Internal Antenna

[Draconious]

I replaced all of my epoch antennas with a home made internal antenna, it apears to work better than the stock one. When I turn another epoch on, and wave it around the car with the internal antenna... the one with the int-ant does not jitter... as long as its transmitter is on. ;)

[badskater21]

Hey Man,
Remember me? I was at one of the first races over there
at AnnArbor. I have not been back due to the drive
and the late hours that can be logged at such an event.
I am very happy about the Epochs taking off. I love the
antenna trick. What gage wire did you use and how many feet
or wraps did you use? I need a solution to my basement glitching.
I will try to make it out to the new location to race the mini-z and epoch's.
I wish I saw the dual motor ones run!! It sounds like they COOK!!
The new racing location looks great and is alittle
closer to home. I have been following the posts on the miniz forum
and it looks like some of you are making it home from the races
just aound sun-up!!!! CRAZY!!
Steven-out

[Draconious]

To make these I got a system going to make 9 of them, (8) epochs and (1) mini-z... I will make a few more for other cars soon, my thumb hurts creesing the wire lol.

There is no garantee that this will indeed work better than stock, for me and my tests it did so far, I have yet to test it on a track in racing conditions.

* I used 24gauge (I think) magnet wire.
The red stuff is insolation, that is very important bare wire will not work!
I cut a length about hand to hand with my arms spread out, I did not really measure it all of them came out different, it was about 6 foot +/- Using more would be great... less may still work, I used about that and half as much more for my Mini-Z version since it had more room under body, all work fine.

* I used lexan, or really I used a flimsy Mini-Z autoscale package cover.
I cut it about .75" wide and a few inches long.

* I popped a tiny hole in one end with a razor tip, to temporarily hold the wire.

* I then pushed the wire through the hole, about as far as I wanted the connector lead to be long.

* I then started wrapping around and around, as tight as I could.. pressing each fold down with the back of my thumb nail untill there was no more wire left.

* I cut a piece of shrink wrap to fit it, and shrunk it over the creation untill it started to bow from tension...

* I then used a flat object to press it down to a table to flatten it out again, while the shrink was still hot and maluable...

* I used a bottle opener on my pocket knife to strip the red stuff off of the end of the wire. Dont use a razor or something that is too sharp, you will cause a week spot near the screw that will break (been there done that)

* I folded a loop around my xmod screw driver, and reshaped it smaller with some pliers... screwed it to the epoch... new antenna ;)

It is not glued or affixed to the top of the chassis... but I might use 2 sided tape, the thin scotch tape like stuff.

[cdog4w]

I'm glad it worked, but shouldn't you use a length based on the car's 27MHz wavelength? Receiver antennas are a certain length for a reason and I bet it would work even better if you used one of those numbers. I'd hazard a guess that the stock length isn't right either, but since you're never far from the epoch its not too big a deal. It would explain why its possible to beat the stock performance though.

Awesome idea regardless and I'll def. have to give it a shot!

[Draconious]

with an aircraft's range and safety issues or a large gas car I would definatly take the time to measure it out to maximize effect, however... with a car like this, and mini-z I doubt we will ever get far enough away were the slight difference would matter much... as long as its longer than the stock it helps... and in this case its at least 9-10 times longer. There are some wireless products on earth that did not sell (i forget what) so they actualy put a fake antenna on it to convince people it was wireless and it sold 10x more... so its mostly old school theories.

Also: do NOT cross the windings... make sure they continualy progress on the way out... once u cross it that in some cases becomes the end of the antenna...

[will3kgt]

Hey badskater where ya been? You have to make it out this Friday. I'm going to get a hold of you so we can race at your place sometime, your track looks pretty tight.

[will3kgt]

I replaced all of my epoch antennas with a home made internal antenna, it apears to work better than the stock one. When I turn another epoch on, and wave it around the car with the internal antenna... the one with the int-ant does not jitter... as long as its transmitter is on. ;)
Drac, have one of those attenas ready for me this Friday.

[Draconious]

If I can scrounge up funds for gas... ;) Assuming I will be there...

You want a Mini-Z sized one or an Epoch sized one? :) I just made my mini-z one about 150% as long... no real reason tho, just figured it would fit so I did.

Heck I still have to test these on the track see if they are even worth it.

I think I have enough left to make about 8 more... then I am out of shrink wrap...

[badskater21]

Drac, thanks for posting your antenna information.
I will definately try it out!!

Hey there Will3kgt! The only problem with those
Fridays is that it fall on the weekend that my wife
works and I have to stay home Sat morning and
watch my daughter! I need alot of sleep at my age!
I will definately try to get out there sometime
this month to race. I really did enjoy it.

That would be cool to come out and race a my
track. I think you will find it very different than racing
on an RCP track with the Epoch. I really like the laminate
surface for just the right amount of traction and the track is
sized just right for competitive racing. Let me know!!
Steven-out

[Draconious]

Hmmmm getting mixed results between the 8 Epoch I have... one it works great some acceptable, and 2... well you have to stand over it for it to go more than 6 foot LOL.... weird... (dont matter wich antenna, its the car)