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COMDAT™
FAQs
What is COMDAT™?
COMDAT™
stands for Communications / Data, and represents a new Series of
antennas made exclusively by Comant. These antennas acquire data
for some of the newest aviation systems being offered, such as Orbcomm™,
Iridium™, WSI™, XM Satellite Radio™, as well as GPS
and VHF.
How
are COMDAT™ antennas different?
COMDAT™
antennas combine many of these new antenna requirements into one,
reducing the number of antennas an aircraft requires in order to
utilize services such as Orbcomm or GPS. Plus, most ComDat™
antennas are packaged in Comant’s new 248/2480 radome shell,
offering a sleek, low drag package that is as tough as it is good
looking.
How
are COMDAT™ antennas the same?
COMDAT™
antennas share Comant’s standard VHF (CI 121) and teardrop
GPS (CI 405-Series) footprints, making them virtual drop-ins for
installation ease.
Why
is the concept of combining antennas important?
With
the proliferation of new systems like Orbcomm™ or WSI™,
etc., there is simply not enough room on aircraft (especially smaller
GA aircraft) to accommodate more antennas. Airframe builders like
Cessna™, Piper™ and Cirrus™ must offer these new
systems to their customers, and are demanding that the required
antennas be combined with other systems in order to save space and
reduce drag.
This
sounds simple. Why hasn’t it been done before?
Various
antenna frequencies can interfere with each other. For example,
VHF can interfere with GPS, rendering GPS useless. That’s why
separate VHF and GPS antennas must be at least three feet apart
when mounted on an aircraft. In the case of the combined GPS/VHF
COMDAT™, Comant has patented an integrated third-order notch
filter, removing the harmful VHF harmonics that interfere with GPS
reception.
What
makes the CI 248-5 VHF a COMDAT™ antenna? How is it different
from other VHF antennas?
The
COMDAT™ CI 248-5 VHF antenna contains an integrated GPS notch
filter. This eliminates the need for this stand-alone VHF to be
three feet away from a GPS antenna, making more room available on
the airframe. For example, single engine Cessna™ aircraft have
both VHF antennas, and the GPS antenna, on the wing above the cockpit.
Installing a VHF/GPS combination and a CI 248-5 in this area will
eliminate the need for in-line notch filters on the coax.
How
does the VHF/GPS/Orbcomm COMDAT™ work? Does it have three connectors?
Comant
has worked closely with Avidyne™ in the development of these
models. As with other combination COMDAT™ antennas, this version
has just two connectors. Comant developed a wide-band VHF antenna
that operates over the VHF/Orbcomm™ frequencies. Avidyne developed
a specialized switch that allows VHF communications (Com 2 suggested)
when required, and Orbcomm™ transmit/receive when activated.
What
else is new in the COMDAT™ line?
Comant
has developed a 40dB amplifier that will work with Chelton Flight
Systems™, Trimble™, and FreeFlight™. It’s available
as a stand-alone 405 Series or in combination with VHF and/or Orbcomm.
We have also developed a 17dB amplifier for Garmin™, and FIS
antenna for Honeywell’s KDR510™.
Can
we get WSI or XM antennas from Comant?
Although
manufactured by Comant, currently these antennas are available exclusively
from their designated suppliers.
Are
COMDAT™ GPS antennas approved for Category 1 NPAs, or ILS?
COMDAT™
antennas are TSO’d to C129a or C144. Comant is working closely
with Honeywell™ and Garmin™ to assure that COMDAT™
antennas are approved and listed in installation manuals for their
GPS systems. In almost every case, the FAA currently allows COMDAT™
antenna installations by citing Advisory Circular 20-41A for the
substitution of TSO equipment for functionally similar TSO approved
equipment.
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