My buddy and I were watching the flight-line during EFEST 2015 this year and noticed everyone had a different take on how to orient their transmitter antenna. There didn't appear to be a standard direction.

So, to entertain us and the masses, here is our unscientific poll on RCG to generate the answer.

I'm attaching photos of the various methods we noticed. Find your antenna position and then refer to the number on the image to cast your vote.

Have fun!

-Lee / YarSmythe

(PS - I prefer #1 myself)

Im a #2 to the left

Hmm... Horizontal I suppose...

Hmm........ here also

I fly mostly gliders, so 30-60° down. As close (within reason) to perpendicular to the line between plane and tx as possible. The idea being to maximize signal strength when the plane is high and far away.

Whichever way your receiver antenna is orientated (see attached)

Though I prefer #1 myself.
I think 90% of us fly so close to the TX that is really doesn't matter. Especially since the attitude and angles of the model changes so much.

How do I vote for #11?

i never looked.
what happens now?
maybe 2000 to 3000 flights with 2.4 technology... should it begin to matter now?

I fly #4 in my old timers. 3000+ ft high and had no issues.

My antenna does not "hang." It pokes.

TP

45° inward to the right. About to buy a " mr stubby " also.

My DX9 and DX18 have two antennas. One is horizontal and one is vertical, and they're not movable. That's the direction of the future.

Andy

Andy - That would be #8. Mr. Stubby.

Originally Posted by Fitz Walker

Whichever way your receiver antenna is orientated (see attached)

Though I prefer #1 myself.
I think 90% of us fly so close to the TX that is really doesn't matter. Especially since the attitude and angles of the model changes so much.

How do I vote for #11?

EXACTLY. And remember, the weakest signal is off the tip of the antenna. It should never point at your plane. Full-range receivefs often come with a satellite receiver so that you can orient antennas in two planes, eg vertical and horizontal, so that one antenna is close to the same plane as the transmitter antenna when the plan banks or pitches. Before I swithed to EZ-UHF, I could see a very noticeable difference in range depending on whether the receiver and transmitter antennas were in the same plane or not.

This is excellent:

FPV Antennas 101 - Polarization, Diversity & Gain Patterns (27 min 56 sec)

i feel so dirty.

Originally Posted by AndyKunz

My DX9 and DX18 have two antennas. One is horizontal and one is vertical, and they're not movable. That's the direction of the future.

Andy

I'm glad. My old DX6i antenna is so flimsy and easy to break. I love my DX9. I hemmed and hawed for months before finally buying it. I wish I'd have bought it a year earlier now.