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AirTran's XM-Satellite Radio, Externally Where?  
User currently offlineWarszawa From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 722 posts, RR: 9
Posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 598 times:

I've been curious lately...Since Jetblue/Frontier/Song, etc. have satellite TV service (and externally its easily visible...the white "dome" on the top of the fuselage in the rear)...Well, where is the XM Satellite Antenna located for AirTran?

I've compared numerous Non-Elton John paints to the Elton-John paints to see if I could notice an additional antenna anywhere and couldent find the slighest difference in any of their planes.

Where would these antennas be located on AirTrans aircraft (including the 737?)

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!


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Photo © Paul Leach
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Photo © John K. Jonaitis Jr.



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Photo © Stuart
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Photo © Helmut Bierbaum




Flying a plane is no diff. from riding a bicycle. Its just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes. -'Airplane'
7 replies: All unread, jump to last
 
User currently offlineQantas777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 475 posts, RR: 1
Reply 1, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 553 times:

I think there may be a little "bump" on the forward part of the fuselage on the top front of the plane. It's very small, hard to notice.

User currently offlineGarri767 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 2, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 545 times:

Quoting Qantas777 (Reply 1):
I think there may be a little "bump

you are thinking right, every single one i see a small bump / antenna on the top of the a/c, above the r in airtran's logo

User currently offlineUN_B732 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 4254 posts, RR: 4
Reply 3, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 505 times:

I see a small hump towards the rear of the aircraft. not towards the front, towards the rear. Maybe I'm looking wrong.


What now?
User currently offlineTjwgrr From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 1892 posts, RR: 4
Reply 4, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 421 times:

My wife's car has factory installed XM. The antenna is just a small fiberglas bump on the rear of the roof of the car, also painted to match the color of the car.


Direct KNOBS, maintain 2700' until established on the localizer, cleared ILS runway 26 left approach.
User currently offlineNeilalp From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 1034 posts, RR: 1
Reply 5, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 411 times:

You barely need an antenna. Look at portable XM radios. The receiver for the signal could probably be put anywhere and all it would need to do is touch the metal surface of the plane and you have one giant antenna.

User currently offlineKingGeo3 From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 164 posts, RR: 0
Reply 6, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 391 times:

Quoting Neilalp (Reply 5):
The receiver for the signal could probably be put anywhere and all it would need to do is touch the metal surface of the plane and you have one giant antenna.

The problem with that would be that the giant antenna/fuselage would not be very wavelength specific and the receiver would have a very low signal/noise ratio. If antennas did not have to be tuned, then no metal airplane would ever need an external antenna!

-KG3


Nobody respects me . . . :(
User currently offlineWarszawa From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 722 posts, RR: 9
Reply 7, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 294 times:

Thanks for the replies...But... I still dont see where this bump is.

Have a look at this one:


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Photo © Marty McGuire



That one was *Long* before XM-Satellite radio was introduced, yet alone installed.

Then look at this one:


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Photo © Agustin Anaya



Both planes have the exact number/location of bumps on the top of their aircraft...

But then, this one:


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Photo © Paul Kanagie



Has 1 extra bump than all the other planes...Its located between the "a" and "n" of the "AirTran" title.

Any idea on where exactly this bump is?

Unless..Maybe the 2nd photo above just didnt have it installed, hence missing the bump between the a & the n.


Flying a plane is no diff. from riding a bicycle. Its just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes. -'Airplane'
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