5.8 ghz DIY antennas. 10 feet range

[Sladex]

I get about 10 feet range before I Los esignal. What is wrong with it. On my vrx I use the rubber duck as my skew planner didn't help with range at all. I there something stupid that I did or what?

[zeeflyboy]

Two things - mixing CP with linear is a general no no unless you really know what you are doing, you lose 3dbi of gain from doing so iirc.

Either both CP or both linear, and on 5.8ghz CP is pretty much a necessity.

secondly, sorry but that doesn't look good... either try again or just buy one from a retailer (much easier option!).

[Sladex]

I think the wire is too thin to shape as it bends if I drop it on a carpet so I am going too lowes to get some .8 copper wire

[salience]

Try welding wire, steel core with copper coating. Very rigid. And the angles need to be correct. I'd think the corners need to be sharp right-angle as well. Check out the 2.4 SPW I made here
http://fpvlab.com/forums/showthread....rSky-rx/page10
Much more antenna information on that thread, maybe helpful.

[Sladex]

Same problem again with these other antennas i made


These are a lot better then the one before and I get 5 cm range.

[zeeflyboy]

Originally Posted by Sladex

Same problem again with these other antennas i madeAttachment 426377Attachment 426378Attachment 426379Attachment 426380Attachment 426382


These are a lot better then the one before and I get 5 cm range.

are you intentionally trying to build it LHCP?

the normal "standard" is RHCP

I have to be honest, and I'm not trying to be mean because lord knows I'd make a mess of it, but that still doesn't look great. Lots of solder and it looks like you may have shorted the core and the shield at the bottom with all the solder? to be honest 5.8 is one of the most tricky to build and the most susceptible to errors.

The shape does look a bit better this time, assuming you were shooting for LHCP. The thickness of the wire does affect the dimensions though so be sure to use whatever gauge wire the instructions you are working from used.

the attachment is a great example

[Wolfmetalfab]

Month late but if this might help anyone else attempting a DIY CP
[ame]http://youtu.be/yohKRzMAJAg[/ame]