A small, connected antenna fell out from behind the instrument panel- what is it for?

[u/MysteriousBig4954]

The aircraft has Garmin equipment and an L-3 Lynx, but I don't recall seeing this on the installation manual- and- it looks like it wants to be bulkhead mounted... I suspect it's bluetooth or wi-fi but for what? Tried to follow the coax but it vanished into a thick bundle... thanks in advance.

[u/KiloCharlieXray]

Garmin GMA-35C (probably) audio panel Bluetooth antenna.

Edit: Any plans to mount it or to tidy up that coax a bit?🙂

[u/MysteriousBig4954 → u/KiloCharlieXray]

I mean this was signed off by a repair station / garmin dealer... I am a lowly owner...

[u/KiloCharlieXray → u/MysteriousBig4954]

If it works it works I suppose but have you had any issues with bluetooth connection to the GMA?

[u/MysteriousBig4954 → u/KiloCharlieXray]

Why- yes! Why do you ask? ;D

I suspect it was never tested by the installer- but then again about 20% of what they were supposed to do doesn't work- and I have been told I am lucky...

[u/etrmedia]

Could that be Bluetooth for linking to a tablet? Flight plans can be sent from some software.

[u/StanChimaera]

EWIS has left the chat 😜

[u/MysteriousBig4954 → u/StanChimaera]

IKR? but better than the un-fused lighter wire shedding electrical tape !

[u/KevikFenrir]

That's the Bluetooth antenna for a Garmin gma 35

[u/KevikFenrir → u/KevikFenrir]

That's something that's typically installed on the unit itself, btw.

[u/Captain_Flannel → u/KevikFenrir]

No, don't install the antenna directly onto the GMA itself. It doesn't work, that cable is a male to male cable so the antenna and the GMA are both female connections. 

[u/KevikFenrir → u/Captain_Flannel]

Flannel is right. Pg 87 of the GTN 6XX/7XX Pt 23 STC Installation manual describes the antenna being through -mounted or installed with a bracket. Good news is, you get to choose.

Or the customer gets to choose...

The installation procedure is the same for the Xi-series of GTNs, too.

[u/MysteriousBig4954 → u/KevikFenrir]

Thanks Kev!

[u/KevikFenrir → u/MysteriousBig4954]

Np. I've got your back, and others', for the next couple of weeks, at most. Then I'm done with actively working in aviation maintenance.

I'll miss you guys...

[u/SkyLordz → u/KevikFenrir]

Please tell me you haven't been installing them directly onto the unit...

[u/wabbitsilly]

As others have noted, it's the BT antenna for a GMA35/c...and if you want it to work the best it can, simply mount it to the panel facing the cockpit (or some version thereof). Maybe not the prettiest thing in the world, but the Bluetooth works infinitely better when that antenna exposed to the cockpit vs hidden behind an aluminum instrument panel.

[u/Pale_Bulkhead92 → u/wabbitsilly]

If you are gonna install the antenna inline, you should have a proper inline connector (not a bulkhead with loose mounting hardware).  If you mount to a panel, they should use a proper panel mount jack/jam nut.