Aerial Straws

[Zookeepa]

I am really sorry to sound thick, but I have no idea where to fit the aerial on my new rc helicopter. It is my first one and the instructions made as much sense as a very nonsensicle thing.

Until now I have been wrapping it around the undercarriage and used the training aids to hold it in place, but it is obviously still wrapped round the undercarriage then.

I went back to the shop and was sold some straws (very nice colours - not) to put it through. Sounded like it made sense, but the aerial is much longer than the straw. Please if anyone could explain it or better stil put a photo to show me I would be very grateful.
Thanks

[Ade_Law]

what heli is this on?

Ade

[Zookeepa]

Twister V2 CP.

[Ade_Law]

normal dringing straw will do fine.

Ade

[Zookeepa]

I have the straws thanks, but my problem is where to put them. The guy in the shop said just tape it to the undercarriage, but that leaves about 12" spare aerial sticking out the other end. I just have no idea where to put the whole length of aerial that is on the heli. Whichever way I do it there just seems to be loads hanging out at teh end which could get snagged in the rotor.

Sorry again. I told you I was being particularly thick.

[Mercuriell]

If you look at the inside of the undercarriage strut you should see a little straw sized circle which is where the straw goes after you have threaded the Rx aerial down it. As you say this leaves about 12" dangling (wish I could say the same!) which does occasionally get snared up but most times doesn't come to grief. Trouble is in the learning stages most of the time is spent grazing the ground and getting out of weed tangles. You could change to a loaded coil aerial which is very neat and although not quite as effective in theory is more than adequate for training stages (I have one on my Twister Medevac).

http://www.modelhelicopters.co.uk/cg...=-1&TB=A&SHOP=

[XH558]

You don't need to buy a base loaded antenna - I made one that cost me about 50p

[Mercuriell]

Looks nice job Dave !

Care to share construction details ?

[XH558]

Sad to say not my idea but I got this link base loader from someone on another board several months ago and I have made several of these and all are fine
The only REAL part you have to buy is the choke (If I remember 10 microhenry is this one - 10.0uH - and as you can see they are pence each )

Then you need some heavy wire - the lengths of wire are important and are for 35mhz so get them right - the article recommends piano wire but that's unwieldy in my opinion - so I used copper household mains cable inner like we use in UK - soft BUT good quality and we all know copper is a good conductor
Then I stuff the lot into antenna tube like they use on model cars which comes in various colours and with very convenient rubber stoppers for the one end - it fits beautifully inside - like it was made for it..........and then some careful soldering and some heatshrink and you're done

A word to the wise on range - see the warning at the base of the article - I have not flown one of these beyond about 25m and only in my Eolo and it also says they are ok in small electric planks - I don't know what they would be like at longer ranges or in bigger models. So caveat emptor But for stooging around hovering they are great!!

Oh and keep the original ariel length you cut off somewhere safe so you can solder it back on later if you want to revert to normal configuration

I get a real buzz from making stuff like this - not to save money - but to see it work after I've made it and this is really neat - looks good - is very cheap - and works very well