Radio Reception under water - how to go deeper?

[most_people]

I have trouble contacting my XXIII under about 1 foot of water, obviously im doing something wrong...

I have a D&E wtc, the receiver wire is wrapped around the servo's and attatched to the brass thing (didnt want to cut the wire uneccesarrily, and figured creating the soleniod could only help..). then the external wire is ran foreward alongside the WTC.

Now, the pool does have a lot of rebar in it, I assume that makes a difference, any idea on how to make it better?

[tmsmalley]

How is the reception when

How is the reception when the sub is not in the water? You need to figure out how many (if any) of your reception issues are related to the pool environment and how many (if any) are related to your leaving the antenna wire inside the WTC.

Until you have some experience under your belt and you know which rules can be bent or broken - be sure you have followed the instructions to the letter. D&E recommends cutting the receiver wire and attaching it to the threaded rod "brass thing". Then attach the rest of the receiver wire (minus a length of wire the same length as the threaded rod "brass thing" that runs through the WTC end cap) to the outside of the threaded rod so the rest of the antenna wire is outside the WTC.

You may be picking up interference FROM the servos or the other electronics inside the WTC. Some guys have had decent luck leaving the antenna wire inside the WTC, others have better luck running it outside.

If you HAVE to wind up the receiver wire its better if you wrap the antenna wire so the windings DO NOT overlap themselves.

Pool running can be iffy - depending on the concentration of cemicals in the pool. Higher amounts of pool chemicals act like salt water - at least as far as reducing reception.

If the sub works fine out of the pool, take it to a fresh water lake and see how your reception is better there under different depths of water.



Edited By TMSmalley on 1116933499

[tsenecal]

I have a D&E wtc,

I have a D&E wtc, the receiver wire is wrapped around the servo's and attatched to the brass thing (didnt want to cut the wire uneccesarrily, and figured creating the soleniod could only help..). then the external wire is ran foreward alongside the WTC.

this is a huge no-no... you have changed the length of the antenna wire. the wire length is a direct result of the frequency that the radio transmits on. I assume the instructions said to cut a length of the antenna from the receiver that is equal to the length of both the "brass thing" and the length of the external wire.

[chips]

I just consulted the owners

I just consulted the owners manula for my D&E WTC3 and D&E WTC3.5.

For the WTC 3.5 the manual states]the receiver wire is wrapped around the servo's [/quote] You have created a coil, which is not good for radio reception. Part of the problem with this setup is the antenna is receiving some feedback from the servos.



Edited By chips on 1116994293

[tmsmalley]

That's right - New D&E

That's right - New D&E WTCs come with the outside antenna wire already attached.

If it got lost somewhere along the line, just subtract the length of the threaded rod from the length of the wire as it comes from the factory. Don't forget to seal the end of the wire so water doesn't creep in and corrode it.

As an FYI - some guys wind the antenna wire into a coil and it works fine for them - especially in smaller subs where space is at a premium. The trick is to keep the individual windings from overlapping one another and as far away from the power wires as possible.

For example, in my SWM Blueback, I took a piece of stiff styrene - about half the size of a playing card and punched two lines of holes on each long side. I then wound the wires through the holes to keep the wires from lapping and then fastened the end to the card.

The whole works is stuffed inside the WTC lexan tube along with all the other noisy "sparky stuff". Using this method, I get as good or better reception as when I keep the wire straight and outside the WTC in my other, more roomy subs.

According to "the book", it shouldn't work - but it does. I think I got this trick from Jim Wheeler in an appearance on one of Ray Mason's SubRegatta videos.



Edited By TMSmalley on 1117020697

[Stephen Vick]

Hi,

Before you change anything about

Hi,

Before you change anything about your current set up, try the boat in a fresh water lake. I think you will find that the problem goes away. I haven't found many pools that give me good reception. pool chemicals block the signal.
Take Care,
Steve