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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Pylon Universe - RC Pylon Racing >> General Racing Discussion >> RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions
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RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/18/2007 10:41:04 PM   
JohnBuckner



Posts: 3824
Joined: 12/23/2001
From: Kingman, AZ, USA
Status: online 		Hmm the only color that would seem to sterotypically make a statement like that is the Pink one One local young lady here in the wilds of northern Arizona does have one though.

By the way welcome to the racing (any venue) obsession, an infection that once it hits the bloodstream is very difficult to deal with and no known permanent antidote.

John

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< Message edited by JohnBuckner -- 10/18/2007 10:51:38 PM >

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RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/19/2007 4:00:51 AM   
vicman



Posts: 6080
Joined: 12/8/2002
From: Valdese, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Chikas and hot planes. I think I need to re-locate


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RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/19/2007 5:26:07 AM   
Bozarth


 

Posts: 153
Joined: 4/30/2004
From: Centennial, CO, USA
Status: offline 		Vicman,

Send me your email and I will send you a copy of the column I wrote last year for Model Aviation addressing the rubberducky style antennas versus the stock whip antennas. I relied on info from the Berg website. You should feel comfortable with a rubberducky style antenna.

Kurt
kurt@bozarthhomes.com

(in reply to vicman)
       Post #: 28

RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/19/2007 1:29:38 PM   
vicman



Posts: 6080
Joined: 12/8/2002
From: Valdese, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Done.


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RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/19/2007 4:04:19 PM   
StanDouglas


 

Posts: 112
Joined: 8/28/2003
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Technically speaking the long 3" whip antennas are not very well tuned to 72 mHz anyway. I measured two of my transmitters and one was 3'9" and the other 3'6" these are resonate at 62mHz and 66 mHz respectively. The length should be closer to 3'3" to be 1/4 wave antenna at the mid-point of the band; i.e., 72.5 mHz. Maybe they have some sort of impedance matching circuit in the RF finals.

So a properly designed rubber ducky antenna could actually out perform a simple whip antenna. I have no idea what the standing wave ratio is on a typical RC whip antenna, but it can't be all that great since they don't bother to change the length depending on the channel it's operating on(72.02. to 72.990 mHz).

But then the whole idea of the band is to have low radiation in the band so as not to cause interference miles away.

We've used rubber duckies for years in amateur radio.

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       Post #: 30

RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/25/2007 5:51:53 PM   
proline8000


 

Posts: 32
Joined: 12/6/2004
From: Newburyport, MA, USA
Status: offline 		I have been using a Smiley rubber duck antenna for years on all radios, Proline,ACE, Airtronics, and now my JR 10sx and 9303 . I have never had a problem with range.

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RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/25/2007 7:26:55 PM   
vicman



Posts: 6080
Joined: 12/8/2002
From: Valdese, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks to you guys posting experience and supplying tech info. I went ahead and ordered it. Should arrive in a day or so.




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RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/26/2007 5:24:42 PM   
luv to race


 

Posts: 465
Joined: 12/10/2002
From: Liquored, FL,
Status: offline 		Gunfighter, and anyone else who didn't understand my original comments. My original comment had everything to do with the antenna. Let me speak in more simple terms for you.....

A guy sitting in the pits with a rubber ducky antenna with radio still on, is pumping out full RF. The guy with the standard antenna would not be pumping out full RF, and wouldn't shoot anyone down. I've been racing for 10 years now, seen about everything there is to see... and I have YET to see a guy sitting in the pits with his standard metal antenna fully extended all the way out sitting in his flight box with the power on. Never seen it. But I have seen, and I been on the bad end of it twice...the base loaded ducky thing, in the pits, in the flight box, power on....while Johnnie Scatter brain is hooting it up with his friends about his last run. Is that more clear? that's what I was going for the first time.

Now, I fully understand that you want to defend your method and your use of antenna's. I get that! I'm just trying to show that accidents from these antennas happen, and 2 times is once to many for me.

Soooooooooooo maybe, just maybe, "for safety" ...It would be nice to have the guys do as Mr. Buckner does.. when your down with your heat race, untwist that ducky and take it off the radio before you head back in... The metal antenna guys collapse there antenna for you, maybe the rubber ducky guys can pitch in a little. Once you take your rubber ducky off, you may leave your radio on during heats, be my guest.

It's such an easy fix.

Randy Bridge

< Message edited by luv to race -- 10/26/2007 5:32:13 PM >

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RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/26/2007 8:40:43 PM   
djlyon



Posts: 1908
Joined: 12/10/2001
From: Castaic, CA, USA
Status: offline 		And when people switch to 2.4ghz they should never be allowed to touch a 72mhz transmitter again because Pavlovs dog is going to condition them to not worry about frequency control

Denis

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RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/26/2007 9:53:32 PM   
DonStegall


 

Posts: 617
Joined: 8/8/2005
From: Monroe, NC, USA
Status: offline 		I got my pink R/C Power Duck today, along with my gap seal tape. I'm not worried about the color. I will be able to find it easily after I have detached it from the TX.

The instructions are minimal.

In terms of detaching and re-attaching ... Should I be worried about the connection or BNC connector wearing out?

One reason I got one to try out is that while I've switched to a Spektrum DX7 for my main planes, I have a lot of other transmitters for the demo planes on 72. When I fly with the Spektrum, it feels weird not having the antenna sticking out. It does keep you on your toes switching back and forth. It is easy to leave a 2.4 on because you aren't worried about the frequency conflict. You just have to make sure you follow a procedure and stay aware. You don't really want to leave the 2.4 on and run the battery down anyway.

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RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/26/2007 10:00:31 PM   
garys


 

Posts: 740
Joined: 1/31/2002
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Denis, that's just one of reasons I don't care to go back to 72mhz! Knock on wood I've never shot anybody down, and hope I never do.

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RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/28/2007 6:15:24 PM   
DonStegall


 

Posts: 617
Joined: 8/8/2005
From: Monroe, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Gary,

One of the things l love about 2.4 is not having any liability of shooting anyone down. After Matthew got shot down, I really started thinking about it. It means as much to me that I can't be called for shooting anyone down as it does that I don't have to worry about someone shooting me down.

Vic,

I used the R/C Power Duck on a Futaba 6EX today on the Raider that Seth was flying on 10-13. I really like the balance and not having the long antenna out there. I think you will love it. I even took it off after my flights, even though there is no one around. Just for Randy.

One word of caution. The antenna actually screws onto the BNC connector that twists onto the TX. Make sure you tighten that up. Mine was not very tight.

The only issue is range checking. With the antenna off, how do you range check? I taxied down the 1000' runway with the antenna on, but range is extremely limited with it off.

< Message edited by DonStegall -- 10/28/2007 6:16:34 PM >

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RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/28/2007 8:29:45 PM   
JohnBuckner



Posts: 3824
Joined: 12/23/2001
From: Kingman, AZ, USA
Status: online 		I have found that the exposed portion of the BNC connector with antenna off results in a roughly similar range check compared with a collapsed telescopic.

John

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RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/28/2007 10:07:38 PM   
DonStegall


 

Posts: 617
Joined: 8/8/2005
From: Monroe, NC, USA
Status: offline 		John,

I did a bad thing. I made an assumption.

I tried it and got at least 150 feet without the duck on.

I'll be getting more.

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RE: Duck antenna in racing conditions - 10/29/2007 4:16:09 PM   
StanDouglas