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View Full Version : Broke my antenna and the shop is out!


starkweather
2006.07.01, 01:57 PM
CRAP! Would I be able to run down to radio shack and try to find an XMOD antenna? Do those fit? If not I hope the shop here gets restocked. Out of LOTS of stuff I'm looking for.

builthatch
2006.07.01, 02:02 PM
CRAP! Would I be able to run down to radio shack and try to find an XMOD antenna? Do those fit? If not I hope the shop here gets restocked. Out of LOTS of stuff I'm looking for.

for the car or the radio, if the radio, what radio are you using?

starkweather
2006.07.01, 02:08 PM
for the car or the radio, if the radio, what radio are you using?


No, for the car. I installed some parts and just scooted it across the floor to make sure everything was good, without the body on of course. Traction roll snapped it right at the loop under the screw. I was thinking of making one, but I don't want to mess with that now, unless any of you have some good ideas... :D

tzero
2006.07.01, 02:19 PM
You could do a Cat-5 antenna. You take a strand (The strand should be a bit longer than the stock antenna)of Cat-5 wire and solder it to the board.
Do a search on antennas because there was a thread about em with pics.

starkweather
2006.07.01, 02:34 PM
You could do a Cat-5 antenna. You take a strand (The strand should be a bit longer than the stock antenna)of Cat-5 wire and solder it to the board.
Do a search on antennas because there was a thread about em with pics.


Yeah I actually saw that. I'm really looking for a bolt on solution, don't want to mess with soldering anything on the board. IfI had more than one Z I would do it, but I don't right now.

It's my fault for running the thing with the body off...

arch2b
2006.07.01, 02:41 PM
easiest solution, go to an arts supply store and buy k&s engineering metal wire, .032 is a tad thick but it's real cheap and enough to make about 9 antenna's. all you have to do is cut and bend the loop to screw it down.

or you can go to a music store and buy piano wire. just check and find one about the same diameter.

pomme de terre
2006.07.01, 04:19 PM
Piano wire or guitar string like arch2b said work perfectly. Guitar string is super flexible so you dont have to worry about it breaking again. In fact, I use guitar string and I can put my car into my box without taking the antenna off. It just flexs when it put it in, and when I take it out, it flexs back into place.

builthatch
2006.07.01, 04:30 PM
Yeah I actually saw that. I'm really looking for a bolt on solution, don't want to mess with soldering anything on the board. IfI had more than one Z I would do it, but I don't right now.

It's my fault for running the thing with the body off...

starkweather, when i got my first Z, i had to bend it because i run the bodies with the holes to the back (mclaren, etc). With that, i had to put thin heatshrink on it because it passed over my Ti damper plate...when i bent out the lil circle for the screw to pass thru so i could slide the shrink on, it broke the antenna at the spot right before the circle. So, what i did was heated the end of the antenna up a lil with a torch, just a little, and then bent it around a nail i had in the garage with needle nose pliers. This made a new spot for the screw to pass through and it's been fine for 6 months, tho the antenna is a tad shorter than normal. definately has not affected range or anything.

arch2b
2006.07.01, 04:33 PM
it's much easier to just repalce it with a better wire. i also like the guitar string for it's flexibility. you really don't have to worry about it breaking again.

builthatch
2006.07.01, 05:00 PM
it's much easier to just repalce it with a better wire. i also like the guitar string for it's flexibility. you really don't have to worry about it breaking again.

ha, depends. i broke mine at night and i don't live near anywhere that would have such solutions....what i did worked fine for being in a jam and has held up greatly...and was free!

briankstan
2006.07.01, 05:06 PM
in a pinch, I have used a large paper clip unfolded it and made my own. it worked great, no glitching even, I ren it for months.

T Man
2006.07.01, 06:46 PM
You could do a Cat-5 antenna. You take a strand (The strand should be a bit longer than the stock antenna)of Cat-5 wire and solder it to the board.
Do a search on antennas because there was a thread about em with pics.
I second this. I did it to my MR-02 the other day and it looks and performs nice.

http://www.mini-zracer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21910

CDR racing
2006.07.05, 06:01 PM
CRAP! Would I be able to run down to radio shack and try to find an XMOD antenna? Do those fit? If not I hope the shop here gets restocked. Out of LOTS of stuff I'm looking for.


Take the other end of the broken antenna where there is another spot the screw can pass throug and use that. Bend it to the angle you want and you have a brand new antenna.

mini-z
2006.07.06, 07:37 PM
CRAP! Would I be able to run down to radio shack and try to find an XMOD antenna? Do those fit? If not I hope the shop here gets restocked. Out of LOTS of stuff I'm looking for.

sw, what one are you looking for? Here are some options:

http://shop.tinyrc.com/product.php?productid=17033&cat=0&page=1
http://shop.tinyrc.com/product.php?productid=17030&cat=0&page=1
http://shop.tinyrc.com/product.php?productid=16922&cat=0&page=1

Let us know if the specific item you need isn't in stock (as well as the others you mentioned) and we'll get 'em in! :)

starkweather
2006.07.08, 09:37 AM
sw, what one are you looking for? Here are some options:

http://shop.tinyrc.com/product.php?productid=17033&cat=0&page=1
http://shop.tinyrc.com/product.php?productid=17030&cat=0&page=1
http://shop.tinyrc.com/product.php?productid=16922&cat=0&page=1

Let us know if the specific item you need isn't in stock (as well as the others you mentioned) and we'll get 'em in! :)

i always search under MA-010 when I shop here. guess I shouldn't do that...

starkweather
2006.07.10, 10:11 PM
sw, what one are you looking for? Here are some options:

http://shop.tinyrc.com/product.php?productid=17033&cat=0&page=1
http://shop.tinyrc.com/product.php?productid=17030&cat=0&page=1
http://shop.tinyrc.com/product.php?productid=16922&cat=0&page=1

Let us know if the specific item you need isn't in stock (as well as the others you mentioned) and we'll get 'em in! :)

Yeah I noticed! Thanks for getting in that atomic rear gear pod. I just ordered it!