Base Loaded Antennas

uneverno · #1 03-09-2008, 11:32 AM

Hi all,
is there any reason that one needs to keep the lead to the antenna so long? Most of them say leave 6" of the receiver antenna intact, and I can't figure our why.

Has anyone had negative results going shorter?

park · #2 03-09-2008, 03:38 PM

Are you asking about wrapping the antenna around skids and other parts and letting less than 6 in. hanging down?

I am new to this hobby, but another long time hobby of mine is radio. The length of the antenna is VERY important for transmitters, but not that big a deal on receivers, but do have problems receiving interference from the heli it's self, or if wrapped around the heli allot can change the best frequency for receiving that causing interference. You will have to experiment with the receive antenna, one heli might be ok with the antenna rolled up in a ball and another might have to have it all hanging down, but of coarse that does not mix well with tail rotors!

uneverno · #3 03-09-2008, 04:34 PM

Hey park,
thanks for the reply. I kinda thought as much. I'm talking about the receiver antenna. Dean's and some other companies make a base loaded model which seriously shortens the antenna length. I like them 'cuz there's not a ton of wire to wrap around the skids or unwrap and get tangled in the gears...

park · #4 03-09-2008, 07:11 PM

Yes, a base loaded (coil at the bottom) should work! I have wondered why rc's did not have that but thought they must know what their doing.

The same theory is used on AM radio's that have built-in antenna's. An antenna for 5.30mhz to 1.700mhz (AM brodcast band) should be about 500 feet, but instead a coiled antenna is mounted in the radio.

Where can I look at these antenna's for the rc heli's?

Thanks,
Ken

park · #5 03-09-2008, 07:14 PM

I should add that shorten the antenna will reduce the range, but most of us can't see that far anyway!

uneverno · #6 03-10-2008, 09:42 AM

You can get them here:

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=RVO1010

or another flavor here:

http://www.wsdeans.com/products/antenna/piece.html

I'm not sure where the deans is available on line. I got mine at the lhs.

park · #7 03-10-2008, 10:49 AM

Thanks for the info! I may get one of these. It would look cool poking out the front of the heli!

Aztek1701 · #8 03-10-2008, 04:52 PM

Probably teaching my granmother to s**k eggs here but the rx antennas on the 2.4Ghz systems are tiny and dont need any managment. Its one big advantage of the 2.4Ghz system to my mind. Also the spektrum RXs are mostly twin Recievers and the software selects the antenna which has the best signal out of the 4 available to it.

Take care... Azzy

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)