tevbax Posted April 29, 2023 Report Share Posted April 29, 2023 Flying along at 3000 AGL in relatively flat Midwest. I’m having issues picking up awos from outside of 10 miles. What kind of range is everyone else seeing? Transmit on CTAF is fine at the same range and crystal clear. To get a static filled awos, I end up pulling the squelch out till about 5 miles. Shop just checked all the grounds and okayed, but referred me to the avionics shop. Antenna? SL40 itself? Open to suggestions or places to look! Final note, popped all the breakers out to see if it was another circuit causing disruption, no change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted April 29, 2023 Report Share Posted April 29, 2023 AWOS is a low strength signal to start with. The one on my airport had been having the same issue for months until they fixed it. If other frequencies are good then it's probably not you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tevbax Posted April 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2023 Unfortunately, its not just the home field. It's all of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted April 29, 2023 Report Share Posted April 29, 2023 I had an SL40 with different issue and got rid of it and went to a GTR200. Much better radio with latest technology in canbus wiring and a great built in intercom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrassStripFlyBoy Posted April 29, 2023 Report Share Posted April 29, 2023 If your comm side is weak as well, it may be some oxidation on the antenna screws / nuts / ground plane plate. A couple years ago my comm side was weak, and cleaning all theses with some scotch brite made a significant difference. These through bolt through the composite, and antenna base is conductive through the heads, assuming you have an antenna similar to my '06 SW. These fasteners were not very tight either, cleaning and snugging up to ground plane was world of difference better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warmi Posted April 30, 2023 Report Share Posted April 30, 2023 I generally pick up Awos from about 15 -20 miles with my SL 30 ( which btw I am selling if anyone is interested - I don’t need Nav/Com so just upgraded to GTR 200B ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tevbax Posted September 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2023 As a follow up to this - we swapped in another SL40 and it cured all the issues. I popped the cover and unfortunately do not see anything obvious. Anyone have a hot lead on a independant repair person? Garmin quoted $950 for a repair. Also entertaining the idea of simply replacing the radio with something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted September 25, 2023 Report Share Posted September 25, 2023 Devices like this are rarely ever repaired in the field anymore. They're too complicated. About the only things field repaired are screen replacements and batteries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madhatter Posted September 25, 2023 Report Share Posted September 25, 2023 SL40 had some issues and Garmin is not thrilled on keeping it around. Don't waste your money on it, bite the bullet and get a GTR200. The new technology is a lot better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted September 25, 2023 Report Share Posted September 25, 2023 And you can take out the intercomm and use the radio for it instead. It's a MUCH better quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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