Is there a better antenna for the Net3 RFU?

I find I have to tighten the antenna on the threads a few times a month (Usually after a casual has been the board op). The set-nut loosens up once every 4 months or so. more annoying. My biggest issue is the lack of reliability of the connection dropping out in the room (1200 concert hall). Too often for my liking (bring up channel, focus 1 or 3, go to bring up channels, and it's dropped connection. I go to reconnect, and it might take 2 - 3 cycles before it establishes a link long enough to sneak out and add new channels before it drops signal again. On the stage (straight sight line to the booth), connection is OK. In the FOH cove (above and in front of the booth, which is under the balcony), connection is the worst. And I'm not willing to buy an Iphone to use an app (at this time, 7 years into the console (?)) Andrew Riter

The iPod touch is the least expensive Apple product that can run the iRFR. Some Android phones are cheaper and ought to run the aRFR. There are some Android tablets for kids like the Fuhu Nabi Jr that are around $100 and are hardened for use by kids.

Apple sells refurbished iPod touches for less than $100 sometimes. Here's one for $90:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC540LL/A/refurbished-ipod-touch-8gb-black

I'd really suggest ditching the ETC RFR hardware and moving to the iPod Touch or similar Android device with a pelican case (or similar).  If you're still having trouble with range, it's easy to add another WiFi access point in trouble spots.  Can't do that with the ETC RFR.

Good luck,
~P

It has nothing to do with range. I like the hardware. I don't want to replace a 2000 dollar piece of gear here. What I am wanting is a more robust antenna on this thing. The antenna that comes with it is cheap plastic that fell apart after 6 months of use. This thing is used in our catwalks daily and it does take some abuse... but if you look at that antenna wrong it falls apart. I'm wondering if there is rubberized antenna for this unit or am I stuck with the bendy plastic one.

Do you have a segmented plastic antenna that bends and swivels near the unit? Or a short, stubby, fixed one?  I've seen both... don't know if ETC changed their antennas at some point, or if people are using 3rd party replacements, but the short stubby ones seem more durable.

~P

It is the swivel one. Within a few days of owning it, the swivel broken, so we heat shrunk it on. Now, the whole thing snapped. Would love to get the little nubby one like is on the expression RRFU. Having a 6" antenna on something designed to be carried on your belt just does not work. Is there a part number for such a thing?

Hi Kyle,

I am sorry that you are not having good fortune with the RFR antennae. Unfortunately, the "stubby" antenna was actually never implemented for RFR. The product photo shows an early prototype which operated on a different frequency than 2.4GHz and used the smaller antenna. When we changed the product design to use the 2.4GHz spectrum, the antenna needed to change to accommodate the right frequency.

What this means is that we do not have a part number for a shorter antenna. The part number for the "swivel" antenna is N1075. The connection on the handheld where the antenna attaches is an RP-SMA standard connector. While, in theory, any 2.4GHz antenna should work, we cannot guarantee success with antennae that we have not tested.

Hi Kyle,

I am sorry that you are not having good fortune with the RFR antennae. Unfortunately, the "stubby" antenna was actually never implemented for RFR. The product photo shows an early prototype which operated on a different frequency than 2.4GHz and used the smaller antenna. When we changed the product design to use the 2.4GHz spectrum, the antenna needed to change to accommodate the right frequency.

What this means is that we do not have a part number for a shorter antenna. The part number for the "swivel" antenna is N1075. The connection on the handheld where the antenna attaches is an RP-SMA standard connector. While, in theory, any 2.4GHz antenna should work, we cannot guarantee success with antennae that we have not tested.

Hey Kirk, Thanks for the info. Bought this: http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Microchip-Technology/RN-SMA-S/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMuBTKBKvsBmlHkCjpeYZFNeqgr4Ra1S8F8%3d Screwed it on, it works great. Can't figure out why it did not ship with something like this originally. Kyle Van Sandt Production Coordinator The Egg, Albany NY

I just had 2 stubby antenna's delivered. HOWEVER, i hadn't realized there could be a male/female issue with this. the Handheld has a male pin to connect to the antenna's female base. The stubbies (as delivered) also have a male pin. So male to male doesn't work. Do they make the same antenna with a female connector?? Andrew