Is there any way to reduce interference to the radio gear?

[Marc780]

I just installed RX18 system to my HL Tiger 1 and i have soldered on an r/c aircraft antenna wire about 3 feet long. Even so, the tank seems to lose signal and quit functioning intermettantly and this happens when i am only 20 feet away! is there anything i can do to reduce this?

I read a tip from some other site, that you can wrap the receiver board in aluminum foil and this will help. Seems kind of ghetto but if it works, i'd try it. Should the receiver be shielded? If so, how? is there any way to get and keep a stronger signal from the transmitter and make the operation not so prone to malfunction?

[Tankbear]

Might be just to much interference in the area your using it. I think I only got about 10m (30 foot in my garden).

Also are you using rechargeable batteries in the control as the lower voltage might reduce signal strength and aerial should be vertical as the signal comes out at 90 degrees therefore if your handing the controller pointing aerial at the tank the signal is actually bouncing off the ground and heading up to the sky.

Ian

[ALPHA]

Hey Marc.... DO NOT USE ALUMINUM FOIL... it is a conductor....if any solder points make contact ... you will be purchasing a new receiver board ...Now ... is your antenna internal or external? If it is flexible low resistance wire you are using (from the airplane) wind it in a coil... and mount is somewhere outside your tank
These are photos of what I did
using helicopter antenna wire
Phase one


Phase two

the exhaust is fabricated with copper...and the wire connected to that...and tucked into it..thus making the whole assembly an antenna... I also hooked to relocated antenna up... I get about 50 feet easy
Heres the Q&A thread
http://www.rctankwarfare.co.uk/forums/v ... en+antenna


Good Luck

PANZER VOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALPHA

[Marc780]

Thanks for the help fellas... If this works maybe I won't have to get another heng long 2.4 ghz system. If it works I'll wrap the antenna around the muffler to hide it...If I'd known when I started this hobby what I know now I'd just have started with that and been done with the radio signal issues. As it is I have a small fortune wrapped up in useless tk01 boards and rx18 transmitters etc. that I can never get back.
When i finallyl get the tank problems ironed out I'll probably put most of the old junk up for sale...not sure how since shipping would make those basically charity donations.

If anyone reading this happens to be new to the hobby, do you self a huge favor, avoid a lot of work, waiting and expense and just spend $75 the heng long 2.4 ghz system and a wiring set if needed (is the same wires as the Rx 18 system comes with), first thing you do, and don't look back!

[ALPHA]

To be plainly Honest Mark... If you check that thread link I left... at the time there were some who suggested the 2.4 system to me.... I was skeptical at that time... reason I didn't convert right off ...But after my two T34s ... I was pretty impressed with the range ...and now that Heng Long has made their 2.4 available separately ...it is also more convenient...and relatively low in cost

After purchasing a complete set...I also found all I need to convert the rest of my tanks in the new RX...The binding button can then be used on each unit to set the frequency so all tanks can be controlled with one transmitter

With that said... doing any kind of mod of the electricals ...make sure you are budgeted for it... as in most cases the tanks run fine "as is"...the mod of hiding the antenna... is more for preference ..not necessarily for increase of range.... the best anyone should hope for is to match the range of the stock set up...which is pretty much what I had done on that Panzer III mod

I also found that concealing the antenna inside the hull ... insulates it to a certain degree..it's the reason I asked where you mounted yours

Anyway ...I hope this helps you Mark... I know you've already have spent a lot on your tanks and perhaps have exceeded your planned budget for each of them... this mod does work for the normal crystal system ... and will help you build your budget up again...but really nothing beats a 2.4 for range

Good Luck Mark

UND PANZER VOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALPHA

[scalawag]

Hi Marc780,

Good advice, but worth thinking about swapping straight to a hobby grade system too, especially if you intend to battle with others or join a club. Most clubs use the Tamiya IR battle standard.

There are other advantages too. Not only better control, but better sounds (some have customisable sounds), and generally more flexible and customisable.

I started with RC tanks about 18 months ago, and soon after had swapped all my tanks to Taigen 2.4Ghz systems. About six months on I had swapped to using IBU2 (these are my favourite) and Clark control systems with Turnigy radios. Now I have the control I want, have great sounds which are matched to the type of tank, and it can battle with other Tamiya comparable systems. Here is a link to RC Tank Electronics who sell the IBU2 so you can have a look see.

http://rctankelectronics.weebly.com

No additional wiring uses the RX18 leads, and is plug and play just like swapping to an H/L or Taigen 2.4Ghz system.

Yes it is more expensive, but if you think it might be the way you might go (I would have done so for the better sounds alone) then it might save some money to go straight to this type of setup. I was fortunate and was able to sell on the Taigen systems I bought and recoup some money, but I still have all the old 27Ghz sets laying around.

Hope this might be helpful

Paul

[Tankbear]

That is good advice from Paul. And I’ll also add yes the initial outlay is a lot for upgraded electronics + hobby grade radio, but if you have more than one tank you can share the radio and if you have the IBU2 that as well between the tanks. On the last count I have 17 tanks, but only 4 hobby grade radios and 4 IBU2 which I swap between tanks so that works out (4 x £120 + 4 x £50 = £680) or average of £40 per tank where as the Taigen 2.4ghz upgrade package for 1 tank costs £60

So if your on a tight budget keep an eye out of for a cheap second hand Taigen upgrade package. If your like most of us who get the tank bug you be buying tank after tank and then the upgrade option will work out better once you have 3 tanks.

Ian.