Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

Due to the rear mounting of the Rx in this plane, my antenna options are to have 85% of the antennas wire exit the bottom of the fuse and drag along the ground and trail along in the air. Or, to route it forward to just behind the canopy, exit the top of the fuselage, and tie up at the top of the horizontal fin.

Would doing that, doubling back over itself, create problems for my reception?

TIA,
-Tom

DMcQuinn

My Feedback: (13)

doubling back is not recommended because it may cut down your range somewhat. Usually not that much however. I'd try it on the ground and do a range test fully extended and then try it again at the same time and place, but with the antenna folded over itself.

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

This is the method practiced by most AMA rulebook pylon racers in the country (Q-500 and Q-40) where exposed antenna is an unacceptable drag penilty. The straw can be positioned forward or backwards.

John

http://www.darrolcady.com/Racing_Inf...ch/Antenna.htm

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

Thank you John!

vicman

My Feedback: (10)

Quit your thinkin and fly the dang thing already ol man! At a buck + nobody is gonna see the little wire coming out of the top.

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

Shoot, when you get to be my age it takes a whole day to process one thought!!

AirmanBob

My Feedback: (14)

Read this: http://www.rc-cam.com/ant_exp.htm and become an antenna expert.

Bob

daven

My Feedback: (1)

Tom,

I would bet your original picture would give you a solid range check. The picture that John shows is commonly used in 180 mph planes with NO problems.

The trick with any antenna installation is to range check.

I routinely double back, but from one side of the fuse forward, loop around the tank, and then back down the opposite side of the tank and out the back. I normally only tape about 1" of the end of the antenna to the rear of the fuse. Once again, fast planes that get close to 1000' away at times. This could also be in a plane with large concentrations of carbon fiber, or near carbon fiber pushrods.

I hate to harp, but the range check will tell you if you are ok.

Good luck.

Joe14580

Bad idea per this link []!!!!!

http://www.rc-cam.com/ant_exp.htm

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

Regardless its a method that works well in the application indicated by people involved all over the country as well as the method described by Daven in his post above and both methods has been tested extensively for that application by most involved.

John

Stripes

My Feedback: (19)

Any of you guys ever buy a HiTec receiver that comes with the "antenna bobbin?" It's a flat piece of plastic 1 1/2 inches long and 3/8 wide. Instructions from HiTec say to wind up to 18 inches of antenna onto the bobbin without crossing wires.

bdavison

My Feedback: (1)

There is also other things that that guy failed to mention or test, and he didnt wrap that straw correctly either. On some sections of the winding he overlapped the wire, of course its going to reduce range if its tied in knots around a straw.

Also he didnt tell you about what changes are made to the recievers DIRECTIONAL ability to recieve a signal. A wound antenna can recieve signals from 360 degrees all the way around the antenna.

Ive used straw wound antennas for a LONG time. Never once had a problem with any of them, as a matter of fact, I honesly believe I got BETTER performance out of the wound antenna's on some of my helicopters....but you do have to wind them correctly.

The windings should NEVER overlap.
The windings should have even spacing between them.
They should NOT be wound around conductive materials such as aluminum, or carbon fiber.

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

This is not true on either the photo I provided of one of mine or the link provided there are no knots or overlapping with roughly equidistant spacing the entire length. You would have known this if you read the detailed description provided at the site.

SitNFly

My Feedback: (54)

I've got a Patriot XL with the receiver in the tail. I ran the antenna up one side of the fuse, rubber band to a cuphook in the front, and back down the other side of the fuse. Rock solid. Your mileage may vary but I'll bet you'll be good to go.

Dizzy Pilots

Can you run it something like this?
How did they show it on the plans or didn't they say?

SitNFly

My Feedback: (54)

Give it a try. Mine is all inside the fuse and I still have great range. You should be good with that much outside the fuse.