So here's what I did....
1. Take the module out of the radio and also take the battery out so you don't short anything out.
2. Unscrew the six screws in the back of the radio and open that puppy up. Always a little scary I know but this radio is designed to be opened up so you can change the mode if you want to.
3. Open up your module by unscrewing the antenna and the four screws in the top. I'm using the ORX DSM2 module from Hobby King so I can fly my Nano QX and my old foamies with this radio. The little antenna cable you here see I got from eBay for a few dollars. Just get a RP-SMA antenna cable like this one from an electronics store or eBay.
4. Put the module shell back in so you can drill through into the inside of the Taranis like I've done here. The hole just needs to be big enough for the small end of the cable to go through. Be careful when you drill through that you don't hit anything inside the Taranis. If you drill through here like I did you should be fine.
5. Now drill a hole in the top of your Taranis. This can be anywhere you want the second antenna to be mounted. I put mine up here behind the main antenna. The hole needs to be just big enough to put the big threaded end of the RP-SMA connector through with out letting the whole thing (the collar and nut) fall through.
7. Connect the little end of the cable to the board in the module and put the board back in the module case.
8. Close the module up and put it back in the case. You can close the hole left by the antenna with some tape if you want.
9. Screw the second antenna onto the SP-SMA cxonnector and close the Taranis case. One thing to note when putting the screws back in. If you don't hold the two halves together the screws won't grab in the front half and they will push it open. So just keep the two halves held together while you do it. Also make sure you put the top two switches back in the right way, brown wire to the top (like all the others).
10. All done!
11. It works :)
Awesome mod. I'm online looking to order the parts to do the same as we speak. It's amazing that more people don't do this instead of modding the back of the Orange case. This seams to make the radio much more streamlined. In any case, would you recommend reusing the Orange antenna or purchasing a higher dB gain antenna from say Ebay or the likes?
ReplyDeleteI wanted to add that I recently ordered the ORANGERX module with the intention of performing this mod, however OrangeRX has changed how they make their DSM2/DSMX module. The module that I received did not have a removable RP-SMA antenna. The antenna was soldered onto the main board inside of the module. One thing that I notice is that your module only says DSM2, while the one that I received says DSM2/DSMX. Perhaps this is the reason. In any case, this is a cool mod but It looks like I'll have to come up with another way to "fix" the OrangeRX antenna issue.
ReplyDeleteThats a shame. I guess you could still unsolder it from the PCB. A little bit fiddly but certainly very doable. Yeah I think my module is the older one before they brought out DSMX
DeleteJust ordered two of the RP-SMA antenna cables to make this mod to 2 taranis radios!!! ... thank you.
ReplyDeleteyou're welcome. Hope it works out.
Delete@Radal Kiermacz. Are you using an OrangeRX transmitter module? If so, have you looked inside of it? I ordered one a few weeks back and it appears that OrangeRX has updated how they build their module. This mod will no longer work with the newer modules.
ReplyDelete