I'm new here but after reading this thread, maybe I can be of some help. I use the GWS 4 receivers and for several years have made my own "Dean's Style " antennas. I have , of course only by accident, ocassionally had my planes so far out I had trouble seeing their direction. Never once did I loose radio range.

I have attached a photo on one of my planes. The antenna is hard to see but you can see the antenna wire from the receiver, the small circuit board and if you look really close you can see the wire mast with a little loop at the top.

This is a modification of Tony Van Roon's "Fly Wire" antenna

http://www.meridianelectronics.ca/gadgets/flywire.htm

It works really well with the GWS 4 receivers but I haven't tried it with others. I leave 6" of wire antenna from the receiver, a 1.5 microhenry choke and a 6" wire mast with a little loop on the end so you don't get stuck.

Jerry Tuttle[img][/img]