Broken Reciever
04-11-2006 | 04:58 PM
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From: Reno,
NV
Broken Reciever
The reciever for my plane just broke the other day. Good thing I was on the ground when it happened. I pretty much narrowed the problem down to a broken spot in the antenna where it goes into the reciever houseing. Is it worth trying to get a new antenna and put it on or just go buy a new reciever??
04-11-2006 | 06:23 PM
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From: Lompoc ,
CA
RE: Broken Reciever
if you solder it at the break it changes the impedence of the wire. either replace the entire wire from were it is soldered to the board or send it in for service and have them do. It'll be like 15 bucks for parts and service, they'll also replace a couple caps and retune the reciver to factory specs, It usuallytake them about 10 days from the day to send to them until it arives back at your door
04-12-2006 | 09:47 AM
#6
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RE: Broken Reciever
No it will not change anything if you solder the break but it is easier and neater to just replace the entire antenna. If you have one break under the insulation, you may have more. You can get replacement antenna wire from any hobby shop. Type and gage is not critical, anything from 26 to 22 gage will work well. Use a stranded wire though, a solid wire will break to easily under stress but would work. Just make it anywhere from 39 to 41 inches long and solder it to the pad where the remaining stub of your broken antenna was attached.
04-12-2006 | 10:19 AM
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From: Waterford,
PA
RE: Broken Reciever
I second Rodney
If you can solder just replace it. Good high strand count wire Phone wire etc..
Then get help as range check beat on the reciever, pull on the ant.. just rattle it's cage. Look for an intermittent problems.
Rich
If you can solder just replace it. Good high strand count wire Phone wire etc..
Then get help as range check beat on the reciever, pull on the ant.. just rattle it's cage. Look for an intermittent problems.
Rich
04-12-2006 | 10:42 AM
#8
My Feedback: (12)
RE: Broken Reciever
ORIGINAL: Rodney
No it will not change anything if you solder the break but it is easier and neater to just replace the entire antenna. If you have one break under the insulation, you may have more. You can get replacement antenna wire from any hobby shop. Type and gage is not critical, anything from 26 to 22 gage will work well. Use a stranded wire though, a solid wire will break to easily under stress but would work. Just make it anywhere from 39 to 41 inches long and solder it to the pad where the remaining stub of your broken antenna was attached.
No it will not change anything if you solder the break but it is easier and neater to just replace the entire antenna. If you have one break under the insulation, you may have more. You can get replacement antenna wire from any hobby shop. Type and gage is not critical, anything from 26 to 22 gage will work well. Use a stranded wire though, a solid wire will break to easily under stress but would work. Just make it anywhere from 39 to 41 inches long and solder it to the pad where the remaining stub of your broken antenna was attached.
04-12-2006 | 10:47 AM
#9
My Feedback: (12)
RE: Broken Reciever
ORIGINAL: richrd
I second Rodney
If you can solder just replace it. Good high strand count wire Phone wire etc..
Then get help as range check beat on the reciever, pull on the ant.. just rattle it's cage. Look for an intermittent problems.
Rich
I second Rodney
If you can solder just replace it. Good high strand count wire Phone wire etc..
Then get help as range check beat on the reciever, pull on the ant.. just rattle it's cage. Look for an intermittent problems.
Rich
04-12-2006 | 10:58 AM
#10
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My Feedback: (9)
RE: Broken Reciever
Everybody above has given you some solid gold advice. Sending the receiver in for service is just good common sense. If you had accidentally cut the wire then I might recommend that you just solder the wire back together and you would probably be ok. But since you said it "just broke" I'm going to assume that some kind of force caused the break. This force could have caused the wire to separate anywhere along the remaining wire. Or it could have been enough force to pull the antenna wire away from the receiver circuit board or even damaged the receiver circuit. IMHO the few dollars it costs to get the receiver fixed is a good investment to know that it's working. Or is saving a few dollars worth risking several hundred dollars in the cost of an airplane.
Hope this helps
Ken
Hope this helps
Ken
04-12-2006 | 11:12 AM
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From: Rowlett,
TX
RE: Broken Reciever
Any topic relating to anything electrical / electronic will generate a lot of very polarized responses.
Some will be from engineers that are wound up pretty tight and some will be from the experts that have been doing RC for years and just know about this stuff from reading the news groups and the manufacturers spec sheets.
I have been an electrical engineering lab rat for over 25 years so that is where my knowledge / opinion originates from.
Rest assured that the antenna is not all that critical.
If it broke right where it exits the RX then it broke at the stress point and if it were mine I would simply strip the wire back a little bit at the break and solder it back into the RX. I would not just solder it back together because this would create a non flexible joint at the stress point and would quickly break again.
The antenna is the least critical part of the RX, you can pretty much do anything to it short of breaking it off at the RX and it will work just fine.
I am sure I will get flamed for expressing this viewpoint, but it does not matter.
As far as accepting sub-standard performance I say once again rest assured that the antenna is not all that critical.
Some will be from engineers that are wound up pretty tight and some will be from the experts that have been doing RC for years and just know about this stuff from reading the news groups and the manufacturers spec sheets.
I have been an electrical engineering lab rat for over 25 years so that is where my knowledge / opinion originates from.
Rest assured that the antenna is not all that critical.
If it broke right where it exits the RX then it broke at the stress point and if it were mine I would simply strip the wire back a little bit at the break and solder it back into the RX. I would not just solder it back together because this would create a non flexible joint at the stress point and would quickly break again.
The antenna is the least critical part of the RX, you can pretty much do anything to it short of breaking it off at the RX and it will work just fine.
I am sure I will get flamed for expressing this viewpoint, but it does not matter.
As far as accepting sub-standard performance I say once again rest assured that the antenna is not all that critical.
04-12-2006 | 11:31 AM
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From: Blackfoot ,
ID
RE: Broken Reciever
What ever manner you decide to go with,sending it back or getting a new antenna from the LHS and fixing it yourself ,it sounds like you had to much stress on it and thats why it failed.I always use part of a old servo arm to thread the antenna thru so when it will stop against the antenna tube with some slack before pulling it out of the receiver .It also depends on how old the receiver is as to weather or not I will send one back in or if it has been in a crash ,several things to think about.
As a rule if its just a antenna prob ,I fix my own .By replacing the whole wire like and kind with what the factory used.
As far as a range check is not good enough to test it ,I feel thats not true ,a good range check with the engine running is all you can do with any receiver used or new .
As a rule if its just a antenna prob ,I fix my own .By replacing the whole wire like and kind with what the factory used.
As far as a range check is not good enough to test it ,I feel thats not true ,a good range check with the engine running is all you can do with any receiver used or new .
04-12-2006 | 11:39 AM
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From: Blackfoot ,
ID
RE: Broken Reciever
Would you please explain to me why replacing the antenna with a factory one is such a drastic change as long as you dont have a cold solder joint ,you have NOT changed nothing from what it was when sent out new.
ORIGINAL: piper_chuck
After making such a drastic change as replacing an antenna, a range check just doesn't cut it to confirm the receiver is working up to spec. OTOH, sending it to a repair center will result in a new antenna that's been properly soldered and a receiver that's been retuned to factory, or perhaps even better, performance.
ORIGINAL: richrd
I second Rodney
If you can solder just replace it. Good high strand count wire Phone wire etc..
Then get help as range check beat on the reciever, pull on the ant.. just rattle it's cage. Look for an intermittent problems.
Rich
I second Rodney
If you can solder just replace it. Good high strand count wire Phone wire etc..
Then get help as range check beat on the reciever, pull on the ant.. just rattle it's cage. Look for an intermittent problems.
Rich
04-12-2006 | 11:42 AM
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From: Winston-Salem, NC
RE: Broken Reciever
I would not think a solder joint in the antenna would affect the reception any more than all the bends and loops created when it is installed in the airplane. Just how many people have the antenna absolutely straight along its entire length? Some radio manuals I've seen recommend looping the wire thru a piece of cutoff servo horn where it exits the fuselage - that would affect the impedance as much as a solder joint would.
Personally I would rather replace the entire antenna, rather than solder it in the middle, because the solder joint creates a spot that is more likely to break. You can buy antenna wire, just cut it to the same length as the original.
Personally I would rather replace the entire antenna, rather than solder it in the middle, because the solder joint creates a spot that is more likely to break. You can buy antenna wire, just cut it to the same length as the original.
04-12-2006 | 11:43 AM
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From: Blackfoot ,
ID
RE: Broken Reciever
I agree with what you have said here.I have been replaceing my antennas for many yrs without ever a prob.
ORIGINAL: chashint
Any topic relating to anything electrical / electronic will generate a lot of very polarized responses.
Some will be from engineers that are wound up pretty tight and some will be from the experts that have been doing RC for years and just know about this stuff from reading the news groups and the manufacturers spec sheets.
I have been an electrical engineering lab rat for over 25 years so that is where my knowledge / opinion originates from.
Rest assured that the antenna is not all that critical.
If it broke right where it exits the RX then it broke at the stress point and if it were mine I would simply strip the wire back a little bit at the break and solder it back into the RX. I would not just solder it back together because this would create a non flexible joint at the stress point and would quickly break again.
The antenna is the least critical part of the RX, you can pretty much do anything to it short of breaking it off at the RX and it will work just fine.
I am sure I will get flamed for expressing this viewpoint, but it does not matter.
As far as accepting sub-standard performance I say once again rest assured that the antenna is not all that critical.
Any topic relating to anything electrical / electronic will generate a lot of very polarized responses.
Some will be from engineers that are wound up pretty tight and some will be from the experts that have been doing RC for years and just know about this stuff from reading the news groups and the manufacturers spec sheets.
I have been an electrical engineering lab rat for over 25 years so that is where my knowledge / opinion originates from.
Rest assured that the antenna is not all that critical.
If it broke right where it exits the RX then it broke at the stress point and if it were mine I would simply strip the wire back a little bit at the break and solder it back into the RX. I would not just solder it back together because this would create a non flexible joint at the stress point and would quickly break again.
The antenna is the least critical part of the RX, you can pretty much do anything to it short of breaking it off at the RX and it will work just fine.
I am sure I will get flamed for expressing this viewpoint, but it does not matter.
As far as accepting sub-standard performance I say once again rest assured that the antenna is not all that critical.
04-12-2006 | 11:43 AM
#17
My Feedback: (12)
RE: Broken Reciever
ORIGINAL: Cyberwolf
As far as a range check is not good enough to test it ,I feel thats not true ,a good range check with the engine running is all you can do with any receiver used or new .
As far as a range check is not good enough to test it ,I feel thats not true ,a good range check with the engine running is all you can do with any receiver used or new .
04-12-2006 | 11:45 AM
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From: Reno,
NV
RE: Broken Reciever
I think there was too much stress on it over the years. I bough it from a friend used and I know he crashed it several times as have I. I will take it down to the LHS and see what the cost of fixing vs a new one would be.
04-12-2006 | 11:48 AM
#19
RE: Broken Reciever
ORIGINAL: Cyberwolf
As far as a range check is not good enough to test it ,I feel thats not true ,a good range check with the engine running is all you can do with any receiver used or new .
As far as a range check is not good enough to test it ,I feel thats not true ,a good range check with the engine running is all you can do with any receiver used or new .
04-12-2006 | 11:49 AM
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From: Whitehorse,
YT, CANADA
RE: Broken Reciever
I have to agree that you can replace the antenna yourself. Solder doesn't add impedence, I challenge you to take your ohmeter and tell me the resistance of a 1/4 peice of electrical solder. As long as the antenna is the correct length, it can made of pretty much any quality wire.
What nobody here has told the guy is how to prevent it from breaking again using a strain relief.
(apologies to DBCherry for stealing his picture)
make something like this, leave a loop of wire and mount the horn inside the fuse... this way if something pulls on your antenna, there is some slack to prevent it from breaking, but it won't be slack.
What nobody here has told the guy is how to prevent it from breaking again using a strain relief.
(apologies to DBCherry for stealing his picture)make something like this, leave a loop of wire and mount the horn inside the fuse... this way if something pulls on your antenna, there is some slack to prevent it from breaking, but it won't be slack.
04-12-2006 | 11:49 AM
#21
My Feedback: (12)
RE: Broken Reciever
ORIGINAL: Cyberwolf
Would you please explain to me why replacing the antenna with a factory one is such a drastic change as long as you dont have a cold solder joint ,you have NOT changed nothing from what it was when sent out new.
Would you please explain to me why replacing the antenna with a factory one is such a drastic change as long as you dont have a cold solder joint ,you have NOT changed nothing from what it was when sent out new.
04-12-2006 | 11:54 AM
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From: Waterford,
PA
RE: Broken Reciever
ORIGINAL: Cyberwolf
Would you please explain to me why replacing the antenna with a factory one is such a drastic change as long as you dont have a cold solder joint ,you have NOT changed nothing from what it was when sent out new.
Would you please explain to me why replacing the antenna with a factory one is such a drastic change as long as you dont have a cold solder joint ,you have NOT changed nothing from what it was when sent out new.
ORIGINAL: piper_chuck
After making such a drastic change as replacing an antenna, a range check just doesn't cut it to confirm the receiver is working up to spec. OTOH, sending it to a repair center will result in a new antenna that's been properly soldered and a receiver that's been retuned to factory, or perhaps even better, performance.
ORIGINAL: richrd
I second Rodney
If you can solder just replace it. Good high strand count wire Phone wire etc..
Then get help as range check beat on the reciever, pull on the ant.. just rattle it's cage. Look for an intermittent problems.
Rich
I second Rodney
If you can solder just replace it. Good high strand count wire Phone wire etc..
Then get help as range check beat on the reciever, pull on the ant.. just rattle it's cage. Look for an intermittent problems.
Rich
When it comes to the magic of electricity their are many who claim let some one else do it. We can arm chair this until it’s the space shuttle and still no fly. We the ones with communication degree can argue all we want and still it’s magic. Personally I’d trust what I fix more that the lowest paid worker the factory could hire to fix it. A range check is a range check ether it works or it don’t, unless there are two faults of which is not part of the question to fix an antenna or not.
Rich
04-12-2006 | 11:57 AM
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From: Park Rapids, MN
RE: Broken Reciever
Wow, I am emphatically with Piper on this one! I'm not saying soldering on a new one is beyond the capabilities of many of us R/Cers. I AM saying spending $15.00 to $20.00 to assure it's done right and having the other checks performed at the time is just plain common and good sense! Is this a case of "Penny wise and Dollar foolish"?
04-12-2006 | 12:03 PM
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From: Trafford,
PA
RE: Broken Reciever
Add to this the receiver was in a crash (multiple) i would send it back or at this point get a new one. I am one that will send out a receiver after any hard impact, by this i do not mean rough landing i mean if i crash a plane i do not reuse that receiver untill it has been serviced. I put to much $ into a plane to skimp on things.
As mode one put it "Penny wise and Dollar foolish"
((and a man and his plane are soon parted)) lol
As mode one put it "Penny wise and Dollar foolish"
((and a man and his plane are soon parted)) lol
04-12-2006 | 06:52 PM
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From: Lompoc ,
CA
RE: Broken Reciever
if you perceive that it has no change in your mind it has no change, what ever dude. FACT is that blob of solder changes the characteristic of the wire. you can agree disagree perceive what ever you like. I think we both agree just change the whole wire. The blob of solder does the same thing that tip on your transmitter does, reflects RF, slightly changes the impedance of the antenna. 9-10 It won't effect nothing but there that one out of ten chance it will be the source of interference.
