Why do I really need a antenna tube?

[tbonemcniel]

In order to obey the rules, let's talk about this in terms of a Traxxas 2.4 Link radio. But for the record, I run a Futaba 3PKS radio on everything.


I just finished my FLM E-Maxx:

http://traxxas.com/forums/showthread.php?8906239-Gonna-Try-the-Maxx-Again

When I wired it, I didn't really have an antenna mount that I was happy with, so I just stuffed it in the receiver box temporarily.

Well, after running the truck half a dozen times now, I've had zero range issues, and no glitching whatsoever.

Is there really any reason to put an antenna tube and mount on it, or do y'all agree that I should just leave it as is?

[dirtyhucker]

id also like to know the answer to this question.

[RobWilJas]

My spektrum receivers have really short antennas and wont reach the antenna mounts. I just have them coming out of the receiver box, there's only like an inch sticking out. It works fine. My Losi came rtr with no antenna tube or mount either, the antenna just lays down.

[halodub]

It's just if you don't have the antenna tucked away. It holds it up so it doesn't get wrapped around your wheels, and if you are in a field or something, you will get better range if you are farther out than just a track length

[ksb51rl]

As vertical as possible is usually best for reception.
Especially with the coaxial wire that Traxxas uses, the tube protects the wire pretty well. A tube is of less use with other types of antenna wire.

[Nitronaught]

Radios are sensitive to what is called "Line Of Sight". If you had a signal strength meter on your receiver you would easily see that mounting an antenna vertically compared to stuffed in a receiver box will have a higher signal level......
Now does this affect you? That is highly dependent on what is zooming around the air waves in your location. Isolated areas will have less chances of signal interference than others and this is the main reaon why you want as strong a signal reception as possible. That way your receiver can pick up your radio over any signal noise that may be competing against it.... Hope that makes sense... :cool:

[tranworld]

Is an antenna mounted vertically better than horizontally? This may be true in the 27/40/72Mhz area where the antenna is itself a long wire and a little bit sticking vetically up is the best you can do to pick that radio wave, but in 2.4Ghz set the antenna is a dipole sleeve design, the antenna wire itself does not pick up the wave as it is a coaxial cable but only a small tiny stripped end of about 3cm and the corresponding metal sleeve of also the same length, toghether they form the two poles of the antenna and, I suspect, laying the 2 poles horizontally may pick up more of the wave than vertically?
I don't know it is just my feeling