R/C questions

[Derek Warner]

I am about to reuse my 20 year old Futaba R/C (Australian 30.2 MHz) system on PS Decoy
but have a few questions

The logistics of Decoy suggest that the placement of the Rx to get say 900 mm of aerial up
the mast and toward the bow would mean placing the Rx 600 mm from the Futaba speed
controller and another servo, with the rudder servo being an additional 200mm (aft)

so Rx aerial => [600mm to servo & speed controller] + additional [200mm > to rudder servo]

I suppose the question I am asking here is "is it best to maintain the 900 mm aerial length
and increase loom length to the electrics, or is that in it self a [voltage drop] problem"?,
or is increasing the RX aerial length a problem?

Note to Paddleducks - as you can see I have included this question to the
rchovercraft@yahoogroups.com om> (our Eddy Mathews) - by necessity, this group of
members have critically important voltage/functionality issues from which we may benefit
via their experience etc

Any response from a paddler or hoverer greatly appreciated

regards Derek

[Hal Harrison]

Derek, never, never change the length of the aerial wire, it is made a
specific length to match the radio wavelength and receiver circuit.
Altering its length by cutting of "excess" or tightly coiling it up can
significantly reduce the range of the R/C outfit. The length of servo and
speed controller leads is not usually critical, hence the widespread use of
extension leads by our aeromodelling cousin
Hal

[Derek Warner]

on February 02, 2002 "Hal Harrison" <HarrisonHal@hotmail.com> wrote

> Derek, never, never change the length of the aerial wire, it is made a
> specific length to match the radio wavelength and receiver circuit.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Thanks Hal - a bit problematical as it was cut (by another) 18 years ago, so
have asked Futaba for help - and their response is amazing - as follows
regards Derek
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
From: "derekwarner" <derekwarner@bigpond.com>
To: "support Futaba" <support@hobbico.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2002 3:31 PM
Subject: Re: Futaba FP-4L - Aerial Length (-narrowband -AR)
> Thank you for the automated computer response, however the specific
question
> remains unanswered
>
> I would be most appreciative if one of your technical people could
> comment/confirm the Tx aerial length
>
> regards Derek Warner
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "support Futaba" <support@hobbico.com>
> To: <derekwarner@bigpond.com>
> Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2002 3:19 PM
> Subject: Re: Futaba FP-4L - Aerial Length (-narrowband -AR)
>
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>
> >>> "derekwarner@bigpond.com" 02/02/02 21:16 >>>
>
> Good morning Futaba
>
> I purchased a Futaba FP-4L set in Australia (TX frequency is 30.200 MHz
and
> the Rx is 29.745)
> some twenty years ago however the TX aerial has been inadvertently cut
>
> Could you please confirm the correct total length for the TX aerial
>
>
> regards Derek Warner

[P Webster]

Derek,
I phoned Adrian at Niddrie Model Supplies here in Melbourne, the land of the late summer
weather, as he used to be the Victorian service agent for Futaba and he said the RX antenna length
for that model set was 1 metre. I hope this is of use to you but if you need any further info on
this or other gear his email address is rcmodels@ozemail.com.au

Hope this helps
Peter Webster :-)

[Derek Warner]

Thanks Peter - before posting the question to Futaba, I visited the local
hobby shop
where I purchased the set 20 odd years ago - explained my question and
stated I thought
that it was in the order of 1 yard or 1000 mm long - the owner just replied
"yep, that would
be about right" - [or maybe 86 mm out I thought!]

Don't laugh - the Japanese did some funny things in certain engineering
areas - like nominating
single acting lip seals for large hydraulic cylinders here at BHP in Port
Kembla and dimensioned
the seals as 580 mm OD x 500 mm ID x 30 mm deep - all hard metric sizes,
however nominating
a BS Series or (imperial) O-ring as the energiser???

I am not sure if a real Futuba person will come back on something so
trivial, but from your comments
am more than happy to reset the aerial (the RX is sealed) so will resolder
950 mm to provide a
total of 1000 mm aerial

thanks again Pete - regards Derek