2.4GHz Receiver Antennae - How do you arrange?

[nheather]

I've only very recently moved to 2.4GHz. Technically I haven't got it yet as it is a Christmas Present.

But one aspect has me puzzled.

What on earth do you do with the attennae?

With a long 35MHz antenna it was obvious but with 2.4GHz I have two short antennae.

How is best to arrange them for

(i) A small heli like a TRex 450

(ii) A large heli like a Rator 50

(iii) Planks - where the RX would be totally inside the fuz.

Can the antenna just be routed anywhere - do they have to be at a certain angel to each other (90deg for example) - do they have to be outside the aircraft or can they be wholly within.

Cheers,

Nigel

[dave j]

on my rappy 30 the receiver with the short antennas is under the canopy ontop of the battery, but on the rappy 90 i have a stektrum receiver with three satalites one under the conno and one on either side of the airframe

[nheather]

Thanks for that. Mine are just the two short tail type.

So does it matter what the orientation is or can I just route them wherever is convenient.

Also in a plane, obviously, there is little chance that any part of the antenna will be outside the airframe - I assume that is okay?

Cheers,

Nigel

[Steve]

Mount the 2 receivers so that the aerials are at 90 degrees to each other in any plain, and are as far away from each other as you can realistically get. Don't worry about getting them miles apart, but just get as much space as the wire and the heli layout allow. The 90 degree thing is more important than the distance.

You can also take it a step further by making sure the left aerial out of each pair is away from carbon frames etc and in open air, but it's a bit over-board. Usually easier to make sure both aerials are in clean space. Don't worry about the aerials being inside the canopy.

I have been using Spektrum receivers for quite a few years now and have only ever used one main Rx and one satellite. Never 2 or 3 satellites. They have been in many helis and many planes, all buried inside the fuselage, and they've all worked just fine.

That's about it I think for us mere mortals.

[nheather]

I only have one receiver (not the two piece design like Spectrum).

So I have two aerials - I guess that similar advice follows though - try and get they at 90deg and away from metal and carbon.

Is that correct?

Cheers,

Nigel

[Rctintin]

Yep, keep them out in the wind if you can, no carbon behind them. As most of the time the Heli will be above you, try to keep the aerials near the bottom of the Heli so they have a straight line of sight to the Tx.

There is a very good write up on ArcHehi (iirc) about 2.4 Rx placement, and it was posted on here a while back. I had a quick look for it, but cant find it just now. It is well worth the read if you can find it.

[dave j]

found this on another site may be useful to you
http://www.archeli.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=136223

[Rotorhead]

On a small heli I run them down a skid leg on either side, they're then at about 90 degrees, I also thread them through some fuel tubing and use cable ties to secure the tubing, this gives it some protection the cable ties still grip it slightly but allow them to be pulled out of the fuel tube in a crash.

[cjcj1949]

There have been problems with carbon fibre fuselages and rxs are available with the aerials on the end of cables that take them clear of any conductive material. Having just one rx aerial is not a good idea, but it is the supplied option on a Blade 400. I've used a single rx (AR6100E) on a 450 heli without problems, and it is a short range rx. I wouldn't recomend it but I've not heard of any problems on a 450 heli as the range is usually within what you can get in range check mode.

[choppertastic]

I'm struggling to work out the route for my aerials. I have two that are about 8 inch long and there's carbon everywhere.

[scoobystig]

what RX and heli ?

if its Futaba the ends need to be at 90degrees to each other

[choppertastic]

Trex 700 and a jr 831 rx. The last inch of each cable looks like the outer plastic cover has been removed so I'm guessing that only this bit needs to be at 90deg

[nheather]

I have two that are about 8 inch long

That's just bragging. Most of us would be happy with just one that was 8 inch long.

Cheers,

Nigel