I mounted the simple strip antenna supplied from with the original kit from 1987. I often hear radio transmissions over 150 miles away. Everyone I have ever asked for a radio check says I am loud and clear.. The com I run is a KY197. Cheap, simple, light and easily installed in the tail.. Maybe I just got lucky... Randy Snarr N694RS "Flight by machines heavier than air is unpractical and insignificant, if not utterly impossible" -Simon Newcomb, 1902 --- On Wed, 2/23/11, TOM GARDINER <n20087@yahoo.com> wrote: From: TOM GARDINER <n20087@yahoo.com> Subject: [LML] Antenna type and placement To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Wednesday, February 23, 2011, 7:09 AM Folks   I am experiencing a dreadful time getting my COM radios to perform to their full (or even half) potential in my LNC2.  I have two Bob Archer's mounted in the tailcone and in the proper orientation with a VSWR of around 1.5 with RG 400 cable.  The antennas are fed by two Garmin 430s with a measured output of 8 watts each.  The thing is that ATC and my flying friends report a consistently weak signal and the same applies on reception on my end.  My airplane has the carbon tail and I built the seat bench using carbon on foam (bad idea in hindsight).  I have tried another type of antenna that is a dipole with a balun mounted in the  center of the baggage section in a vertical orientation but with little or no improvement in results.     I am beginning to suspect the Lancair supplied Gray epoxy primer which I understand contains aluminum oxide in the base   I am now considering mounting an external antenna but thought I would ask if anybody had experienced similar issues and subsequently corrected them.  Any help/advice would be very much appreciated   Thanks   Tom   LNC2 24 hrs