Antennas
PyCubed Connectors
PyCubed comes with an SMA Female
connector installed for Radio #1.
- Use
SMA Male
cables or antennas to properly mate with the onboard connector.
- If using the default PyCubed radio, make sure the antenna is appropriate for 433 MHz
Benchtop Testing
Wire Monopole
For development work inside or outside the classroom, the most inexpensive antenna solution is simply soldering a piece of wire to the center conductor of the SMA connector on the bottom of the board. The piece of wire forms a monopole antenna.
For a quarter-wavelength monopole antenna:
- Calculate the wavelength of your center frequency

where c is the speed of light (about  m/s) and f is the frequency in Hz
- Divide wavelength by 4: ( ) to determine the correct length of wire
For 433 MHz
f = 433 MHz =  Hz
 meters
 meters =  mm wire
Whip Antenna
Commercial "whip" antennas are relatively inexpensive as well and will mount directly to the RF connector on the PyCubed board.
- Once example product from mouser:
1/2 wave dipole whip
CubeSat Antennas
🚧 Under Construction 🚧