Not that hard to make...
While out flying this morning I got brave with the F450 and took it for a low fast pass between the trees just as I do with the F330. Thing I forgot about is the size difference not only of the 450 vs. the 330 but the 1.3 gHz cloverleaf antenna as well. Just as I thought I was past the last tree I got bit, a low hanging branch snagged the cloverleaf and yanked it back and sideways right into the path of one of the Graupner props, game over, thanks for playing...
The end of the prop caught one of the loops and after stretching it as far as it could, proceeded to rip the coax out of the SMA connector and the fling the remains of the antenna 10 feet off to the left of where the quad ultimately "landed". The antenna is now basically twisted spaghetti, no chance of repairing this one, so with three days remaining on my vacation and great flying weather I decided the only way to fix it and be able to fly is to make a new antenna. Turns out it's not all that hard to do if you follow Alex's (IBCrazy) detailed instructions and you're good with a soldering iron. I raided my MIG welder for a couple feet of wire and with my metric ruler and degree wheel in hand set about making a replacement cloverleaf antenna.
Took a while mainly because I've never done it before but at the end I found it really isn't rocket science. Yes, done properly it should be tested to make sure it's not way off but since I don't have any of the necessary equipment (yet) and I really want to fly, there's no way to get another ready made one until the middle of next week, and the whip antennas are crap, making one was the only alternative.
After crimping a new SMA connector on as the final step I installed it on the vtx and fired up the quad plus the vrx with a DVR attached to see the picture. I have to say it looks great and seems to work just as good as the other antenna that bit the dust this morning. I put the quad on a coffee table in the basement and walked around the house with the vrx in hand and got a good clean picture all the way out to the garage, looks like it works!
I will say the larger 1.3 gHz cloverleaf is probably easier to make than the tiny 5.8 so I'll continue to buy the 5.8 should I need one rather than try to make one, but the bigger antennas I'll make from now on. Speaking of 5.8 cloverleafs, Immersion will be selling their version soon, the owner of the LHS has recently placed a big order with them and this is one of the items he will be getting, should be interesting to see what they look like and how they're made.
Ken
