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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Tips & Techniques >> Attaching antenna to plane
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Attaching antenna to plane - 9/19/2006 10:11 PM   
Wblakeney


 

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From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Just curious if anyone has any good simples ideas about how to secure the end of the receiver antenna to the tail of the plane?

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 9/19/2006 10:57 PM   
JimO



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Status: offline 		I use either a hook and rubber band or a short piece of fuel tubing double slit. Pull the antenna wire through the slits. The tube is mounted any where you want to screw it on.

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 9/19/2006 11:55 PM   
campbec



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Status: offline 		Hi William,

I usually do as JimO suggests. However on some models I have run the antenna out through the dorsal surface and attached it to the tail wheel bracket with a rubber band. Another method that works really well on larger models is to run the anttenna through a drinking straw inside the model. I use a length of "weed whacker cord" or stiff mono fishing trace to thread the antenna through the straw.

Good Luck,

Colin

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 9/20/2006 12:40 AM   
crankpin


 

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From: Hobe Sound, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Good suggestions. I use a small length of heat shrink tubing, (comes in colors), about 2" long, to exit the antenna out the side of the fuselage. To clean this little exit hole up, I use a brass eyelet that does not go thru the fuse. The heat shrink takes the strain off the antenna. Run back the side up to fin. On sport models, just put a T-pin to top of fin, tie antenna to a rubber band, slip over pin. Measure all so there is a little tension on the antenna, but not tight.
Good idea to also tie a half knot on the inside close to where the antenna exits from fuse on the inside.
Vince
Hobe Sound, FL

< Message edited by crankpin -- 9/20/2006 12:43 AM >

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 9/20/2006 1:19 AM   
Strat2003


 

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Status: offline 		I like to run the antenna through a drinking straw, or more usually, several straws taped end to end. In a long enough fuse it doesn't even need to exit at the tail, it will ride in the tube just fine.

If it does exit, be sure to provide some sort of strain relief where it enters the tube...like threading it through two holes of a button or part of an old control horn nut plate. I've been told (but don't know if it's true) that it's a bad idea to tie a knot in the wire for this purpose.

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 9/20/2006 6:17 PM   
Lee MRC


 

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Status: offline 		Hey guys there is nothing magic about antennas at either 50 or 72 Mhz. I have allways just run the antenna wire back to the rear edge of the cocpit and the up to the top of the verticle fin where I attach it with soider to an enlongated spring and then to the top of the verticle fin with a nylon screw and nut and on a "40" size trainer this leaves about 2 inches remaining to extend freely above the rudder. The antenna provided with most radios is a 1/4 wave long wire and is more influnced buy the metal control rods than length or routing. If you cannot rout it more than a wave length away from the metal control rods they will allways be the controlling factor. Just do it neat and secure and go fly.

Lee K5MRC

PS: Run the antenna wire through the spring to extend along the top of the rudder.

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 9/21/2006 3:11 AM   
Wblakeney


 

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Status: offline 		For 40 and 60 size I usually just put a pin in the vertical fin and loop a rubber band around the antenna and hook it to the pin. I was always told to be careful about metal to metal that could generate RF interference. For 19 size planes I route the antenna to to the vertical fin then 90° down to the outside of the horizontal stab. I have been told this is actually good since the antenna is never straight on the transmitter.

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 9/21/2006 1:08 PM   
cstevenpeterson


 

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Status: offline 		I use the DuBro "Antenna Hook and Keeper". It's a neet install for routing your wire out of the fuse and connecting the end to the vertical stabilizer with a hook and rubber band. It only costs $1.39 at Tower. Here is the link......

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXD666&P=


Steve

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 9/21/2006 2:40 PM   
MinnFlyer



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Status: offline 		I've got a great way of doing it...

As you may know, i do a lot of product reviews of RC Airplanes, so my radios are constantly being pulled out of one plane to put in another. So any time I get a new Rx, I just run the antenna through an inner pushrod tube (In fact, Du-Bro sells theirs seperately as antenna tubes) then I tie a knot in the end of the wire so it can't pull out.

Then I just run the plastic tube down the back of the fuse as far as it will go.

Now, any time I need a receiver, I just pull it out of one plane, and stick it in the next.

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 9/21/2006 5:15 PM   
Lowlevlflyer


 

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Status: offline 		I use the Dubro antenna keeper as well. makes for a nice clean install. I have in the past used the T-pin and rubber band method, and I like Minn's idea of the plastic tube... think I'll try that on the next one!

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 9/21/2006 7:47 PM   
cstevenpeterson


 

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Status: offline 		I agree, Minn's idea is good. I have been fortunate enough to be able to install a separate receiver in each plane I currently have so swapping has not been an issue. The hook and keeper allows antenna removal, but it is not as easy as the tube method. When I do start to swap receivers, the tube idea should be the perfect solution.

Steve

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 9/24/2006 2:17 AM   
Rcpilot


 

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Status: offline 		I like to take my antenna out the side of the plane and run it back to the tail. I secure it to the side of the plane with small 1" wide strips of monokote. Just iron down the monokote.

When it gets to the horizontal stabilizer, I run it along the leading edge and secure it there with monokote strips.

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< Message edited by Rcpilet -- 9/24/2006 2:18 AM >

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 10/6/2006 10:30 PM   
jaka


 

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Why? When you can have it inside the fuslelage...

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 10/9/2006 3:35 AM   
buzzingb


 

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Status: offline 		There is much more radio interference noise inside the fuse with all the servos (noisy servos)and battery and not to mention all the servo leads and control rods and connectors. No it much better outside. If you ever crash a few you will know what I mean, oh haven't crashed one yet, well just keep flying and your number will come up.

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 10/9/2006 3:39 PM   
rajul



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Status: offline 		Here's what I do for my planes, with a T-pin and an old servo horn

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< Message edited by rajul -- 10/9/2006 3:45 PM >

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 10/9/2006 6:21 PM   
sweetpea01



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Status: offline 		anywhere you put a knot in the antenna is cnx the signal at that point. I would not suggest that. Your better off using the Dubro method or letting the excess hang.

I don't want to get into all those years of radar and antenna principles I took

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 10/9/2006 7:10 PM   
Charlie P.



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Status: offline 		Look close at Rajul's diagrams. No knots, just "S" windings through the servo arm pieces. I use this system on all my sport planes. To get past a canopy I combine it with Minnfliers tube idea - so I can easily snake it out the fuselage at the piece of fuel tubing where it is hard to reach (I swap receivers often, too.) I try to avoid anything metal or hard touching the antenna; more out of fear the insulation will be worn off with vibration than an RF issue.

One variation I like on the rudder end is to friction fit the little servo-arm anchor into 1" of fuel tubing and pin the other end of the tubing to the rudder. Thread the antenna end through the tubing first and then push the pin in fron the end so that the head is completely inside the tubing when in place. Lasts much longer than a rubberband under the effects of sun and exhaust. I think it looks a little better, too (especially if you can find red, yellow, blue or black silicone tubing to match the rudder). If anything bumps it the little anchor pops out of the tubing, or the tubing tears off the pin shank.


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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 10/9/2006 7:17 PM   
Electriceddie



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Status: offline 		Inside is the BEST!!!


With All due Respect.......


I have run .40 and .60 size trainers, to .40 size Funfly planes like Fazers and Uproars etc. .90size and gas up to 1/5th scale Warbirds, .60 to .90 Aerobatic and Pattern planes and all Q-500 planes for over the last 25 years. I use Futaba and Hitec Receivers and Futaba transmitters now and back in the good old days I used MRC and World Expert radios with their respective receivers (for those who remember what they are) I have run the antenna down the inside the Fuse or inside the Wing from the root to the tip on all of my planes. The antenna exiting the fuse running back to the Stab or Fin connected with a rubber band is a ugly as sin especially on a Warbird. I have never had any radio interference running inside the fuse or the wing. I run the antenna inside a Sullivan(Red) Nyrod tube. First I loop the antenna thru a left over servo arm that was cut-off from a servo horn. Loop it thru one hole slide it down to the end by by the receiver then run it back thru another hole to secure it approx 4-5 inches away from ther receiver. Then run it thru the Nyrod, and when it exits the Nyrod I run it thru another cut-off servo arm the same way. A spot or two of glue on the Nyrod to secure it to the Fuse or Wing and your done. Make sure you sand the glue points on the Nyrod for good adhesion. If there is any interference then I would look elswhere for the real underlying problem.


Keep this in mind - The guy who crashes and does not know why, and he blames the Radio for no other reason. I mean it could'nt be pilot error, Right?





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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 10/9/2006 8:15 PM   
jaka


 

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From: Upplands Vasby, SWEDEN
Status: offline 		Hi!
Ofcourse inside is best!
I have flown pylonracers, seaplanes , twins , scale ,sailplanes, aircombat...you name it ...all with flying wires inside ...and have had no problem whats so ever with interference ...last time I placed the antenna outside ...up to the fin was 30 years ago when I had only flown a year and was a newbie.

Regards!
Jan K

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 10/20/2006 11:27 PM   
itspuddingtime00



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Status: offline 		I'm not flying huge warbirds or anything, so I'm not too concerned about scale appearance. On all my planes I have routed it outside and hooked it on the stab with a bent paperclip and rubberband. I think I might try going inside the fuse for my next build though.

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 10/21/2006 4:10 PM   
Intruder38



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Status: offline 		I've switched over to threading the antenna wire through a short piece of fuel tubing to exit the fuselage to another piece of fuel tubing pinned to the top of the fin. After threading the antenna through the fin tube, I insert a piece of round toothpick to make a friction fit. Why all the bother, you ask. Keeps me from tripping over (don't ask), snagging, or otherwise yanking on the antenna wire during repairs, setup, or transport. When it does happen anyway (and it has), just a gentle tug on the end of the antenna sets everything right again with no strain on the receiver or my vocabulary.

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 10/21/2006 6:02 PM   
HighPlains


 

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Status: offline 		Inside the fuselage is the best way. It can't get snagged by careless handling, and just looks more professional. I use the dubro tube, and on really short airplanes route the antenna forward from the receiver past the firewall, then reverse to the tail end of the airplane. Keep the forward tube on one side of the fuselage and the return part of the tube on the other. No glitches or range problems. The dubro tube forms nicely with a heat gun.

< Message edited by HighPlains -- 10/21/2006 6:04 PM >

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 10/21/2006 7:04 PM   
ramcfarland



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Status: offline 		Hi Jan and all how do you feel about an antenna installed inside a FLITE METALED plane?

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 10/22/2006 8:22 PM   
jaka


 

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From: Upplands Vasby, SWEDEN
Status: offline 		Hi!
I asked myself that question this summer when i was about to test fly my 26-27 year old Marutaka DC-3.
This airplane's fuselage is mostly covered in many small pieces of chrome Oracover and has Flite-Metal (or aluminum duct tape) on engine cowls, tail-cone and lower fin and on wing fillets.
The JR receiver (R 700)I used is mounted inside the fuselage with the antennae all inside the fuselage (it's not hanging out from the fuselage).

I checked how far I could walk with the transmitter fully collapsed, pointing at the model, many times before the first take off as I was a bit reluctant to weather it would work...but I had the same ground range as with all my other models (100m with antennae fully collapsed and pointing at the model) so the first flight went just fine and there hasn't been any range problem since either.
Weather a model fully covered in Flite -metal would have problem is something I really don't know.
Regards!
Jan K

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< Message edited by jaka -- 10/23/2006 8:08 PM >

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RE: Attaching antenna to plane - 10/23/2006 3:28 PM   
MinnFlyer



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Status: offline 		Nice looking DC-3 Jan!

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