ORIGINAL: scooterinvegas
Radiation pattern for both 72 and 2.4 transmitters. The “z” axis represents the antenna with nulls on both ends.
The objective is to orient your antenna to keep your jet in the “fat” part of the radiation pattern and away from the “hole” or null off the end. To achieve this, always have your antenna perpendicular to the anticipated flight path. For a 2.4 transmitter this can best be accomplished with the antenna positioned to near perpendicular (bent) and pointing at your head. One null is directly behind you and the other points into the ground immediately in front of you, two areas where hopefully you won’t be flying! If you naturally hold your transmitter pointing downward, the same effect can be achieved by positioning the antenna straight out and pointing at the ground.
EXACTLY !!!!!!! How you hold the transmitter is everything. Some people use body english; I don't. It's alway flat and my shoulders stay perfectly parallel to the flight line (IMAC flying). The 45 down in front is going to achieve the highest signal quality in my case. I'm trying to get a new transmitter and finding that many 2.4 TXs have different antenna rotating/pivoting limitations. I can't buy a Futaba 8FG, or T10, and point the antenna 45 down in front for best signal. I would have to point it strait at my nose which is about as good as I can get. If you hold the TX slightly angled up (like reading a book), then point up at your face is is probably best. Great graphic by the way.
-DJ