Sat May 08, 2021 1:01 pm
#1845757
Whilst I would like the option to fit an external antenna, having led design and development teams for various RF transceiver devices, I am only too aware of the complexities of designing devices with both an internal and external antennae.
External antennae devices are by far the easiest to design and build.
Internal antennae devices are difficult to get right because of the RF energy interfering with the onboard electronics.
Having both internal and external is far more complex as you have to automatically detect the presence of an external antenna - and then switch the RF signal away from the internal antenna and onto the external one.
I would expect that to fit an optional external antenna to SkyEcho would increase the size by something like 50%. Still not big, but loosing some of SkyEcho’s attractiveness for small cockpits.
External antennae devices are by far the easiest to design and build.
Internal antennae devices are difficult to get right because of the RF energy interfering with the onboard electronics.
Having both internal and external is far more complex as you have to automatically detect the presence of an external antenna - and then switch the RF signal away from the internal antenna and onto the external one.
I would expect that to fit an optional external antenna to SkyEcho would increase the size by something like 50%. Still not big, but loosing some of SkyEcho’s attractiveness for small cockpits.