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DYORD · 05-06-2012, 08:30 PM

After a crash... (not heli - sorry)..one of the antenna of my AR500 was stripped. Now, dissecting it... it looks like a stereo wire (positive and negative wire) with a small socket. Can I replace it with regular copper wire?

N017RW · 05-08-2012, 07:43 PM

One of the Rx's antenna is 'extended' to provide additional diversity (separation) from the other. The wire is not actually stereo but rather coaxial. The shielding negates the extra length and acts to provide the physical separation as only the end of the cable that is exposed beyond the sheilding is electrically active. This exposed section is tuned for the 2.4 GHz and is the same length as the shorter wire on the other side of the Rx. This forms what is know as a dipole antenna.

Short answer is if you replace the longer on with a "regular" copper wire it should only be as long as the exposed section of the original element to prevent detuning but this would negate the physical diversity in the distance domain.

Simply said it is best to return for manufacuturer repair to retain the benefits of intrinsic design diversity. Likely they will send you a new Rx rather than repair your damaged one.

DYORD · 05-09-2012, 12:42 PM

Uhm... Ok, im a little lost here. Is there a simplified version of you explanation?

I not sure if returning it to spectrum is possible.. The casing is destroyed too.. Though the receiver is stikl working, i'm not sure with the distance.

N017RW · 05-09-2012, 02:19 PM

OK,

Let's see if I can simplify...

The coaxial (stereo wire as you called) wire has an area at the end where the shielding has been removed. This 'exposed' section is the same length as the shorter wire on the other side isn't it? (I don't own an AR500)

The shielding allows the wire to be longer while maintaining it's RF characteristics (tuning) so it can be located in a different location tfrom the Rx giving you better reception due to is distance from the shorter one. (Physical diversity and polarization if you so choose)

THEORETICALLY you could replace the coaxial wire with a copper wire of the same length as the exposed section ONLY and achieve similar performance but I don't recommend it as I cannot attest to other considerations in the Rx design.

"Can I replace it with regular copper wire? "

So let's just go with No then.

DYORD · 05-11-2012, 12:21 AM

Thanks... I think I've found a replacement for this...

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...nna_40_cm.html

you think that would work with Spectrum?

N017RW · 05-11-2012, 06:04 AM

Yes and no.

If the exposed section is properly tuned (length) then the wire itself is likely OK.

But, I don't believe there is a connector inside the Rx. It has to be soldered to the PCB. So if you have skills and equipment you could cut off connector, solder on and then do a range test.

desertstalker · 05-13-2012, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N017RW

But, I don't believe there is a connector inside the Rx. It has to be soldered to the PCB. So if you have skills and equipment you could cut off connector, solder on and then do a range test.

If there is no connector forget it, soldering Coax is not for the inexperienced, and if the OP has the skill to do it they would not be asking these sorts of questions.

IMO the best bet here is to get a new RX.

05-06-2012, 08:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
DYORD Registered Users Join Date: Dec 2010	AR500 stripped wires... After a crash... (not heli - sorry)..one of the antenna of my AR500 was stripped. Now, dissecting it... it looks like a stereo wire (positive and negative wire) with a small socket. Can I replace it with regular copper wire?

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05-08-2012, 07:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
N017RW Registered Users Join Date: Jul 2009	One of the Rx's antenna is 'extended' to provide additional diversity (separation) from the other. The wire is not actually stereo but rather coaxial. The shielding negates the extra length and acts to provide the physical separation as only the end of the cable that is exposed beyond the sheilding is electrically active. This exposed section is tuned for the 2.4 GHz and is the same length as the shorter wire on the other side of the Rx. This forms what is know as a dipole antenna. Short answer is if you replace the longer on with a "regular" copper wire it should only be as long as the exposed section of the original element to prevent detuning but this would negate the physical diversity in the distance domain. Simply said it is best to return for manufacuturer repair to retain the benefits of intrinsic design diversity. Likely they will send you a new Rx rather than repair your damaged one.

05-09-2012, 12:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
DYORD Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Dec 2010	Uhm... Ok, im a little lost here. Is there a simplified version of you explanation? I not sure if returning it to spectrum is possible.. The casing is destroyed too.. Though the receiver is stikl working, i'm not sure with the distance.

05-09-2012, 02:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
N017RW Registered Users Join Date: Jul 2009	OK, Let's see if I can simplify... The coaxial (stereo wire as you called) wire has an area at the end where the shielding has been removed. This 'exposed' section is the same length as the shorter wire on the other side isn't it? (I don't own an AR500) The shielding allows the wire to be longer while maintaining it's RF characteristics (tuning) so it can be located in a different location tfrom the Rx giving you better reception due to is distance from the shorter one. (Physical diversity and polarization if you so choose) THEORETICALLY you could replace the coaxial wire with a copper wire of the same length as the exposed section ONLY and achieve similar performance but I don't recommend it as I cannot attest to other considerations in the Rx design. "Can I replace it with regular copper wire? " So let's just go with No then.

05-11-2012, 12:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
DYORD Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Dec 2010	Thanks... I think I've found a replacement for this... http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...nna_40_cm.html you think that would work with Spectrum?

05-11-2012, 06:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
N017RW Registered Users Join Date: Jul 2009	Yes and no. If the exposed section is properly tuned (length) then the wire itself is likely OK. But, I don't believe there is a connector inside the Rx. It has to be soldered to the PCB. So if you have skills and equipment you could cut off connector, solder on and then do a range test.

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