Mounting PCB antennas

[BigChinoDon]

Anyone have a suggestion on how to mount the PCB antennas that come with receivers like the X8R? I primarily fly full frame balsa/ply models. I've tried stuff like Shoe-Goo but even that won't hold them unless you loop across the board. With the plastic covering version of the antennas I used a 3d printed mount, but haven't found a good one yet for the newer version.

Thanks,
Don

 

[nioa]

Like you, I always used a plastic guide tube and hotglue / epoxy to mount the coaxial antenna wires, the PCB is a bit more perplexing. You can sandwich it between some kind of soft mounting plate, like a 3D printed something. Bit of a PIA actually. I use a long bit of thin heat shrink tubing so that you have some material to put a hole in for a mount.

Here is one of my artistically drawn images showing my heat shrink mount:

Or you can put a stick of balsa or other tube in with the PCB antenna, and use heat shrink to wrap that assembly together for mounting.

 

[BigChinoDon]

From one Arizonan to another I salute you. So simple. Will try it this weekend.

 

[nioa]

Glad to help.

 

[Jaguarbone]

Nice job nioa!

 

[sande005]

Tried to mount mine in a bigger gasser - was a little worried about using insulation (heat shrink) over an antenna and possible range issues. Only thing that would work otherwise was hot melt glue. As with everything else, the hot melt does not stick to the PCB, so can be easily peeled off. Lay a wide bed down, lay the antenna in it while still warm, then glue over the top of it, so a fair part of it is encapsulated. Worst case: hit it with a heat gun briefly to soften glue to remove.

Or, if structure will permit - I tie it on with string!

 

[Wayne]

My simple "metal in plastic test" is to place the plastic in the microwave oven with a little water in a cup. Then let it cook for 20 seconds or so. Open the oven and see if the plastic is warm at all. If it is, it will probably cause issues with radio reception.

Keep in mind that things like vinyl stickers with metallic colors actually have metal in them and will limit RF transmission. I never thought this would be enough to cause an issue until a buddy covered a plane in metallic vinyl. Plane looked great, but no radio range at all.

 

[Konrad]

Wayne, Great test to check for RF transparency!
It really is encouraging to deal with a firm that actually knows the physics of what they are selling!

Some firms claim to be driving the design of products but when pushed for technical engineering data, flounder lost in a sea of ignorance. This leaves the customer with a feeling of motion sickness.

Aloft really knows their products. If one should ask a question that they don’t have an answer for they will say so. And then they will try to find the answer!

All the best,
Konrad

 

[sande005]

So, I think the upshot, Wayne is: Encourage FrSky or a third party to to mfg "covers" or mounts for the pcb antenna, so that those of us that want to stick them to parts of our aircraft, can. Sounds like a job for someone with a 3D printer! Amazing what doesn't stick to that PCB board material.....

 

[Wayne]

We have a 3D printer.. We have offered a few different setups, but they are mostly used for Quads. We have not offered one since they changed the outer housing for the PCB antennas. We certainly can. I'm open to any feedback of what you think would work well for some of your applications. I have to say that I like the heat shrink idea posted up higher on this thread. I think that is what I may do in some of my planes.