It seems my antenna hasn't been shortened. It just kinda stripped about 3 inches of the covering off the end of the wire when it was pulled through the hole in the fuse during the crash. I took the receiver apart and the connections hasn't been altered. It is still very tight like new condition where it is connected to the RX.

My question is, will it hurt just to wrap the exposed area on the end of the wire with electrical tape? I see no reason why I couldn't other than the concern that the tape may alter the signal, being I am fairly ignorant on the subject of radio transmission.


Thanks,


Wings

Wassup Wings, seems you have a few questions tonight.
No, it wont affect the signal, if the wire is not broken thats ok as long as you are willing to live with the taped end. Another thing you could do is get heat shrink tubing and slide the wire inside and heat it. If you get the smalles diameter tubing it will look nice and wont come off. You can get it at radio shack, lowes, homedepot....any electronics store.

The wire as a hole is not broken. There a a few strands here and there that are broke, but 99 percent of it is in good shape. Should I be concerned?


I think I just worry too much...

Wings

Hi Wings,

Hey, I want you to know that I wasn't trying to insult you in any way with my comments or suggestions in a previos response. I was simply responding to your question from my point of view. Hope it was taken that way.

Like you, I too worry about things like this and just find thats it's not worth the loss of confidence in the airplane for such a small amount of money to know that it's right. You can certainly do as you please, but if it were me I would have a new antenna put on. It's so inexpensive and easy to do compared to the potential cost of losing your airplane over such a small item. Now that you know that you have a few strands broken it just seems to be a no brainer. Even if it checks out on a range check, I for one would not take the chance. Who knows, you may get out there a little far and then experience a problem even after doing a routine range check. Even knowing you are doing things right it doesn't work sometimes. I had a Rx fail due to a cracked crystal and lost an airplane. Futaba said it was the result of a hard landing or crash. Which came first? The crash or the cracked crystal? The airplane had only been flown a few times and the Rx. was new with the airplane. I will never know for sure, but it sure had me stumped. At least I knew that I had done all that I could to avoid. Even then, things happen. Again, IMHO. Take care and good luck with your decision.

How's your plane coming along wings?

I have had a terrible cold for the past week and a half. Every time I go work on it, the glue kills me!

I will update my site when I get a chance. But I have one wing completely finished. The second wing 90 percent finished. The fuse is all together except the tail. I have the motor mount in place with holes drilled.

So I have to finish the second wing, join them together. Install the mounting brackets for the wing. Install the servos, gas tank, receiver etc. And I havn't even started any covering yet.

Wings

Well, here's my take on the issue. I agree that the length within reason, is not critical, you can splice with no worries. I have a few antennas that are spliced. Just haven't had time to replace the wire. The only thing that concerns me with a splice is that if soldered, you have created a rigid wire. If exposed to vibration, like letting it hang outside the fuse or not in a antenna tube, it can weaken at the area where the flexible strand meets the not flexible solder joint. If you are comfortable soldering, spend a few $'s and replace. If not get a competent friend to do it for you. Just my .02.