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A few months ago Doug Matheson (AKA Dougald) offered to buy my custom painted CNR RS-3.
As the 75 MHz receiver in this diesel has been plagued with radio range problems, I offered to install a Super Socket with radio noise suppression components (four large chokes) and a Black Kat antenna. The conversion also included a lithium-ion battery pack and LED lights.
Yesterday we tested the locomotive with Doug’s new 75 MHz transmitter that was equipped with a rubber ducky antenna. Having had great success with the installations of Super Sockets in my FA-1 and NW-2, I was greatly disappointed when we encountered radio range problems beyond 15 feet.
I removed the Ruby Ducky antenna and added three feet of 22 gauge wire in its place. The radio range jumped to 75 feet.
Today I installed a telescoping antenna on the transmitter and gave the locomotive to Doug to test. He reported back that he had reliable and responsive radio control at 135 feet, the length of his garden railway. So when it comes to transmitter antennas, size does matter.
A new article on how to convert an Aristo-Craft RS-3 to on-board, battery power and radio control has been added to the Battery Power Section of our club web site. To view the article, click on the following link.
Battery Powered RS-3

As the 75 MHz receiver in this diesel has been plagued with radio range problems, I offered to install a Super Socket with radio noise suppression components (four large chokes) and a Black Kat antenna. The conversion also included a lithium-ion battery pack and LED lights.


Yesterday we tested the locomotive with Doug’s new 75 MHz transmitter that was equipped with a rubber ducky antenna. Having had great success with the installations of Super Sockets in my FA-1 and NW-2, I was greatly disappointed when we encountered radio range problems beyond 15 feet.
I removed the Ruby Ducky antenna and added three feet of 22 gauge wire in its place. The radio range jumped to 75 feet.
Today I installed a telescoping antenna on the transmitter and gave the locomotive to Doug to test. He reported back that he had reliable and responsive radio control at 135 feet, the length of his garden railway. So when it comes to transmitter antennas, size does matter.
A new article on how to convert an Aristo-Craft RS-3 to on-board, battery power and radio control has been added to the Battery Power Section of our club web site. To view the article, click on the following link.
Battery Powered RS-3