The vertical stabilizer contains a di-pole antenna for which equipment?

The vertical stabilizer contains a di-pole antenna for which equipment?

• A. GPS receiver
• B. DME
• C. VHF RADIO
• D. NAV (VOR) receiver

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is recognizing where the VHF communications antenna is typically mounted and what a di-pole is used for. A di-pole antenna, with two conductors fed at the center, provides a broad, reliable pattern for VHF frequencies used for voice communications (the airband). Placing this di-pole on the vertical stabilizer keeps the antenna away from the engine and propwash and gives good reception/transmission characteristics, which is why the vertical stabilizer commonly houses the VHF radio antenna. DME operates on UHF frequencies and uses a different antenna arrangement, NAV/VOR antennas are separate and tailored for navigation signals, and GPS antennas are small patch/blade types placed elsewhere, not as a tail-mounted di-pole. So the di-pole on the tail is for the VHF radio.

The main idea here is recognizing where the VHF communications antenna is typically mounted and what a di-pole is used for. A di-pole antenna, with two conductors fed at the center, provides a broad, reliable pattern for VHF frequencies used for voice communications (the airband). Placing this di-pole on the vertical stabilizer keeps the antenna away from the engine and propwash and gives good reception/transmission characteristics, which is why the vertical stabilizer commonly houses the VHF radio antenna. DME operates on UHF frequencies and uses a different antenna arrangement, NAV/VOR antennas are separate and tailored for navigation signals, and GPS antennas are small patch/blade types placed elsewhere, not as a tail-mounted di-pole. So the di-pole on the tail is for the VHF radio.