antenna help
 

I am attempting my first build. It is one of the world models sky Raider low wings. Everything has been going pretty much as I expected but I will say for someone new like myself the instructions are sort of lacking. Anyhow my question is what do I need to know when I run my antenna from the receiver. They don't seem to have any particular location for it to be routed and there is no hardware to install to have it exit the fuselage. So any suggestions would be helpful. I am thinking that it should probably exit the top of the fuse behind the canopy and be connected to the vertical stabilizer.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

Ray

RE: antenna help
 

The way you described would be my preference. Just make sure it is fully extended, not bundled up, and not interfering with any pushrods.

RE: antenna help
 

Ray,
You've got the right idea. I use a small piece of plastic tubing through a hole in the top of the fuse and run the wire through that. (If you use black tubing, it kind of looks like an antenna mast on a full scale plane. ;))

I would also recommend use some type of "strain relief" inside the fuse where the wire exits. That way if the antenna catches on something, you won't rip the wire out of the receiver. An arm off a servo control horn works well. Use two of the holes, thread the RX wire up through one and down through the other. It won't slide on the wire, and when it gets to the exit hole in the fuse, prevents the wire from pulling any further.

Good luck, and have fun.
Dennis-

RE: antenna help
 

sounds pretty good, although i have never built a plane from a kit so far, i have seen that if you go to the local hobby shop and buy an antenna scoop and all of the harnesses that are needed that it becomes really simple and it can be done faster than most other ways

RE: antenna help
 

Here are a couple of shots of how I did mine. Hope it helps.:D

Luke[8D]

RE: antenna help
 

Ray C.
On my Supersportster, a low wing, I put a piece of fuel tubing through the bottom of the fuse right behind the wing.
I then glued another piece of fuel tubing on the bottom of the fuse at the tail. I run the antenna through both pieces of tubing.
This keeps it extended, out of the way and out of sight.
KW_Counter

RE: antenna help
 

Second question. I have the strain relief (control horn- great idea) and I have the plastic tubing. I have a plane now with the antenna as pictured from Primodus. I kind of like the idea from KW_Counter though. Do you have any pictures. Now the question I really have is do I need to worry about the antenna being too close to servos? Will it cause problems?

This is a great help to new guys like me. Thanks for all responses.


Ray

RE: antenna help
 

You don't have to worry much about the antenna running past the servos. Do a good range check.. and if no problems... fly it.

Occasionally... redistributing the radio system components will reduce an interference problem. (sometimes its a sign that the position sensing pot of the servo is getting old when the antenna being close to a servo is a problem...)

RE: antenna help
 

RAY C. try this link out hopefully it works for you it was in my futaba manual with my 6exa trx,i used it it worked for me
www.futaba-rc.com/manuals/6exa-manual-v1_1.pdf
heres what mine looks like from the bottom LOL
http://www.midmad.com/images/airplan...l/8643_std.jpg

RE: antenna help
 

Ray C.
Sorry, I don't have pictures. Each piece is about 1/2 inch long.
The piece through the bottom of the fuse is to prevent chaffing the insulation where it goes through.
I cut it off even with the fuse on the outside. I think the hole was about 1/4 inch in diameter.
The piece on the back is just there for the antenna to go through and stay next to the plane, not flop around..
It's pretty loose but doesn't seem to come out readily. You could put a piece of toothpick in it if you wanted to keep it tight.
I also used a piece in the fuse for routing purposes to keep it from the servos.
If you have any question feel free to ask.
KW_Counter

RE: antenna help
 

You can also use servo gromets, or get rubber gromets from a hardware store to allow you to route the antenna outside the fuse (or though a bulkhead) with out rubbing. Though to be honest, I usually just stick a hole in some balsa (not ply) and let it go at that. I've never had balsa wear though an antenna, though using something to protect it is a better way to go.

You can also run a plastic tube, such as the inner bit of a nyrod down inside the fuse, and run the antenna inside the airplane. On occasion, I've also taped the antenna to the top or botton of the fuse in a few planes, then run it up inside the vertical stab. (it was a coro stab, so it had lots of nice channels avaiable, it would be a bit harder on a balsa tail :D)

There really aren't many hard and fast rules about it.
#1 - always range check a new or repaired plane (some guys do it ever time they go to the field). Range check should be done once engine-off, and again engine-running. If there is a noticeable range drop, you have a problem to fix.
- strain relief is your friend, espeically if you are prone to hanger rash like I am. Pulling the antenna out of the RX as you load the car really sucks
- make sure nothing will rub through the antenna