Antenna, wire trick?

[barend]

Hi all,
I am new to this flying rc stuff, but i drove a few fast cars , so fast, you might called it low-flying

One question i have, i bought a starters set, piper PA-12 electric with 3 channel transmitter, 1 meter wide, 80 cm's long, 7.2 v motor 1300 Mah accu
and one propellor, about 12 cm long.

At the end of tail section a wire comes out, the antenna.
BUT, do i drag it behind the plane? or can i stick it along-side plane and a bit on top or so? There is no platic tube to put it in on top like with cars.

Please excuse my english grammar, it aint 100%.
Moderator: i have no postal zip, so i took 90210, out of some series.

[burkyboy]

it is really fine to let it drag, as the plane doesnt get much ground time anyway(hopefully!). but if it does annoy you, you can use clear tape to get it off the ground.

[barend]

it is really fine to let it drag, as the plane doesnt get much ground time anyway(hopefully!). but if it does annoy you, you can use clear tape to get it off the ground.

Thanx for the fast replye!

And how much 'controle-wide' distance i loose with taping it along side?
Any +- percentages known in the controle distance difference between dragging and taping the antenna?

[Leo L]

I have a ParkZone J3Cub which drags a fairly long antenna, so I asked the manufacurer whether there would be any appreciable loss if the antenna was taped to the fuselage. The manufacturer stated that as long as the antenna is not cut, there should be no noticeable loss in reception. They did suggest not to coil the antenna, but to keep it extended. I taped the antenna along the underside of the fuselage, running from the rear of the plane and ending at the landing gear, using clear packing tape and have not encountered any problems.

[barend]

Thanx Leo, then that iss what i am going to do!
I have not flew the plain jet, it is only possible at under 10 knots.
Back here in the Netherlands it is autumn and very windy every day since i build the plane :(

[skorman]

You might want to try an antenna bobbin to take up some slack in your antenna. It's a flat piece of plastic that you can wind 12 to 18 inches of slack withouth affecting the signal. Just don't overlap the wire on the bobbin.

[aeajr]

Thanx for the fast replye!

And how much 'controle-wide' distance i loose with taping it along side?
Any +- percentages known in the controle distance difference between dragging and taping the antenna?

You will lose range by wrapping the antenna back onto itself. Whether that is a concern i depends on the range rating of your set-up and how far away you typically fly.

If you are using a GWS 4 channel receiver rated at 500 feet and lose 200 feet from the antenna wrap, that could be serious. If you have a Hitec electron 6 receiver rated at a mile and you lose 2000 feet, that might be of much less concern on a small plane that you tend to fly at 1000 feet or less away.

[barend]

If you have a Hitec electron 6 receiver rated at a mile and you lose 2000 feet, that might be of much less concern on a small plane that you tend to fly at 1000 feet or less away.

Ok i understand that. The plane i bought, has the antenne comming out of tail.
It was a set with the transmitter accu and all. Flying range about 200 meters
The plain has less then one meter spanwith of wings.
I dicided that now the plane crashed 2 times at start (never flew!) and getting a new one returned with delivery of old one back to store, i let the antenne just drag behind it. Because the antenne comes out at the end of the plaine, it is allway 'fold back' and i wont riks losing control and plane by that.
Thanx all for the replyes !

[aeajr]

Be sure to read ALL the instructions that come with your plane. There should be a procedure to do a range check before you try to fly. Besure you do this.

[barend]

Be sure to read ALL the instructions that come with your plane. There should be a procedure to do a range check before you try to fly. Besure you do this.

I did, 20 meters away with antenne _not_ extended all controls should react normall.
But that is a minimum test, because a %tual loss due to 'antenna taping instead of dragging it' could exponentialy grow on longer distances.
That and the deploy of battery energy in the rc-unit while flying.

[aeajr]

That is true, but your first test is the range test. If you can't pass that one then you have a real problem. However it does not gurantee you couldn't have another problem.

I don't understand your last sentance.