Anyone who can build a 5.8GHz Crosshair array is a better man than I am. The cable lengths would be so incredibly short that I don't know that it would be possible to phase them.

Helicals are a totally different story. You don't need matching networks for helicals. Why? Simple: you have to match the impedance to the line anyway with your matching stub. Sure you still need to rotate the helical antennas in your array to achieve rotation, but there is no need to use 1/4 wave lines. You can use 1/2 wave lines and adjust the characteristic impedance by moving the matching stub. This is the preferred method so that you ensure your load is purely resistive with respect to the other helicals in the array.

-Alex

I didnt have copper tube and after needing so much heat to the gal reflector, I didnt want to solder the braid to it.
Q: is dropping a copper wire from the resonator (where the braid attaches) to the reflector ok?
I have seen it done in an earlier post but I dont recall any feedback from IBC or other as to any down sides.

I really do not know. If it is indeed 1/4 wave long, then it should cancel itself out and work fine. If not, then I really do not know.

-Alex

How about using biquad as TX antenna. It is electrically closed circuit. Is it safe for transmitter?

Yes it is safe for a transmitter. I am assuming you are referring to a 2.4GHz radio. This works well for increasing range so long as you are capable of aiming it.

-Alex

Originally Posted by heinduplessis

Holy smokes that was hard work

Mine did not come out as perfect as some of the others on here at all, but I was wondering if you all could take a look at it and see if I've made a catastrophic error somewhere.

Damn it's hard to solder something to a galvanized plate with a 25W soldering iron...

I couldn't find small nylon screws so I used wooden rods with epoxy.

I've soldered the shielding at the back of the plate in stead of the bottom of the front.

It looks great! Now it's time to test it...

Well a huge thank you very much to Alex!

Willie & I just came back from ground tests and on 9.7km the signal was still fine, just some lines and the tiniest hint of noise. See attached.

If this is ground based, maybe I should still have perfect signal at 10km.

My tx is a lawmate 500mw with a home made V.

The stock dipole ducktail dropped out at 3km.

Thanks Alex!!

You will go way farther than 10 km if you are doing 9km on the ground. The ground blocks ~50% of the Fresnel zone at that distance. In the air, the Fresnel zone is clear.

-Alex

Originally Posted by IBCrazy

You will go way farther than 10 km if you are doing 9km on the ground. The ground blocks ~50% of the Fresnel zone at that distance. In the air, the Fresnel zone is clear.

-Alex

Yeah - that football shape beam. I'm just carefully optimistic

I'll know by the weekend..

Originally Posted by IBCrazy

You will go way farther than 10 km if you are doing 9km on the ground. The ground blocks ~50% of the Fresnel zone at that distance. In the air, the Fresnel zone is clear.

-Alex

We just did 17km from Table Mountain to Blouberg!! Perfect signal, even better than the 10km ground test!

Long Range FPV Antenae - 30KM (0 min 9 sec)

^You had a long way to go on that BiQuad. If you are confident your plane can make a longer journey, go for it. The BiQuad rocks. I like it so much that I'm actually ganging 4 of them in a phased array for a professional project of mine.

Great!
I'm still pushing the limits of my antenna.

Just out of curiosity what's the power of the vTX you using?

Originally Posted by IBCrazy

^You had a long way to go on that BiQuad. If you are confident your plane can make a longer journey, go for it. The BiQuad rocks. I like it so much that I'm actually ganging 4 of them in a phased array for a professional project of mine.

Sounds serious I'm just delighted it works so well!

Originally Posted by IceWind

Great!
I'm still pushing the limits of my antenna.

Just out of curiosity what's the power of the vTX you using?

500mw lawmate.

Tadaaa!! my version is ready to be tested

Just finished this bad boy this morning. 17dbic linear phased OctoQuad array.

Phasing network is 2 - 3/4 wave 50 ohm cables.

-Alex