3D Printing Antenna Mounts, VTX Holders, and RX Brackets for FPV Drones
Antenna placement is one of the most impactful yet frequently overlooked aspects of FPV drone building. A poorly mounted antenna can cut your range in half, create dead zones during specific flight orientations, and even damage your expensive VTX by snapping the SMA connector. 3D printing enables custom mounting solutions that optimize antenna positioning, protect fragile components, and clean up your build’s wiring. Here’s how to design and print professional-grade antenna mounts.
Why Printed Mounts Beat Generic Solutions
Generic zip-tie and heat-shrink antenna mounts work — barely. They’re inconsistent, degrade over time, and offer no crash protection. A well-designed 3D printed mount positions your antenna at the precise angle for optimal radiation pattern, provides strain relief to prevent SMA connector damage, and looks significantly cleaner. For builds where every gram of weight and millimeter of space matters (whoops, toothpicks, ultralight long-range), printed mounts are the difference between a clean build and a rat’s nest.
Material Selection: TPU Wins Again
For antenna mounts, TPU at 95A shore hardness is the clear winner. Antenna mounts experience vibration and impact forces; rigid materials (PLA, PETG without flex) transmit those forces directly to your VTX or receiver’s U.FL/IPEX connector. TPU absorbs vibration and flexes on impact rather than transmitting force to fragile solder joints. For mounts that clip onto frame standoffs or arms, TPU’s elasticity allows snap-fit designs that would be impossible with rigid filaments.
Print settings for antenna mounts: 3 perimeters (balance of strength and flexibility), 20-25% gyroid infill, 0.2mm layer height, 220°C nozzle for most TPU. If your mount includes thin flexure elements (clips or snap-fits), increase to 4 perimeters in those sections using modifier meshes in your slicer. Print slowly — 25-30mm/s maximum for TPU to ensure good layer adhesion on small features.
VTX Antenna Mounts: Protecting the SMA
The most critical mount on any FPV quad is the VTX antenna holder. SMA connectors are surprisingly fragile — a direct hit to the antenna in a crash can tear the SMA connector off the VTX PCB, destroying an expensive component. A proper mount redirects crash forces from the SMA connector to the frame.
Design the mount with the following features:
- SMA pass-through hole: 6.5mm diameter for SMA connectors, with a chamfered entry to guide the connector during installation. The SMA nut should seat flush against the printed surface.
- Strain relief loop: A channel that guides the VTX pigtail in a gentle curve (minimum 15mm bend radius) from the VTX to the mount point. Tight bends in coaxial cable degrade signal.
- Crash breakaway: Design the mount to attach to the frame at two points with a thin (1.5-2mm) connecting web between them. In a severe crash, the mount breaks at the web rather than transmitting force to the VTX. The antenna, still attached to the broken mount piece, is easier to replace than the VTX.
- Angle options: Include 45° and vertical antenna positions in the same mount. Pilots flying high-speed forward flight benefit from the antenna angled backward to maintain vertical polarization when the quad is tilted.
Popular designs on Printables include the “SMA Savvy” mount (universal, fits most 5-inch frames) and the “SMA Stealth” mount that recesses the connector into the frame body for protection during turtle mode flips.
Receiver Antenna Mounts: Immortal T and Dipole Holders
ELRS receivers using Immortal T antennas (rigid PCB antennas) need specific mounting solutions. The Immortal T’s radiation pattern is strongest perpendicular to the PCB’s flat surface — orienting the broad face toward your transmitter location maximizes signal. For typical flying where the quad is in front of you, mount the Immortal T vertically with the broad face facing rearward.
A well-designed Immortal T mount includes:
- A slot that grips the PCB antenna by its edges (not covering the active element, which is the top 31mm of the PCB)
- A base that attaches to a standoff or arm with M2/M3 hardware
- Optional 45° orientation for forward-tilted flight
- A channel routing the thin coaxial cable away from props and carbon fiber
For receivers with wire dipole antennas, print a “V-guide” mount that positions the two antenna elements at 90° to each other — this provides polarization diversity and ensures at least one antenna always has a favorable orientation to the transmitter.
Dual Antenna and Diversity Mounts
Long-range builds and builds with diversity receivers benefit from consolidated antenna mounting. A dual antenna mount positions both receiver antennas and the VTX antenna in an optimized arrangement while keeping everything tidy. Key design considerations:
- Maintain at least 30mm separation between the VTX antenna and receiver antennas to prevent the VTX from swamping the receiver (a known issue with high-power VTX and sensitive ELRS receivers)
- Position receiver antennas in different polarization planes — one vertical, one horizontal
- Keep antenna elements away from carbon fiber plates, which act as RF shields
- Design the mount to place receiver antennas above the battery for clear line-of-sight to the transmitter
GPS Module Mounts with Integrated Antenna Holders
Combining GPS and antenna mounting into a single printed part saves weight and cleans up your build. A rear-mounted GPS/antenna pod raíses the GPS module for clear sky view while positioning the VTX antenna at the optimal angle. Features include:
- GPS compartment with ventilation slots (GPS modules can overheat in direct sun)
- Integrated M3 mounting that shares frame standoffs
- Cable routing channels with zip-tie anchor points
- Weight under 8 grams for the combined mount
Design Workflow and CAD Tips
When designing a custom antenna mount for your specific frame:
- Measure your frame’s mounting points — standoff spacing, arm width at the mounting location, available clearance
- Import reference geometry into Fusion 360 — photos of your frame with a ruler for scale work well
- Design the mount base first, ensuring it interfaces correctly with your frame’s mounting hardware
- Add antenna-specific features (SMA hole, Immortal T slot, dipole guide) positioned for optimal RF performance
- Include fillets on all internal corners (minimum 1mm radius) to prevent stress cracking
- Test-fit the STL by exporting a low-resolution version and printing a quick 20-minute mock-up before committing to the full-quality print
For pilots who don’t design in CAD, the FPV community has shared hundreds of antenna mounts on Thingiverse, Printables, and Thangs. Search for your specific frame name plus “antenna mount” — chances are someone has already designed a solution.
Installation Best Practices
When installing a printed antenna mount:
- Use nylon lock nuts for all hardware — vibrations will loosen standard nuts
- Apply a small zip tie around the antenna base (between the SMA connector and the antenna body) to prevent the antenna from unscrewing during flight
- Route cables through channels before final tightening to avoid pinching
- Apply a dab of E6000 or similar flexible adhesive to U.FL/IPEX connectors as secondary retention — these connectors are notorious for popping off
- Range-test after installation: walk 100 meters with the quad powered on and check LQ in your OSD. A significant drop indicates the mount is blocking or detuning the antenna
Proper antenna mounting is one of those details that separates a reliable, long-range FPV build from one that failsafes mysteriously. Spend the time to get it right, and your video and control links will reward you with rock-solid performance.
Download our collection of 50+ pre-tested antenna mount STL files for popular frames, or submit your own design to be featured in our community library.