Reception
 

Is there anyway to get my ZZ to go further without losing its reception? I've heard of using copper wire. However, I'm not too good at soldering. Any suggestions?

Have you untied the knot underneath the board and pulled it up thru the front yet? This'll give you a longer antenna and an additional 3-6 feet. When you pull the antenna out the front of the body, make the hole where a regular car antenna would be. Gives it a nice FX.

Next thing you can do is take an old cordless or remote control car antenna and replace the one on the zips controller. This'll take some handy work if you don't want to solder.

Also, if you like modifying, look on the internet on how to solder and find some old PCV boards and practice. You might have some lying around from old PC's etc... Soldering is an art, but with a lot of practice is pretty easy to learn.

One more thing that I'm still guilty of is touching the antenna with my finger when driving. This will decrease your range as well.

Ok, I plan to put the antenna up through the front. Also, I was messin around and coiling a thin piece of copper wire improved its range by about 20-25%. Anyway, how would you replace the antenna on the controler? Any website that says how to?

replacing the controller antenna is extremely easy. just unscrew the case and you'll see how easy it is. there's a little screw at the end of the antenna that holds it into place and a little metal piece that simply has to make contact with the antenna. just unscrew the screw and take out the antenna then screw a new antenna in (find an old TV antenna or something if you don't want to go buy a new one), then place the metal piece in contact with your new antenna then screw it all up and voila

It doesn't look easy! There's still 2 wires holding it together and the screw/controler will only take an antenna of a certain size. Any suggestions?

Disregard my last post. I found an old TV antenna. It's 3.5 feet long. My dad and I were able to install it. It can go the lenth of my kitchen (20ft.) with ease. My ZZ's new name: X-Country! Thanks guys!

LOL...Damn you're going to poke an eye out with that :)

Glad we could help. This board is the best place for mod help. What I know I learned right here.

3 1/2 Feet Long!!!

Awesome! Where do you live? I could probably meet your car on the corner with mine an do a couple of drags down Broadway :D

Next step...Directional antenna signal (anybody want to rent some space?).

P.S. This forum ROCKS!!!

b24awgm

Ya, but the sad thing is that I can't go past 30 feet. However, I had to test it on carpet and with metal chairs in the way! But, that's an OBVIOUS improvement over the 10 feet I was getting before! (It might go further in the open and on better a surface too!)