I enjoy watching FalconRad FPV, and he's using home made helical antennas. There are quite a few vids on how to make them.

Do many people here use, or have made, helical antennas? Other than the awkward size, and presumably a narrow band (similar to patch?), why aren't they more popular?

How do they compare to something like the AXII Duo Patch? Though I'm barely long range, I have that and a AXII Double LR Omni, and was very happy with them on my previous goggles with no module. Ok, fine, I'll admit it... they were box goggles lol

Would a combination of an Omni and a helical make sense? I think FalconRad uses 2 helicals.

I'm using Orqas with Rapidfire, but just got them and haven't tested them yet...

I've never made my own, but I really like the 12-turn 14db helical from prodrone.pl it's probably the best long-range antenna I own.

When I'm going for distance I'm only flying straight out infront of myself, so I usually use two patch antenna's.
Usually the 12-turn and a TrueRC X2 Air patch.  I actually find the beam width more forgiving on the 12-turn than the Patch.

If you're doing long-range infront of yourself there's really no need for an omni on your VRX, because it's going to be useless once your beyond it's range, so I'd rather have two directional antenna's to improve your effective beam width and also it give's you some redundancy.

If you haven't already checked out Peter's video on a DIY helical:

(29-Mar-2022, 09:05 PM)amped_fpv Wrote: I've never made my own, but I really like the 12-turn 14db helical from prodrone.pl it's probably the best long-range antenna I own.

When I'm going for distance I'm only flying straight out infront of myself, so I usually use two patch antenna's.
Usually the 12-turn and a TrueRC X2 Air patch.  I actually find the beam width more forgiving on the 12-turn than the Patch.

If you're doing long-range infront of yourself there's really no need for an omni on your VRX, because it's going to be useless once your beyond it's range, so I'd rather have two directional antenna's to improve your effective beam width and also it give's you some redundancy.

If you haven't already checked out Peter's video on a DIY helical:

I haven't seen that one yet, thanks. It seems FalconRads version may be a little more.. scientific? in referring to the length of the coax. I found that a bit confusing, as after that he used an extension to mount them to his goggles. He's also quite particular on the diameter of the base, and his is copper clad.

Getting 5 miles out, he must be doing something right lol



I don't have a 3D printer, so I might have to get creative. I'm thinking a clear, thin, polycarbonate tube, that the coil windings would be on the... inside. I think that would both protect the coils, and likely be much lighter than a 3D printed frame.

I was thinking the tubes that are put over florescent bulbs. Cheap, easy to find, and very light.

Thanks for the input!

(30-Mar-2022, 01:15 AM)JSchubz Wrote: I haven't seen that one yet, thanks. It seems FalconRads version may be a little more.. scientific? in referring to the length of the coax. I found that a bit confusing, as after that he used an extension to mount them to his goggles. He's also quite particular on the diameter of the base, and his is copper clad.

Getting 5 miles out, he must be doing something right lol

I don't have a 3D printer, so I might have to get creative. I'm thinking a clear, thin, polycarbonate tube, that the coil windings would be on the... inside. I think that would both protect the coils, and likely be much lighter than a 3D printed frame.

I was thinking the tubes that are put over florescent bulbs. Cheap, easy to find, and very light.

Thanks for the input!

Hey GiantAntCowboy here! So you’re 100% correct FalconRad’s is way more detailed and precise, and can feel overwhelming… Which is exactly why I made my video! Basically I’m showing that you can actually be quite relaxed with precision and materials. You’ll see in my videos that my crappy “trash helicals” easily fly out 7km (4 miles) which is incredible! Check my latest test below for reference.

Simple Summary:
- Get a plastic tube or something 15mm in diameter (or close enough).
- Wrap solid copper wire around the tube spaced about 10.4mm apart (again just get it close…)
- Find a Jar Lid or similar piece of metal and a coax cable with an SMA (I’ve used an old antenna)
- Then basically solder the outside off the coax to the back of the jar lid and the inside of the coax to the copper coil.
(Obviously the video shows these steps better…)

*Regarding the coax length it should be a multiple of the 5.8ghz wavelength to reduce impedance mismatch issues. But I’ve never worried about it too much.



Happy to discuss any of this further, but I highly recommend helical antennas. Impossible to beat the “range per dollar spent”!

Cheers!

I make my own antennas. I wish I had known how to make them before buying $200-300 worth of antennas. I still fly analogue and with box goggles. I have ev800 on a tripod and I use fat shark recon v3. The 3 turn is good for wide view. The 5 or 7 turn do everything else I need it to. I have a 12 turn but I havent tested it yet.

The quads use Omni 4 clover antennas.

I mainly fly long range or just for fun. At times I fly at a school and freestyle very minimal. I try not to damage my quads.

I’ve spent like $80 on pcb, rg, sma connectors, and .8 copper wire. The rest I have had at hand. I cut the pcb using a grinder and cutting wheel.