I bought this toy quad a Syma X1. Really remarkable for the price of $35. I want to see if i can get a little more range out of it. Here is a pic (borrowed from craigiri ) of the antenna. Is their a solution here to get more range? Straighter antenna? True 1/4 wave length? (measured at 29.5) ??

Thanks

Bill

You can cut that PCB antenna right where it leaves the ground and solder on something else. Any antenna will probably do a little better than the PCB antenna. There's various reasons the best length may not be the theoretical length, you'll have to do some experimenting. There's lots on the net about different antennas you can try. I'd probably start with a piece of solid copper wire.

Whats the frequency ?

A 1/4 wavelength might well be a measured 29.5, but 29.5 of what ?

Thanks for the idea on the antenna. It's ~29mm.

Thanks

Bill

Frequency ?

Originally Posted by srnet

Frequency ?

2.4ghz Beyond that how do you tell?

Start with a bit of wire about 1 wavelength long, 12.5cm for 2.4Ghz and cut little bits off in stages to see if range is affected.

The classic length for a single wire would be 1/4 wavelength (3.2cm) but as mentioned previously you may well find that this is not the length for maximum output and thus range.

Originally Posted by srnet

Start with a bit of wire about 1 wavelength long, 12.5cm for 2.4Ghz and cut little bits off in stages to see if range is affected.

The classic length for a single wire would be 1/4 wavelength (3.2cm) but as mentioned previously you may well find that this is not the length for maximum output and thus range.

Thank you!!

Will give a try

One more thing...wire sideways or pointed straight up? Or perhaps the more correct question is...Try to keep the antenna pointed at the rx or perpendicular to it?

Thanks

Bill

Transmit antenna in the same orientation as the receive antenna is normally best.

But then of course, why not experiment and see which way is best ?

Originally Posted by poulsbobill

One more thing...wire sideways or pointed straight up? Or perhaps the more correct question is...Try to keep the antenna pointed at the rx or perpendicular to it?

Never point a monopole or dipole antenna directly at the RX. The radiation pattern looks like a doughnut around the antenna. Pointing both antennas straight up is the easiest way to get the best reception.

Originally Posted by srnet

Start with a bit of wire about 1 wavelength long, 12.5cm for 2.4Ghz and cut little bits off in stages to see if range is affected.

The classic length for a single wire would be 1/4 wavelength (3.2cm) but as mentioned previously you may well find that this is not the length for maximum output and thus range.

Cut the trace here and solder on the new wire?

Thanks

Bill

Yep. The "antenna" begins right where the trace leaves the close proximity to the ground traces around it. I'd draw a line straight down from the end of the ground trace and cut there.