Help with CPATCH12 (solved)

[ThunderstruK]

So I went for ny first test flight with the above mentioned antenna (1.3). On the ground signal was great, but once I was in the air I could barely make 500m. I put this antenna in a newly made satchel ground station, with the antenna in the front pocket and receiver and battery in the m a in compartment. I'm using 433 ezuhf for my rc.

Does anyone have any ideas why the signal would be so bad?

[Brod]

too many possibilities for a simple answer,whats your setup?
pics help too

[ThunderstruK]

Well, I have a finwing penguin with an 800mw vtx with a bignose antenna.
On the ground I have an rmrc 4 channel vrx with a saw filter. This is then connected by a short pigtail to the antenna.

[dogzilla]

Assuming your set up works fine with another antenna then most likely its just the connection between your cpatch and your RX, ie duff pig tail/bad connection.

I take it there are no cracks or damage to the patch itself and that there is continuity between the centre pin on the front of the antenna and the sma socket at the back?

[bignose13]

Also mate make sure you have the correct sma in the patch to match your vrx sma,

[ThunderstruK]

Thanks for your suggestions guys! Anenna is not damaged and the pin looks to go through to the sma fine. I checked the sma's too and they are right, however the hole in the sma on the vrx was quite large and probably meant there was no connection between the pin on the pigtail. Do you guys agree with that?

The top pic is from the vrx I used today. The second is from the other vrx. I actually have two newer versions, but these are on the ground station in the car.




Supposing the pin did not touch the vrx, would that mean that I get poor signal because it doesn't have an antenna, or is the signal able to 'jump' from the pin of the pigtail to the vrx?

Thanks!

[dogzilla]

If the pin has a bad connection then that would be why you have poor range

[ThunderstruK]

I'll give it another go when I can. I would Luke to try tomorrow but I think it's going to be a washout!

[ThunderstruK]

Just back from a quick test before it got dark! This time it worked perfectly. I flew to 2.1 miles out (2 miles had been my personal best) at 80m and it didn't even flicker! Perfect signal the whole way. Thanks for the help guys!

[bignose13]

What's the cure mate ??

[ThunderstruK]

It was just that the sma on the receiver was too big for some reason, and so tell pin was not touching it properly.

[bignose13]

If you need a new sma crimping on it, send it over and I'll sort it for you
Mate
Cheers

[ThunderstruK]

Thanks for the offer mate, that's very kind of you, but I don't think it's really worth it since its an old v1 receiver. It was just one of two which I had lying grounder after I get some replacements with more channels.

Looking forward to pushing these antennas now 😀