extend antenna range

[fish]

i'm new to all of this... but i came across the mod on QFM to extend your antenna range buy cutting or removing the capacitor on the circuit board of the controller.

however, it appears my controller (new MicroSizer Pro) doesn't even have it. or, at least i can't find it! it's not in the same place as the pic provided on the QFM's how-to. don't see an obvious suspect either.

could anyone provide me with a pic of where this capacitor is on MicroSizers (or if there is even one)? or how i can find it myself?

i'm going to look into the mod on the pcb in the car too - just a little nervous about that one. not sure if my soldering iron is small enough!

anyone got any other advice/tips on getting some more range?

thanks in advance,
fish

[lam]

quick question are you talking about that thing on the circuit board that you solder off? and does it really work?

[viperdout]

Iam, yes it does work, but you have to be careful, or you'll move something and the board'll be trash. I did that about 6 days ago. Luckily, a clone was willing to give up its board for the MS to live... . By the way, I don't think MS's have the limiter in the controller anymore. Mine doesn't, and it's likely yours doesn't either. If you want major range, take out the old antenna, and swap it with a telescoping one. If you have a clone, take the controller apart, unscrew the holder, and unsolder it. Open up the MS controller. Unscrew the thing that holds in the wire antenna. Be careful, because it's gonna come flying at you. Get the antenna out, clip the screw in piece so it fits in under the spot where that slice of plastic resided, solder the antenna connector to the antenna wire (attached to a weird piece of sheetmetal) glue the plastice antenna holder down, and put the controller back together. I used a Bensu clone controller, and it unscrews, and fits like it was made for the MS.

[fish]

yea i saw that telescoping antenna mod on QFM...i'd wouldn't mind doing that instead then.

i am also planing on replacing the Bit/MS stock antenna with some cat-5 wire. anyone got advice on that?

also, isn't there a capacitor of some sort on the actual Bit/MS board inside the car that can be unsolidered to help range? anyone done that on a new MS?

[viperdout]

Yes, that's what I was talking about. Be careful! Move something, and you'll be lucky to fix it. If you have a steady hand and a pair of tweezers, it's no problem. BTW, it's on QFM.

[fish]

i've done that little mod that extends your range - the one that you take off the little capacitor thingy on the cars PCB. it seems to of helped give me a few feet.

[fish]

i also solidered a heavier gauge antenna on the PCB...unfortunately, it turned out to be too heavy gauge and too much coating - weighted the car down and caused it to flip when turned.

so, i'll try that again with some ethernet cable wire.

that actually brings me to another question: i have read that commercial grade ethernet cable is a good choice for this mod because of the gauge and the fact that it is solid. however, my commerical grade cable IS NOT solid - NOR is the stock antenna wire on my MS.

but, i'll give it a try anyways. it's heavier that stock wire but much lighter than the stuff i just tried - can't be any worse!

[fish]

so, has anyone else with MSs found any kind of range limiting capacitors on the controller?

[Softspike321]

the most likely thing is that there is no capacitor at all, or there is one on the car PCB. Check........

[fish]

yea...i ended up pulling off a capacitor on the PCB...i think it helped some! if nothing else, it didn't hurt!!

[Softspike321]

how much more range did u get?

[fish]

the combination of solidering on a new/thicker/longer antenna wire and pulling off that capacitor seems to of given me about another 1-4 feet depending on battery charge.

[Softspike321]

nice.....