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jakdedert jakdedert is offline
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Default Broken antenna on RC car

radiosrfun wrote:
"Michael A. Terrell" wrote in message
...
Jamie wrote:
Ah, Just cut up a hanger and stick it in there! ))


Why don't you 'Stick it', Jamie? You aren't the least bit funny, and
a cut off hanger stuck into the remote could cause a severe injury, or
death.


Piano wire, with a closed loop on the end makes a nice antenna,
becasue it won't catch on anything, and is springy enough to resist
damage.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida


Though a Hanger "could" work in a pinch, I agree with Michael. Most of those
RC type antennas are a thin metal which has some play to it. The regular RC
antennas are thinner and thus "lighter" than a "Hanger". It would not drag
the RC down - where a "Hanger" might. Depending on the size of the RC unit,
the "hanger" could make it top heavy! If the RC goes under an item, the
hanger - if not budging "could" cause internal damage when the shock hits
the base. The "RC type" would tend to give and perhaps - "no" damage. I
don't deal with RC stuff enough to get into all "suppliers" but it seems
someone should sell the antennas - maybe a hobby shop. OR get some wire like
Michael suggested and use it - some of the "home remodeling" type stores
seem to sell a variety of wire gauges. Surely there is some out there
somewhere for you to find. Go to a flea market or Hamfest - you may find
some "junk" stuff there from which to pull an antenna from. I see that kind
of stuff all the time.


Uh...okay. I'd agree with all the above, except the OP said "remote"
which I took to mean the transmitter. I'm still convinced that's what
he meant. If so little of the above actually applies.

That said, 'kids do the darndest things...' so having anything sharp
sticking out 'anywhere' could be a hazard; but I think when Jamie
recommended a coathanger he had tongue firmly in cheek (note the double
smileys).

As a kid, I *always* broke off the antennas on the cheap
three-transistor walkie-talkies I got...and used a chunk of 12 gauge
solid copper wire stuck down the stub as a replacement...worked passably
well, despite not being 'tuned' properly.

This thread got contentious when JANA apparently advised against trying
a substitute, based on some vague information about tuning. Then
William jumped in with a bunch of stuff not in the OP--or the
response--about loading coils, and went OT from there.

One final note: in the OP, it was mentioned that he stuck a piece of
wire in there, and it 'didn't work'. I think he might look into the
possibility that some connection was broken inside the unit. Wire
'should' have worked, as long as it was connected solidly, nearly the
correct length--and solid, not stranded.

This is a 14 year old TOY, in all probability...nothing to get worked up
over.

jak