DIY CP FPV Antennas - Build Instructions

[Malle743]

thank you for this video this helps a lot :-d

[GNiessen]

Wouldn't it be important to straighten the wire before measuring it?

[FuttFel]

Hm. When I soldered the joints I got some solder between the the shield and the inner cable. The antenna gives me a picture, but I'm not sure what effect this has on the range...

[schraut5]

@FuttFel Hi! I sent you a message

[441rider]

I took gold plated wire off what I think was a ferrite core coil on a macintosh circa '97 There are 3 of them, lots of high grade salvage stuff for rc in old puters. Best to use silver solder. Great vid, saw your auction but I am broke after ordering my 200w 5.8!

[schraut5]

@441rider You can build them! Not too hard!

[hakank1]

Any possibility you can build a pair and ship to Sweden? I saw your ebay offer was only shipping within US.

[schraut5]

@hakank1 Yep! Send me a message if you are still interested and we can get it set up!

[hakank1]

@schraut5 Definitely interested! You should have a PM by now.

[hakank1]

@schraut5 Antennas arrived, nice work!

Noticed you're living in Chicago. . I had the opportunity to visit Chicago for some days mid June last year. A very great town!

Again, thanks for the good work.

/Håkan

[schraut5]

@hakank1 Great! Hope they bring you much joy with your FPV. I love Chicago, its a great city and June is a great time to visit

[grey0powerlessnesss]

@hakank1 Search eBay now. Ready made for less than $US100, I think. Each. When you bend it, but a new one!

[scotsoft29]

Thank you for making this easy to follow build video.  I do like your use of the foam jig to help you position the three "arcs" before soldering. I am sure this will help many people to feel more confident in giving this a try ;-)

[schraut5]

@scotsoft29 No problem! Glad that it has been helpful!

[Soldier53flyer]

yes, I like this. get back to me.

[schraut5]

@Soldier53flyer just sent you a message

[eastcoast78]

Great video. I made a CL but as IBcrazy was saying, theres a few things to be changed.I followed your build

But i used .30 wire.

I think you should edit your description to have a link to the ICBcrazys how to build a CL and SPW on rcgroups! Great thread with a lot of great info. From your test they still look like there still alot better then the the stock antennas though!

Thanks for the motivation to try and build these..

[schraut5]

@eastcoast78 Could you send me a message with a link to IBCrazy's thread on RCGroups. I am changing some of the info now in this video to give him due credit. Thanks!

[000006rapture]

Question: Does the length of the coaxial cable you are attaching the wire to matter?

[schraut5]

@000006rapture I am sure that it does, but I am unsure as to how to adjust it for ideal antenna properties.

[CAGreve1231]

As the inventor of this antenna, let me tell you your build looks great. However you have a few things inaccurate:

1. 0.035" is the incorrect wire size for 5.8GHz. It must be scaled down just as all of the other dimensions.

2. RG174 has terribly high loss at 5.8GHz. I suggest RG316.

3. You MUST trim the lobes short by the length of your feed gap. Your feedgap counts towards the lobe length.

-IBCrazy

[schraut5]

@CAGreve1231 IBCrazy! Thanks for your suggestions - I will absolutely make these changes, and give you credit for your wonderful design.

[theRCexperiment]

great video thanks.... can you use any wire for the antenna part? Ie, could i use old pushrod metal for the antenna? thanks!

[schraut5]

@theRCexperiment I am not entirely sure. I don't know why not! You should give it a try!

[CAGreve1231]

@theRCexperiment You can, but you really need to scale all dimensions for optimal performance. Ideally you use .020" mig welding wire. Thicker wire changes the lobe length and therefore the impedance. Thicker wire increases the bandwidth, but also decreases the optimal SWR.

[theRCexperiment]

@CAGreve1231 Thanks! And from IBcrazy himself!  Wow! One more question, so if I'm building this for 910 mhz, what would the ideal wire thickness be? Thanks!

[Boot2yourHead]

Man thanks for posting this really good info.

[schraut5]

@Boot2yourHead Thanks! Not a problem

[nealkochhar]

That soldering jig is genius! Now I know what to do with all my leftover pink foam (from back when I thought I could scratch build)

Have you tried using flux at all when soldering the MIG wire to the connector? I find it helps spread the solder around without having to move the iron too much

[schraut5]

@nealkochhar I haven't used flux proper. But the solder I use has a flux core - don't know how much it helps.

[KnightJasonThe]

Excellent Guide man truly one of the best most detailed I've seen in awhile.

[schraut5]

@KnightJasonThe Thanks! Hope it helps!

[tomtom4867]

uk shipping?

[schraut5]

@tomtom4867 Not for now - sorry. Check out Markus1234 on RCGroups

[schraut5]

@schraut5 I have decided to start shipping internationally. Let me know if you are still interested!

[Don9aleh]

thanks man! that was very useful!

[schraut5]

@Don9aleh No Problem!

[MyGeekShowdotcom]

This is exactly what I've been looking for; a detailed step by step build video of these antennas. Totally 100% Excellent! Thank you!

[schraut5]

@MyGeekShowdotcom Great! Glad you find it helpful.

[TeenFlyer95]

thank you so much, you made it look so easy. I was going to buy a pair but now I will try to build a few. :D

[schraut5]

@TeenFlyer95 You should give it a try! Its not that bad

[mmmbcn]

very helpful, thanks!

[schraut5]

@mmmbcn You are very welcome!

[RCFindsen]

hey awesome man! do you ship to europe?

[schraut5]

@RCFindsen I really have no idea about international shipping in terms of pricing - I'll look into it - send me a message if it has been a few days and you haven't heard from me

[skotch40]

Big thumbs up!!!

[schraut5]

@skotch40 Thanks! Really appreciate the support!

[ollanderparker]

Cool man!. This seemed a little intimidating at first. Now I think I might give it a try. Thanks for posting this.

[schraut5]

@ollanderparker I definitely had my fair share of mess ups with the first few antennas - but its really not that bad!

[EflightRG]

Thanks man I will keep this video in mind as I get closer to my fpv experience

[schraut5]

@EflightRG Great! Hope it helps

[schraut5]

@rockyFLYR on

[BankheadRC]

Great job

[BankheadRC]

or Yeahhhhhhhhh lol

[schraut5]

@BankheadRC haha!

[BankheadRC]

YEAAA. :}

[schraut5]

@BankheadRC Hope this helps!