Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: frank26080115 on November 12, 2007, 02:17:50 PM

Title: Spray paint for parabolic radio antenna
Post by: frank26080115 on November 12, 2007, 02:17:50 PM
My robot has one of those super cheap RF transmitter and receiver modules. It's works great in my house but it suffers from low range and maybe even noise.

So me and my friend are talking about using a salad bowl covered with aluminum foil for a dish antenna, but I didn't want it to look messy so I suggested paint. I know silvery spray paint actually has aluminum particles in it to give it the shiny look, would it work?
Title: Re: Spray paint for parabolic radio antenna
Post by: bukowski on November 12, 2007, 07:04:42 PM
Odds are it would insulate it more, not add to the conductivity.
You'd do better with amping up the output of the transmitter.
Title: Re: Spray paint for parabolic radio antenna
Post by: Admin on November 12, 2007, 07:44:05 PM
No because with the low metal content it'd have a very high electrical resistance.

Make sure both antennae are parallel to each other for maximum reception. Also try making your antenna longer by at least 3x (attach another wire to it or something). Lastly, keep your antennae away from large metal objects and your robot motors - interfering electrical noise.

If these ideas don't help, post again and I'll give you a few more ideas.
Title: Re: Spray paint for parabolic radio antenna
Post by: frank26080115 on November 13, 2007, 05:10:05 PM
My antennas are the lengths recommended in the module's datasheets, would using multiples of that length increase performance?
Title: Re: Spray paint for parabolic radio antenna
Post by: Admin on November 13, 2007, 09:43:31 PM
depends on why they decided on that length . . . couldnt hurt to try . . .
Title: Re: Spray paint for parabolic radio antenna
Post by: dunk on November 14, 2007, 08:19:29 PM
for straight whip antenna the most efficient antenna length is 1/4 the wavelength if i remember correctly.
speed = frequency / wavelength
(where speed is the speed of light etc.)

i'm afraid i don't know anything about optimal shapes/sizes for other antenna shapes.

dunk.