racer53

I recently upgraded my 75MHz radio to a 2.4GHz[Airtronics MX-3X] radio and am wondering If I need to have the antenna out of the body...I race 2wd buggy and the buggy would be,maybe, 80 feet away at all times...I ask because I see all the other buggy racers doing this, but wanted to make sure it wouldn't cause a significant difference in the radio range...Don't want to lose radio frequency in the middle of the main...

Thanks, Racer53

Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

The Tactic 2.4 radios have no antenna at all. I was really hesitant to put one in my Inferno GT onroad, but it works fine and I've driven it a lot more than 80' away.


Suspect you're ok with no antenna showing.

asc6000

iTrader: (15)

I also recently upgraded to 2.4 and I have one rig that I have been running for a few weeks with no problems, it's coiled loosely in the reciever box which is not logically a good thing. In fact I forgot all about it until I read your post...

skadoosh

What is the optimal way to mount an antenna inside the body? coils? lots of straights? loop the perimeter of the body? etc etc?

Also any tips, like "keep away from the motor" or "dont let the antenna cross itself", etc?

duck7604

I have the same radio and I have about 3 inches of antenna tube sticking out of my buggy and havent ever had any problems. My receiver is double side taped to my receiver box with the antenna wire gently looped in the box, just make sure to check the receiver every once in a while to make sure it doesnt come loose. I've ran my buggy 2 blocks down the street and never any interference. I would think that you wouldn't have any problems keeping the antenna inside the body.

Banshee8530

iTrader: (1)

Ideally, if you mount your antenna vertically, you want to run your transmitter antenna vertically as well. By this I mean that it is perpendicular to the ground when you hold the transmitter naturally and comfortably. The idea is to maximize the surface area of the rx antenna exposed to the transmission. When both antennae are parallel you have maximum exposure. If they are perpendicular to each other, you have the least amount of antenna exposed to signal input. This is why Spektrum uses satellite rx's in their Air systems so you can mount the two small rx's perpendicular to each other and double the chances of a quality signal.

So, it's not the amount exposed outside the car, but the amount parallel to the transmitter antenna. Best thing to do is a signal strength test. Have someone walk with the car to the furthest point on the course and check the work the radio and have your verify function. On spektrum radios, the air transmitters anyway, you press the button on the back to do this. I'm not sure if the surface transmitters do this, as I run Futaba.

jph

iTrader: (1)

It's a r/c car, it's supposta have a big antenna stickin up from it!

The Working Man

iTrader: (1)

With a flag on top. You know, like dune buggy's.

Banshee8530

iTrader: (1)

Old Tamiya Frogs had two of em! those were the days, huh?

jmaxey51

iTrader: (7)

just dont cut the tup or bend/kink the clear/white part at the end and you will be fine, you dont to run it up the tube unless you are going to have the buggy very far from the radio

Shimmy

iTrader: (19)

I also have an MX 3X and have the receiver shoved in a box with the antennae all coiled up inside the box and I have not had any problems.
I've probably gone 100m (maybe a little more) trying to do range tests and it has a solid link the whole time.
Dont really have much use (and it gets hard to see) over 100m.

amagad

cut it

Mr B

From a radio-electric standpoint, "all" of the antenna should be in a straight line. As explained above, if it's orientation is the same as the transmitters, all the better.
And no. You shouldn't cut the antenna. Ever. It still works, but it's a lot better to coil it up somewhere, then to cut it of.
B!

Graphite07

iTrader: (60)

no need to put out side body. in my slash my antenna stays under the waterpoof receiver box and i have no porblems at all.

if other racers are putting the antenna out side the body then something is wrong.