2-17-2015 Quick update note: Per user Porksmash, it looks like HobbyKing has updated their orange Tx module to eliminate the micro coax as part of the internal design and thereby killing this hack. That said, you could buy a 70mm micro coax and matching 2.4Ghz Antenna from Aloft Hobbies .com and solder the micro coax directly to the board (signal and shield). You will have to remove the current connector to try and maintain proper signal characteristics. If you do this, !! make sure you range test !! Use hot glue to lock the coax in place once you have a working and range tested system. There is the possibility that if not done right the transmitter module can burnout mid flight and you will loose control of your aircraft. (i.e. you need to range check before and after the mod to insure the transmitted signal is as strong after the mod.) Personal at this point I would move onto the Spek Module hack and leave this one behind. Since I do not have possession of a new module I can not verify or update the model if the LED and switches have moved and no longer align with the lid.

I have made the jump from my DX7s to a FrSky Taranis X9D, but still need to support all the equipment and BnF aircraft I already own. The answer is a JR style Transmitter module that supports the DSM2 protocol. I have decided to give the OrangeRX version a try. Out of the box, this module has the antenna coming off to lower front of the module which can cause shadowing of the transmitter antenna. A solution, reposition the antenna to the top of the module. This also solves the other problem; as purchased it would not fit in the Taranis Transmitter case, now it does.

The antenna connector is on a short cable so repositioning is easy. Unplug, unscrew, slip it into the printed part, drill a hole at the top of the OrangeRX faceplate to pass the antenna cable through, reconnect, and put everything back together again. Works a treat.

ViaCAD, Object File, and STL files included.

One word of caution, do not sharp bend, crease, pinch ... The antenna wire. It's routing should be as straight and gentle turns as possible. It is a mini coax cable and it's characteristics and transmission power will change (lower) if you do not gently route it.

Up next will be to print a case for a custom DSM2 / DSMX module using the transmitter assembly harvested from a DX4e. This will provide native automatic DSM2 / DSMX functionality with full range (200mW instead of 100mW) transmission strength, aircraft binding through radio interface instead of a button on the back, and model match capability using true spektrum parts. The next version is for transmitters like the Taranis running the latest released version of OpenTx only as it requires special software functionality to make it work. (Other custom firmwares may work, but this is the one I will be using). If you are interested, keep an eye out for my next posting. I will include complete build instructions.