Clay, Sounds like a good idea to me. I think if the antenna is mounted close to the airframe, rather than centered on a bulkhead; there would be room for parachutes and deployment charges. I would want a very rugged antenna; that would withstand the BP detonation. One could run wires to a charge ast the opposite end of the section with a parachute. That way; the parachute and Nomex blanket/bag would protect the antenna from the BP.
Max -----Original Message----- From: altusmetrum [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Clay and Carly Dunsworth Sent: August 31, 2014 17:47 To: Altus Metrum Subject: Re: [altusmetrum] Selecting an antenna going to use something like this on the bulkhead. You can get them in almost any connector. So I am not really set on any particular connector. it would be patch cable from the TM to the bulkhead. (I think I prefer sma) http://www.datapro.net/products/sma-panel-mounting-coupler.html yes the edge mount PCB sma, does work on the TM, at one time you could order them with that option. I really think this will put me back in the game. Wasn't sure if that short "wide band" duck would be worthless at altitude for packets. I think I can make any of those work. My longer... or oops my wifes, 4" darkstar, I fly a 8000ns (42")case in, the 14" whip would go nicely in the 1/4" bettween the motor and airframe!... but md rockets you cant do that. The other option would be stainless braided cable, like waltson trackers use. I cant seem to "make my own" antenna... I think I always get the length off just enough that the signal doesn’t go very far. like no packets on the launch pad. I am able to verify ignitor continuity and battery during prep though and is nice. the stainless seems to stay strait fairly decently while being bendable... I just use the becon rdf method. 20k abouts...nice tone.... -----Original Message----- From: Kurt Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2014 7:13 PM To: Altus Metrum Subject: Re: [altusmetrum] Selecting an antenna Clay, All those antennas have a different connector on them. When you make your final choice, were you going to pick a bulkhead connector pigtail? Something like this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/cable-SMA-male-plug-to-SMA-female-jack-bulkhead-straight-RG174-6-pigtail-FPV-/281108847574?pt=US_Radio_Comm_Coaxial_Cables_Connectors&hash=item4173649bd6 Nix the antennas from the baofeng radios as that would take a funky bulkhead connector. The PL256 is pretty big.. You could consider an RP-SMA PC board connector but you'd have to order your bulkhead connector accordingly: http://www.ebay.com/itm/PCB-PC-Board-Panel-Mount-RP-SMA-Female-Straight-Solder-Receptacle-Connector-New-/261127436055?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ccc687717 As opposed to the female SMA the Beeline trackers use: http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Pcs-SMA-Female-Jack-Edge-Mount-PC-Board-PCB-Receptacle-Adapters-Connectors-New-/170703945976?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27bebf80f8 I don't know what the edge of the PC board looks like on the telemetrum. Can one solder an SMA socket like the ones above to the board? If so, would make cabling a little easier. I have one of those HH-S518 on an aft ebay bulkhead on a 3" Wildman I stretched the length and also used a 10" tube for the ebay. I painted the rocket metallic so I didn't get any packets at 10k' altitude. I routed a connector to an SMA bulkhead socket so like you, the antenna would be exposed at apogee. I haven't done a range test yet but I think it will be fine. The long antennas will likely get dorked when the rocket lands plus you gotta have a long sustainer to house them. WHOA........ I just found this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Golden-Omni-TPEE-10W-UHF400-470MHz-Soft-Handheld-Radio-Antenna-SMA-M-Male-/181384375740?pt=US_Radio_Comm_Antennas&hash=item2a3b59edbc I'm going to order a couple. Looks promising even if the aft end hits, the wire spring will likely take it. Only thing is the all important range check. Kurt KC9LDH -------------------------------------------- On Sun, 8/31/14, Clay and Carly Dunsworth <[email protected]> wrote: Subject: [altusmetrum] Selecting an antenna To: "Altus Metrum" <[email protected]> Date: Sunday, August 31, 2014, 12:37 PM My last flight pulled my whip antenna from my telemetrum, so I am going to put an sma connector on it. (it’s a – patchwork fix I am rather good at by now.) No use throwing away a 300.00 board cause of missing pcb trace... I have decided to mount an antenna on the aft bulkhead so it is exposed at the apogee. I came across this and wondered if anyone has used one of these? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dual-Band-VHF-UHF-SMA-M-145MHz-435MHz-Antenna-for-Radio-YAESU-VX-3R-VX-6R-VX-7R-/171297005651?pt=US_Radio_Comm_Antennas&hash=item27e218e053 The other option are these whips. they are sma or pl259(which might be better...?_ 14.4” http://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Gain-14-4-SMA-Female-Dual-Band-Antenna-for-BAOFENG-UV-5R-UV-5RA-UV-5RC/400638072298?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D23490%26meid%3D7a0bc47888e3483f8b4e54b3899e943f%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D10073%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D131180602475&rt=nc 7.56” pl259 http://www.ebay.com/itm/10W-uhf-400-470mhz-black-short-car-amateur-radio-antenna-pl259-male-connector-/321260637411?_trksid=p2054897.l5665 sma http://www.ebay.com/itm/SMA-F-Dual-Band-UHF-Antenna-144-435MHz-for-BAOFENG-BF-666S-BF-777S-BF-888S-/131162111054?pt=US_Radio_Comm_Antennas&hash=item1e89defc4e cheap enough to buy all 3, but the stubby ducky would be good in my minimum diameter rockets that have almost zero room.. wondering if anyone has used them with any success and can advise on how they compare. - _______________________________________________ altusmetrum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gag.com/mailman/listinfo/altusmetrum _______________________________________________ altusmetrum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gag.com/mailman/listinfo/altusmetrum _______________________________________________ altusmetrum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gag.com/mailman/listinfo/altusmetrum
