Radio signal

[rob]

Hi all,
my robot only works when i am less than 12ft away, anything over this distance its like it receives no signal. any suggestions on what i can do to improve the operating range.
thanks,
ROB....

buy a spektrum,

but a more serious answer, try moving the antenna more outside the robot. armour and reception arent real good friends

[rob]

i have fitted an external aerial, before this it only worked when i stood next to it.

Got any pictures? Specification of the robot? what radio gear are you using?

[rob]

receiver
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x44/robertlewis_98/DSC00057.jpghttp://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...8/DSC00057.jpg

aerial
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x44/robertlewis_98/3611-001.jpghttp://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...8/3611-001.jpg

robot
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x44/robertlewis_98/DSC00045.jpghttp://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...8/DSC00045.jpg

the radio gear is the technobots skysport4

[john_frizell]

No sign of your external antenna on the photo (unless I am missing something). How is it fitted? Is it insulated from the metal armour?

yes its insulated
here is the pic

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x44/robertlewis_98/DSC00058.jpghttp://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...8/DSC00058.jpg

[typhoon_driver]

Have you put capacitors across the terminals of your drill motors? They generate large amounts of noise

Is the total length of the aerial coming out the receiver the same as it was when brand new? ie did you cut the original aerial to take into account the addition of the metal aerial?

[rob]

there is no capacitors on the drill motors and the i have not cut the original aerial.
what make or type of capacitor do i need all i know about them is that they have an ability store charge.

Hi Robert. As said before, the main thing that will cause you interfierance will be having no capacitors on your motors. Im not sure which ones you need but someone will have the answer on here. The other thing is that your receiver is really close to your speed controllers. Try and keep it as far away from any major current drawing wires or components. Another thing that helped me when i used to have these problems was to keep all the wiring as minimal and tidy as possible(it also helps when trying to fault find!)
Also, its been mentioned above but a spektrum DX6 is a VERY worthwhile solution to any of your transmitter problems - theyre so good that anything but 2.4ghz is now banned on the combat scene in America!