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I had ATC report to me inflight today that they were not receiving my Mode C (altitude data). Intermittently, they also reported they were not seeing any other transponder information.

My transponder is a Dynon SV-XPNDR-261 Transponder which includes ADS-B out, and after I landed I went to Flight Radar 24 and they had my complete flight data profile including position, altitude, and airspeed.... The Dynon SV-XPNDR-261 unit includes the ADS-B Out functionality, and it is connected to only the one antenna (a separate ADS-B IN unit has it's own antenna), so I know the antenna is not the issue. DO these symptoms imply that the transponder unit itself has an issue?

Charles Bretana
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    It could be. But as it's a remote mount, it could also be a problem with the 'control head' (MFD?) or communication between the two. ADS-B is on by default, but the control interface could cause it to randomly change operating modes (standby, Mode A only, etc.) You need a good avionics shop to diagnose it. – Gerry Feb 12 '22 at 23:56
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    Control head is through Dynon HDX screen. I just had my bi-annual transponder check done ten days ago, and it passed. I have flown three times before today with no reported issues, So, I will fly home with it tomorrow, and if it still acting up tomorrow, I will have home Avionics shop look at it Monday. – Charles Bretana Feb 13 '22 at 01:07
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    I'm not sure I'd completely trust FR24. First, they use volunteer ground stations, so you could have had low transmitter power and still picked up some close position reporting. After that they may be using an interpolation system to "fill in the gaps" with missing position reports. – Ron Beyer Feb 13 '22 at 05:27
  • Maybe you can crosscheck the ADSB data using this website https://globe.adsbexchange.com/ – Afe Feb 13 '22 at 20:23
  • Still acting up on the way home... Intermittently. – Charles Bretana Feb 14 '22 at 00:44
  • And it really doesn't matter how accurate, or what the source is for FR24 data. It comes form the ADS-B out sub-system in my transponder, thorough the same cable B&C connectors and antenna that the Mode C system uses. So if any ADS-B sourced database is getting any data at all from my ADS-B, then the cable and antenna must be okay, and the problem is likely in the transponder box. – Charles Bretana Feb 14 '22 at 00:48

1 Answers1

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Flight Radar 24 and similar websites connect the dots so you won't see short interruptions. ATC would see your on screen symbol change for every interruption and restoration of Mode C signal. Enroute (long distance) radar updates once every 12 seconds (5.0 RPM) and terminal radar updates once every 4.8 seconds (12.5 RPM).

Mode C has both in and out and is a response signal to a radar ping, hence the name transponder (transmitter/responder) and so Mode C may not be picked up if the antenna is facing away from the radar site. Which is plausible if in a banked turn circling the radar site at lower altitude, the antenna is on the bottom and the bottom is pointed away. Either your mode C doesn't pick up the radar ping or the radar site does not receive a strong enough response, both cases because of being bank toward the radar at the moment of the ping. Especially in mountain regions where alternate radar sites may be blocked. (Modern systems in the USA have multiple radar sites that are electronically combined into a composite for ATC, especially in tracon areas, but mountains are still trouble.)

Mode C is also known more generically as a type of "secondary radar", "primary radar" is purely the microwave ping reflected back to the radar site and [common designs] can only provide accurate 2d position not altitude. So a stealth jet with mode C turned on will show up on secondary radar but not primary, while a GA aircraft with no transponder will show up on primary but not secondary. If radar is totally blocked by terrain your ATC symbol will switch to "coasting" which is just a calculated extension of last known speed and direction.

ADS-B may use the same physical antenna on your plane as the wavelengths are compatible, but it is a totally separate unrelated transmitter receiver system that is not integral with traditional radar. Similarly ATC can see ADS-B info if you are in range of an ADS-B ground site, but again it is distinct from their traditional radar data. As such, even ignoring variations in your transmit strengths, you may be near an ADS-B ground site but far from a radar site, or pointed more at one than the other.

randomhead
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Max Power
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