Deans slimline boat antenna

[tracerbob]

I hate the way the standard antenna looks, you know...nice boat, then you've got this 1/8 inch plastic tube sticking out of it. Has anyone have any experience with a deans slimline antenna on a futaba 3pdf radio? I like the way they look (small) but don't know much about them.

 

[Don Ferrette]

Been using them for about 5 years now, they work fine with my current 3PJS & should work fine with your 3PDF. Don't use them with JR thoough.......

 

[tracerbob]

Been using them for about 5 years now, they work fine with my current 3PJS & should work fine with your 3PDF. Don't use them with JR thoough....... 

So I've heard. Too bad about the Jr. I've got one of those fancy syntheizer radios that requires no cyrstals. Thanks for the input. B)

 

[TimD]

I've got one of those fancy syntheizer radios that requires no cyrstals.

Don't get it wet

 

[poolschool]

Probably a dumb question :blink: , but for what reason(s) can't it be used with the JR synthesised receiver.

Thanks

Gino

 

[Rudy Formanek]

Tried the Dean's on my Airtronics FM dual conversion black reciever, took it over to my radio tech pal to have it retuned. He showed me on the oscilloscope that the Airtronics didn't seem to respond very well to it. I ripped it off and went with a Hayes. Don't know why some radios like the Deans and some do not, but I agree that some do not. Not many of those little white antennas racing around here, guess they haven't been workin for other people either.( in fact can't remember the last time I saw one).Have had very good luck with Hayes, be sure to check that the music wire is tightly cinched in good to the little gold connector inside the black plastic screw on part. Many years ago, they had a batch, that the wire would easily pull out of. I now have some of the Airtronics blue dual conversion recievers and they are working better than anything I've had, more cell phone technology getting into our recievers!! Rudy

 

[tracerbob]

TimD,

Can you give more detail. The antenna I'm interested in is the two piece one that screws into the radio box lid.

 

[outboardman10]

where would we find them?

 

[TimD]

TimD,Can you give more detail. The antenna I'm interested in is the two piece one that screws into the radio box lid.

Bob,

I was referring to the Receiver - not the antenna.

There have been several people report that the synthesized RX's die when exposed to the slightest hint of water.

Tim.

 

[Don Ferrette]

Probably a dumb question :blink: , but for what reason(s) can't it be used with the JR synthesised receiver.
Thanks

Gino

I spoke at length with the lead tech for JR about a year & 1/2 ago & he told me don't, under any circumstances, cut the factory antenna & use aftermarket stuff. If you "modify" the JR receiver (they consider cutting the antenna modifying it) it can void your warranty also. From what he told me it had something to do with the way the JR radios operate that is different (sorry, can't remember the details). I did see two different people using JR radios try the Dean's antennas & they both had intermittent glitching problems that immediately went away when they swapped out to a receiver without the antenna lead cut. So there ya go, you decide.......... :unsure:

 

[Rudy Formanek]

Also told by a JR user that sending in a reciever with Corrrrosion X on it or one of the other corrosion liquids would void warranty and Horizon would send it back without working on it. Morale: wash it off with methanol before sending it in!!

 

[Don Ferrette]

Yeah, he told me that to, said it seeps into the printed circuit board & swells them breaking solder joints. :blink:

 

[tracerbob]

Yea guys, I read about the JR and water. I've always put my reciever in a baloon and secured the end with a wire tie. Also read about Jrs and aftermarket antennas. Wasn't planning adding anything to mess that one up. Anyway...here's a pic of the antenna I had in mind for the futaba (if it uploads) This is out of the Tower hobbies catalog. They sell three kinds of deans antennas and they also sell the hayes. Don is this the antenna you use?

 

[Don Ferrette]

Yup, keep it stock on the parts wall Dean's #1106 Slimline Boat Antenna. Buy yourself a couple spare masts as if they get bent far enough, say after a tumble or flip, they will snap when you try to straighten them.

 

[tracerbob]

Cool. Thanks Don I plan to use one on my new sport 40. Thats why I was asking. It would suck to have that ugly white plastic tube sticking out of the front part of the cowl.

 

[poolschool]

Thanks guys for the info on the JR receivers.

Gino

 

[Zimmerman]

I found out the hard way that CorrosionX also voids the warrenty on Futaba Rx's too! :angry:

Rich

Also I have had nuch success for 30 years using 1/16" O.D. brass tubing about 2" long usually glur\ed into one corner of the radio box and sticking through the lid "taping deck". Solder an Rx antenna lead with a suitable "plug" to the bottom before installing. I then use an 18" or shorter 0.032" piano wire inserted into the tube. A small "crook" in the first 1/2" will hold it securely. This makes the antenna easily removable for transporting/storing boats and I never leave the wires in except during a race weekend. I have found that enough moisture gets into the base of permanent aluminum/wire installation to cause the wire inside to rust... you know what will happen next! The slight "screwing" motion required to insert the antenna wire before running always ensures a good connection. All of my reveivers have compatible antenna "plugs", ergo, all my reveivers are interchangeable from one boat to another without changing the wiring. Not only has this system worked very well for me, but it is super cheap. I always carry half dozen antenna wires in my field box, but to date have never lost one off a boat. Hope this helps.

Rich

 

[Rudy Formanek]

I was talking about the Deans Antenna that has the little square circuit board on the bottom, the wire is only about 3-4" long.

 

[Zimmerman]

I am not keen on "loaded" antennas no matter what the application. Cell phones are, to me, a perfect example. Add to that the close proximity to the "huge" radio wave absorbing media (aka water) of a short antenna wire and it sounds like disaster to me. What about it, radio techies?

Rich

 

[tracerbob]

I've had problems with loaded antennas too. Won't use them.