friday afternoon.  It shipped the next Tuesday (I ordered 5 business day turn around, but they shipped it in 2).  Delivered Wednesday.

Cost:  $88 USD, $96 with Tax.  Shipping included.

Once received I cut the hole in the cover.  The panel will fit through the hole sideways if needed for future removal.

To secure the wiring, I took some standard plastic tie wrap mounts and ground off the sticky backing.  Took as much off as I could with a knife first, then use the belt sander on the rest.  Then I epoxied the mounts to the inside of the cover after sanding and cleaning the target area.

Then it was just tie wrapping the harness in place (taking note to ensure that the cables will not rub).

The cover easily slipped in place.

The harness is then tie wrapped to the vertical risers on the aft side (again, keeping them away from the cables).

Previously I had cut, fit and finished the overhead console that houses the cabin light and tailwheel lock.  Need to wire it...  

The ACM has an output for cabin lighting, that can either be 'always on' or switched.  I am going for the always on option.  2x22 gauge wires run along the upper beam and tie wrapped.  There is a 2 position connector inside the overhead console for easy disconnect if / when needed.  Have not terminated on the ACM yet, but that will be soon enough.

Temporarily wired to a 12 power supply to check connections.

Lastly, I finally decided to ditch the trike gear legs (ditch = remove from fuselage).  I had been leaving them on as it make removing the main gear legs super easy.  All the final hardware is installed on the main gear legs, so it was time.

Back to wiring... going to work on the rear first.  Belly strobe, elevator trim, etc.  Ordered all the RG400 I am going to need, so will get that soon hopefully.