Reading the interesting threads on antennas. As the main aim is to keep things clean and light but still have enough range you might consider Base-loading the receiver antenna. Suggested approach: Take the receiver antenna and coil the first 50% (closest to the receiver) around a pencil or dowel. Add couple of small strips of adhesive tape (or PVA glue) just to hold the coil together and remove the dowel. You now have a crude base loaded antenna. The range should still be good but the length is reduced. Test this out with your particular receiver, which may have different front-end characteristics. With some receivers it is possible to go down to a length of 25% of the original. Try different size dowels if you go for different final lengths and put more or less wire into the coil. I know this isn't very scientific but is definitely worth experimentation. I haven't done it for some years so I will check with one of my newer receivers. We use 35mhz in the UK; I believe you use 72mhz in the USA. The optimal number of turns, diameter of coil and remaining straight wire may differ for 72mhz systems. If you have access to an oscilloscope it can be used to find the optimum arrangement for 72mhz. Tony. RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
