Antennae wire inside or out?
 

Hi guys, I'm finishing up a pusher prop F/A-18 model. Usually I just run the antennae outside the model. What would I have to do to run it inside the model and what problems should I be aware of?

Thanks,

Jim

RE: Antennae wire inside or out?
 

Not too much to worry about actually. I always run my antenna inside the fuselage. I allow no more than an inch to stick out the back and tape it down.

See the picture. This is a short fuselage. The reciever is just behind the tank. The antenna goes forward from the reciever, over the battery. across the tank and down the other fuselage side. The antenna is close to both battery and servos. There is no choice in these fuselages.

Now before people start howling, I have been doing this for thirty years. This type of set-up will be seen in most Pylon Racers.

Ed S

RE: Antennae wire inside or out?
 

[quote]ORIGINAL: Ed Smith

Not too much to worry about actually. I always run my antenna inside the fuselage. I allow no more than an inch to stick out the back and tape it down.


Ditto..thats what I've done for the near 10yrs I've been flying.

RE: Antennae wire inside or out?
 

I run my antennas inside the fuse, usually in a pushrod tube or some such. I wouldn't worry at all about having it inside the fuse UNLESS the plane is covered with a metalic covering or the fuse was made of carbon fiber. Then I'd run it outside for sure.
Paul

RE: Antennae wire inside or out?
 

I run them inside and outside and can not see any difference either way,;) I like the looks of them inside and they don't snag on anything. I do it on all mine even the float planes.

RE: Antennae wire inside or out?
 

just don't fold the antenna back on itself...

RE: Antennae wire inside or out?
 

Some kits are designed for it to run inside and I have never had any problems doing it. As mentioned, I use a outer push rod tube and run it to the tail of the plane and slide the antenna down the tube. All of the Great Planes jet look alike kits were designed like this and no problems at all. Good Luck, Dave

RE: Antennae wire inside or out?
 

I do the same as David and have even run the antenna through a wing without problems.

RE: Antennae wire inside or out?
 

I also have done it like Ed Smith for over 20 years. In fact, since i do a lot of reviews, I have all of my 72MHz receiver antennas in a piece of inner pushrod tube with a knot tied in the end to kepp it from pulling out. When I review a plane, I just slide it down the fuse and wrap any excess like Ed did. When the review is finished, I can just slide it back out and it's ready to slide into the next plane.

But like GaRCfield said, you just don't want to double it against itself.

RE: Antennae wire inside or out?
 

Thanks, Minnflyer, I like the nyrod idea. I'm going to try it on this plane. I left space to slide an antenae down the side of the fuselage.

Jim

RE: Antennae wire inside or out?
 

When I can, I run it inside. I have always been troubled by the doubling back statement and took this to mean that the antenna should never run back parallel to itself. I have gone to some lengths to attempt to keep from doing this. I could be convinced there might be a reduction in range, if it has been done; but, maybe this drop in range is unimportant as it may be where the range drops off is beyond the limit of being able to tell what the airplane is doing.

I will no longer struggle with this problem as I've switch to 2.4 Ghz.