Originally Posted by Kipkool

Not enough gaz, just bad pilot

Again, sorry to hear. Hope there's not much damage. It happens to me too once in a while.

Markus

Originally Posted by Vantasstic

RG-316 eh? Okay, thanks. I'll have to look into that too then. I agree having connectors pre-installed would be the easier solution. I was looking for a price savings with customability. I plan on CP antennas for my multi-copters and a CP on my fixed wing VTx with a helical CP on the VRx for long range flights. I'm hoping/waiting for an antenna tracker system for my OSD to help eliminate the need of a diversity controller for the helical VRx antenna. In that case, I'd probably need a longer run of feed line for the helical antenna and my GS. Thanks for the insight.

RG316 is stiff and extremely heat resistant. That's why I use it. And seriously, you don't need a tracker with a helical. If you're the DIY type, you can make my antenna tracker in my blog if you really want to. However I would sooner invest in a diversity system. It's a little more reliable and requires less set up time.

I need to publish my "quick jig" for building these antennas. Nothing more than a drilled dowel rod and a rubber band. Makes building a snap. Easy

-Alex

Originally Posted by IBCrazy

RG316 is stiff and extremely heat resistant. That's why I use it. And seriously, you don't need a tracker with a helical. If you're the DIY type, you can make my antenna tracker in my blog if you really want to. However I would sooner invest in a diversity system. It's a little more reliable and requires less set up time.

I need to publish my "quick jig" for building these antennas. Nothing more than a drilled dowel rod and a rubber band. Makes building a snap. Easy

-Alex

Thanks Alex. Looks like I'll be ordering some RG-316 then. In the meantime...let's see the quick jig so I don't have to figure out how to do this bending, aligning, etc. all by myself!!!

I second the no tracker recommendation. Diversity can literally cover most of the sky for just about the same money.

Originally Posted by IBCrazy

RG316 is stiff and extremely heat resistant. That's why I use it. And seriously, you don't need a tracker with a helical. If you're the DIY type, you can make my antenna tracker in my blog if you really want to. However I would sooner invest in a diversity system. It's a little more reliable and requires less set up time.

I need to publish my "quick jig" for building these antennas. Nothing more than a drilled dowel rod and a rubber band. Makes building a snap. Easy

-Alex

is there supposed to be a null over a cloverleaf...the only time my video really drops out is right over head? (GS has 1 cloverleaf and 2 outward pointed helicals)

^ Yes. The cloverleaf has the same radiation pattern as a dipole.

-Alex

You can pick up a diversity unit for $15 on BEVRC now for thoes that don't fancy buildin their own one.

CJ

Hey Guys,

First off I would like to offer my thanks and appreciation to IBCrazy and the rest of his supporters. This stuff is amazing and I can't believe you make it so I almost understand but more importantly can enjoy it.

I am going to build your 5.8g CL/SPW for my 200mw system from Hobby King. The whips work just fine but its the next step in learning right?

I bought 2 of these http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...nna_Cable.html hoping that I could use them on the Tx and Rx because of the connectors. Yes, unfortunately they are not SMA-RP. The cable is RG316 and the other connector side is a threaded union with female hole. Can I use any of this other than the cable?

E.

If your gonna buy from china you may as well hop on eBay and get what you want. Straight connectors are better than angled ones for 5.8ghz and if you get a straight extension you get two Pre made ends on a cable. Easy peasy, and it's cheaper than HK.

CJ

Originally Posted by Carlos230023

If your gonna buy from china you may as well hop on eBay and get what you want. Straight connectors are better than angled ones for 5.8ghz and if you get a straight extension you get two Pre made ends on a cable. Easy peasy, and it's cheaper than HK.

CJ

So what I have already bought is no good other than the RG316 cable? Can't jerry rig connectors to work? Or is the RP(reverse polartity) an issue here? Can I pull the pin?

E.

E.

The pin is a solid peice. If you pull it you'll pull the middle of the active cable through the middle of the plug. You can buy adapters that will reverse the polarity and the angle connector effect the gain etc...

CJ

Originally Posted by Carlos230023

The pin is a solid peice. If you pull it you'll pull the middle of the active cable through the middle of the plug. You can buy adapters that will reverse the polarity and the angle connector effect the gain etc...

CJ

Basically... You'll save yourself a lot of time and frustration if you just buy a new length of cable Sorry you made a bad purchase on that one, but it does happen sometimes. I do it all too often

A tracker makes good sense if you plan to fly across a wide angular scope. The helical has about 40 deg opening, which makes a wide field at distance, so a tracker becomes more and more inactive (and useless) with distance.
I have a diversity with a simple SPW and a helical pointed into general direction. If the plane comes closer and gets out of the helical field, the SPW has already good signal. For the simple setup i made the SPW stand on a 50cm pole over he helical, on the same tripod about 3m above gnd. Each antenna is directly attached to it's own receiver, without cable.

It gives a huge enhancement to put the antenna and the receiver on top of a high tripod pole, instead of laying on the gnd or a table! The difference is like water and fire.

My "extreme" setup is two tripods with 3m telescopic center pole. Each carries a receiver and helical antenna on top, and are placed about 15m apart. The A/V,RSSI signal and power cables come together at my toolbox that holds diversity controller and monitor.

For antenna tripod i use yellow foldable lamp tripods from the home-improvement shop and extensions, cost about 10 bucks each.

Edit: The video-line is 75 ohm, so a high-quality (multiple shielded) sat antenna cable makes a good and cheap video cable. There is no need to buy specialized expensive cables. Please do not try to use these thin black cables supplied with receivers ... they blur the picture like crap.

Originally Posted by pdiddyg40

Basically... You'll save yourself a lot of time and frustration if you just buy a new length of cable Sorry you made a bad purchase on that one, but it does happen sometimes. I do it all too often

Its never a bad purchase if its for my hobby. It will get used somewhere(perhaps replacement RG316 cable for when I crash and mangle my antenna's)
As for frustration...it wouldn't be fun if it didn't piss me off a little But yes, I will take your advice and buy the RP-SMA cable and go from there.

Look forward to joining you again when I am at that point again.

Grateful for your time guys.

E.

Originally Posted by Ai77

A tracker makes good sense if you plan to fly across a wide angular scope. The helical has about 40 deg opening, which makes a wide field at distance, so a tracker becomes more and more inactive (and useless) with distance.

No, No, No. That's not NEARLY as cool and techno-geeky looking as an antenna moving up, down, left, and right as you fly across the sky (out of sight of most people). If nothing else, I vote for an antenna tracker just for the 'cool' factor!!! Of course, your justification really does make more sense.