Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Radio Equipment => Topic started by: funtimefrankie on October 12, 2010, 07:32:53 pm

Title: Lack of range 2.4 Turborix
Post by: funtimefrankie on October 12, 2010, 07:32:53 pm

I'm getting about 20 yards range, I thought this was just on second rec I've got, but was out with the original boat/rec today with the same results. I'm sure it was further when I first got the set.

I've broken (well the dog trod on it) the plastic of the aerial, above where it screws on and taped it up, could this be the cause?
Are these aerials the same across other makes?

Thanks for any tips

Frank

Title: Re: Lack of range 2.4 Turborix
Post by: Martin (Admin) on October 12, 2010, 08:07:57 pm

Broke the aerial of the Tx?
I would suspect that as the issue.
Take the batteries out and disassemble the aerial, you should find it's a co-ax cable and it might be shorted out or open circuit.
With a bit of luck, it should be an easy fix.

Title: Re: Lack of range 2.4 Turborix
Post by: funtimefrankie on October 12, 2010, 08:56:03 pm

The aerial is removeable, it jacks in and held with curled retaining nut. It's the removed part that was broken

Title: Re: Lack of range 2.4 Turborix
Post by: malcolmfrary on October 13, 2010, 12:25:27 pm

At that sort of frequency, aerial length is very critical.  More than the plastic might have been broken, and it could need a new aerial.  If its just a length of wire up the middle, or something else conductive, taping the outside together might not have reconnected the insides.  A dab of conductive paint (the stuff from car accessory shops & probably Maplins for fixing heated screen conductors and PCBs) to bridge the gap might do the job, but a new one might be cheaper and more certain, that paint isn't cheap.

Title: Re: Lack of range 2.4 Turborix
Post by: funtimefrankie on October 14, 2010, 03:36:17 pm

Well I think I've fixed.
Took the back off and the wire to the plug was broken this is soldered to the circuit board
I bought another aerial of a different make from a local shop. This had a wire with a tiny plug to attach to the circuit board. I chopped the plug off and soldered the wire to replace the wire to the plug.

Made an adapter out of plastistuct tube to hold the aerial itself

It all works but not tried the range yet.


By the way....
What does the "range" button on the front do?

Title: Re: Lack of range 2.4 Turborix
Post by: 787Eng on October 29, 2010, 12:54:15 am

I think that wire you referenc is a Coax cable !

it is also very easy to damage the PA transistor in the TX if you run the radio without an aerial connected...

Regards
Mark

Title: Re: Lack of range 2.4 Turborix
Post by: funtimefrankie on October 29, 2010, 07:39:42 pm

Yes, I just soldered the centre wire. The outer wasn't attached to anything.

Seems to have the range back, from the back of the garden to front bedroom, anyway.

Not had chance to get 'em further appart yet