can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
- Tr3TopFlyer
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can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
I'm using the X6Rs and want to use the PCB antenna because it is suppose to provide better range. The plastic cases are bulky and somewhat heavy if you are trying to make the antennas stand up straight. Is there a reason why it is a bad idea to remove the plastic case and just put some heat shrink over the PCB? I can't think of a reason but someone told me it is not recommended. It was said that the case provides adequate spacing from any surface you might mount it to but I'm not putting the PCB near any surface but instead making it stand up straight.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u5wywoq48xhh6 ... 0%20PM.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u5wywoq48xhh6 ... 0%20PM.jpg
"it's easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled."
Cheers!
Cheers!
Re: can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
There is a slight chance that you could detune the antenna by doing what you suggest, but I doubt that it would have much of an effect. Past experience of Frsky receiver antenna's have shown that they are a long way from what they should be in practice.
Final opinion - As long as you are not going for a long out of sight flying like the FPV people try to do. I would go for it..
Final opinion - As long as you are not going for a long out of sight flying like the FPV people try to do. I would go for it..
Re: can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
The only problem I see with it is that once the plastic case is removed the connection of the coax to the PCB becomes very fragile. The coax is thin and without the strain relief provided by the case the points where it's soldered will break very easily.
- Tr3TopFlyer
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Re: can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
Thanks Flaps.Flaps 30 wrote:There is a slight chance that you could detune the antenna by doing what you suggest, but I doubt that it would have much of an effect. Past experience of Frsky receiver antenna's have shown that they are a long way from what they should be in practice.
Final opinion - As long as you are not going for a long out of sight flying like the FPV people try to do. I would go for it..
"it's easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled."
Cheers!
Cheers!
- Tr3TopFlyer
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Re: can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
I'm really not concerned about that. I've protected the connection with heat shrink, so no flexing takes place, and there is no strain on it. I will watch it carefully though.Kilrah wrote:The only problem I see with it is that once the plastic case is removed the connection of the coax to the PCB becomes very fragile. The coax is thin and without the strain relief provided by the case the points where it's soldered will break very easily.
"it's easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled."
Cheers!
Cheers!
- Tr3TopFlyer
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- Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2014 1:07 pm
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Re: can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
I was finally able to get out today to do a range test. With my PCB antennas, that were removed from the plastic paddle cases, I was able to get a little more than 100m (in range test mode) before getting critical RSSI warning. Event then it was just momentary. I don't think removing the cases affect the antenna performance negatively.
"it's easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled."
Cheers!
Cheers!
Re: can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
Hi,
Could you post a photo(s) of those ripped down antennas? I liked to see what's "inside" and don't want to tear my antennas apart. Thanks!
-Spoogy
Could you post a photo(s) of those ripped down antennas? I liked to see what's "inside" and don't want to tear my antennas apart. Thanks!
-Spoogy
What goes up, must come down. -Isaac Newton
OpenTX - expanding possibilities
OpenTX - expanding possibilities
- Tr3TopFlyer
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- Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2014 1:07 pm
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Re: can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
Unfortunately I have them covered with heat shrink but they are just little dipole antennas made on a pcb. Here is a picture of how they look on the model.Spoogy wrote:Hi,
Could you post a photo(s) of those ripped down antennas? I liked to see what's "inside" and don't want to tear my antennas apart. Thanks!
-Spoogy
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/jvn57vfu4pr09fu/XhOaL9_5JG
"it's easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled."
Cheers!
Cheers!
Re: can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
How hard was it to get the plastic cases off?
No Bounce, No Play.
The one who dies with the most toys wins!
The one who dies with the most toys wins!
Re: can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
Looks like you did an excellent job, and IMO getting the ant away from all that carbon fiber would be better. Is the wire stiff enough to hold them there?
Re: can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
A little of topic here, but I like the picture of your Quad, could you share more full shots of it?Tr3TopFlyer wrote:Unfortunately I have them covered with heat shrink but they are just little dipole antennas made on a pcb. Here is a picture of how they look on the model.Spoogy wrote:Hi,
Could you post a photo(s) of those ripped down antennas? I liked to see what's "inside" and don't want to tear my antennas apart. Thanks!
-Spoogy
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/jvn57vfu4pr09fu/XhOaL9_5JG
Would be very interested in hearing about your build.
Looks very custom.
Thanks.
Custom 9x with M64/Telemetry Mod
Re: can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
Here's some pics i've made a few days ago :
![Image](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Y8pS1kOuVCo/UuuPBbHzQ4I/AAAAAAACCAo/qnf2DQ3CEHE/s640/IMG_6038.JPG)
![Image](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JUdrwr8a8FY/UuuPCfZcNkI/AAAAAAACCAw/pUOaHvcBYIM/s640/IMG_6039.JPG)
Hope it can help !
Hope it can help !
French FrSKY taranis forum
http://www.frskytaranis.fr
http://www.frskytaranis.fr
- Tr3TopFlyer
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- Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2014 1:07 pm
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Re: can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
Sorry that it took so long to get back to this.....I used an exacto knife and carefully worked in along the seam of the plastic casing. It's not hard and once you get the knife into the seam you can kind of pry the plastic case open. I've done this on three sets of PCB antennas now without damaging the PCB inside.davidmc36 wrote:How hard was it to get the plastic cases off?
"it's easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled."
Cheers!
Cheers!
- Tr3TopFlyer
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2014 1:07 pm
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- Location: Columbus Ohio
Re: can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
The wire isn't stiff enough but I used some heatshrink over the wire to make it rigid enough to stand on its own. Yet it is flexible enough to stand up to crashes and straighten back up.syelton1 wrote:Looks like you did an excellent job, and IMO getting the ant away from all that carbon fiber would be better. Is the wire stiff enough to hold them there?
"it's easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled."
Cheers!
Cheers!
- Tr3TopFlyer
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2014 1:07 pm
- Country: -
- Location: Columbus Ohio
Re: can I remove the plastic case from the PCB Ant?
Thank you for the compliment. This is a Hoverthings Flip 360. It's 360mm motor to motor diagonally. I'm running...LTMNO wrote:A little of topic here, but I like the picture of your Quad, could you share more full shots of it?Tr3TopFlyer wrote:Unfortunately I have them covered with heat shrink but they are just little dipole antennas made on a pcb. Here is a picture of how they look on the model.Spoogy wrote:Hi,
Could you post a photo(s) of those ripped down antennas? I liked to see what's "inside" and don't want to tear my antennas apart. Thanks!
-Spoogy
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/jvn57vfu4pr09fu/XhOaL9_5JG
Would be very interested in hearing about your build.
Looks very custom.
Thanks.
CC3D, MT 2206-23 1200kv, Witespy RapidESC 12a, HQ8x5 props, 3S 2250mah
Here is a little video look...BTW it was before I put my X6R Rx on.
[BBvideo 425,350]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkqdb006p64[/BBvideo]
Here is another mini quad that I did the same with the Rx....
![Image](https://www.dropbox.com/s/z7u2s5fmliol1fu/Photo%20Mar%2001%2C%2010%2003%2029%20AM.jpg)
"it's easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled."
Cheers!
Cheers!