Question for those of you who are DIYing your own remotes and have a lot of experience with remotes and receivers.
I want to extend my maytech receiver antenna. Like, extend it a long way. 120cm. I think the antenna wire is some type of shielded wire. I suspect that the antenna is “tuned” or in some way “matched” to the hardware of the receiver. I think it is 2.4g Bluetooth signal.
Rather then go down the path of trial and error and cutting the antenna wire and soldering an extension in, I thought I would ask some of you tech-savvy guys for advice.
I purchased a 600mm antenna off AliExpress. I haven’t used it yet, but it plugs into the receiver fine. It has a bulb at the end. I suspect this is to compensate for the longer wire length, like a booster or something?
Can I cut the wire on the 600mm antenna and extend it to 120cm? Can I order the same type of antenna wire and make my own? What factors need to be taken into account to make a long antenna work as well as possible with the maytech receiver?
I plan to mount the receiver inside the aluminum box with my ESC and extend the antenna up to the nose of the board.
Sorry for the long draw out post. I’m looking for replies for those of you who know how this magic actually works!
This is the current setup I haven’t tested yet with the 600mm AliExpress antenna. I need it to be twice as long so I can move the receiver into the aluminum box, and run the antenna out that hole into the nose of the board.
The signal is easy to block. The 4’4" board is so small it is very difficult to get started without the board going under water, and the signal cuts out if any water is on the board. The signal also cuts out if I scoot forward and lay on the board, my body blocks the signal. And sometimes when I’m sitting on the board the signal gets blocked.
I can ride it fine now by just avoiding these things, but friends and family really struggle with it.
Also, I’d like to consolidate the receiver (small plastic box) so it is inside the aluminum ESC box. Clean things up. Simplify. Reduce clutter.
Thx for the tips. I will ask some suppliers if they can make me a custom one.
I still hope to hear from someone who knows how or if I can extend the antenna myself.
Hi,
Haven’t done it for the maytech remote / receiver but this is a common thing in drone. I have seen plenty of people tinkering / hacking their antenna to get better signal. It works better at the remote side though.
However, if you plan to use a custom antenna, there shouldn’t be a problem as long as you follow some rules like for exemple described on this tutorial. Remember, I am not an expert but just like you I love to tinker and test / hack things
You can extend it yourself easily. You need some coaxial cable which you could easily source locally. In the case of the maytech receiver you need a micro ufl connector on one end (this may be harder to find locally) of the cable, to plug into the receiver. At the other end of the cable, you need to peel away the outside shielding so 3.1cm of the inner cable is showing, this is the part that picks up the signal from the remotes antenna, the length of inner wire showing is specific to the frequency.
If you search up ‘diy 2.4ghz Fpv drone antenna’ or similar you will have an abundance of tutorials!
You could even buy a 2.4g wifi antenna with a long cable and a older it to the maytech receiver wire, the point where the 2 separate antenna cables are joined will reduce antenna efficiency a bit but enable you to have the antenna at the front of the board for better signal
Yes. I contacted a Chinese seller on AliExpress who sold 60cm antennas and asked if they could make me a 120cm antenna. I just received them last week. Works good.
Looks the same as the short antenna. I think I could have just cut the wire and extended it myself.
A Carbon fiber lid will weaken the signal. An aluminum box will weaken the signal. Your body will weaken the signal. The signal does not go through water at all. It worked with the antenna behind the battery, under my body, the way it was…but, barely. I had to hold myself off the board, and the signal constantly cutout while trying to get started, then was fine once up and riding. But now, no issues at all.
I have my receiver inside the aluminum box with my ESC. The extended antenna comes out of the aluminum box, and runs along side the battery to the front of the compartment, then goes into a hole towards the nose of the board. The antenna ends up about one foot back from the nose of the board. Works great as long as part of the nose of the board remains above water.
It is not external. It works through Carbon fiber. But, through carbon fiber, and your body…not so good. The farther back the antenna is on your board the more prone to signal cutting out from being under water when starting.
Wish I had seen this before I built my board, I would have built an extension into the nose. I’m having the exact same issue as my boards a similar length to yours 146cm / 4’ 8”
#Aliexpress US $2.89 30%OFF | L250mm L400mm L600mm L1200mm FrSky 2.4G Receiver Antenna Futaba JR Hitec Flysky 2.4G Receiver 3DBi Copper Tube IPX13 Plug https://a.aliexpress.com/_dZU7TNv[quote=“Vicdes2, post:13, topic:7111, full:true”]
I see! Could you give me your contact at AliExpress? Does the antenna come ready to connect on the maytech receiver?
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Just click to buy. I posted link below picture.
