Hi guys!
I´ll create here a how-to for changing the wired antenna to a "real" 2,4GHz-antenna.
Ok, let´s start...
You need this 3 things:
- Airwave transmitter
- 2,4GHz antenna
- SMA-connector
[
attachment=39]
At first you have to cut away the shrink tube around your transmitter.
[
attachment=40]
Now you can remove the green sticker from the back side ot the transmitter.
[
attachment=41]
[
attachment=42]
After doing this, take the SMA-connector and solder it to the two free metal pads at the back side of the tx.
[
attachment=43]
[
attachment=44]
Now you have finished. You can screw your antenna direct to the Airwave tx.
[
attachment=45]
Have fun with this how-to!
Best regards
Heiko
Heiko,
Thank-you for this how too, i shall be doing that mod tomorrow! i belive this is the same as i have ordered!
Do you notice a better range?
Thank-you for a great forum too! i am enjoying it here!
where to buy the sma connector?
i have shoot one withe the antenna in a hard flight.
thanks to advance.
I really discourage this modification. The 10mW TX is already designed as a natural dipole, with the main TX board dimension being the ground portion of the dipole. The Airwaves 632TX is only capable of outputting 10mW and the antenna is trimmed and tested to output the maximum power of the TX module. Adding an external SMA and antenna will only introduce losses.
To maximize performance of the 10mW TX, ensure the following:
1) make sure the antenna extends inline with the TX body (maintain the natural dipole)
2) The antenna should be between 28 - 29mm in length.
3) mount the TX in a vertical position away from other components.
-Fat Shark
Hi Greg! Welcome here
You´re definitely right! I already know this technical details about the 10mw tx.
But can you explain, why the range and quality is much better than with the standard antenna. Ok i am using a 2db antenna, but my friends here have better video transmission and range, too.
Thanks for your explanations!
Best regards
Heiko
Hi Heiko,
Thanks for the welcome, and its nice to see a site where information can be easy found.
I can't comment on why the range would be better than the standard whip, maybe because it gets the transmitting portion up and clear of the aircraft. Although I have lots of access to 500mW TXs, I prefer to fly with 10mW to get more experience with maximizing range with legal TX power. My experience with the 10mW is I'm comfortably able to get 500m with the 5dBi on the headset (if no interferrence).
What range are you able to get with the modification (or is less dropouts)? If its significantly better I'd like to hear about it.
Even if the range is better, I would still discourage the modification to the average user for a few reasons:
(1) risk of damage if insufficient solder skills. Soldering SMA connectors onto the ground plane requires a pretty good soldering iron to avoid a cold solder which could easily break and pull off the RF line with it.
(2) loss of warranty
(3) Changing to an SMA connector voids the CE certification and is no longer a license free device. Not that it would bother anyone, but if its not going to be a license free device, then you may as well fly with a higher power TX
Maybe if Sander gets on here he can chime in on some explanation for improved performance.
-Fat Shark
Well, I have a few reservations about this mod. As Greg already pointed out the wire antenna + metal casing on the Tx are tuned to offer optimal performance (using a spectrum analyzer) and with a external antenna you run the risk of loading it into the wrong impedance (= less output power), or suffer from a less than ideal radation pattern (= less omnidirectional radation pattern).
Also, by looking at Heiko's soldering (sorry!) this doesn't really look like proper soldering to me, which could mean a cold solder spot, which could well have an intermittent connection or worse. To do this properly you need a minimum amount of solder and some solder flux and clean after soldering with white spirit or aceton (don't rub on any plastic bits).
That being said you're welcome to experiment, but I've done a fair amount of testing on these 10mW transmitters and have always come back to the simple tuned wire antenna rather than any elaborate external whip antenna solutions. Just keep in mind that the transmitted power is still only 10mW, no antenna will boost that. A 3dBi will simply trade power for directivity, hence with a 3dBi antenna you have a less omnidirectional radiation pattern with larger holes (deeper nulls) but a little bit more power in the area the antenna does cover. All in all it isn't going to make much of a difference at 10mW.
Cheers,
Sander.
Thanks a lot you two!
@ Sander: It is proper soldered, but due to using my "small" camera the image quality is not the best
I´ll change this!
Greetings
Heiko