Soak Up Sound · 3D printed
RF Shield Heavy Duty
A wider soft TPU RF antenna guard, 10.4 mm. Set of 4.
€53D print files — instant download · EU: incl. 23% VAT · outside the EU: no VAT
Printed and checked before shipping. €10.
Sorry, for now I can only ship to Poland.
- 10.4 mm across — wider, holds the antenna further off the body under thick clothing
- Soft TPU: on impact the guard flexes instead of cracking
- Segmented design makes it easy to bend together with the antenna
- A clip in the hole locks the guard on the antenna, so it does not slide off
- Keeps the antenna off the body: a few mm from the skin means up to ~10 dB stronger signal, according to Sound Devices
Ready-made parts: delivery to an InPost parcel locker in Poland only, €5 for the whole order, shipped within 1–2 weeks. STL files: instant download. 14 days to return without giving a reason.
I ship printed parts within Poland only. Abroad, buy the STL file and get it printed locally. Want delivery to your country? Let me know.
Different transmitter, antenna or recorder? I can design a version for your gear.
What for
For thick clothing, when you fight for range
Heavy Duty is the wider version: 10.4 mm across. Under a jacket, a sweater or a heavy costume it holds the antenna further off the body and takes pressure better, so you get the best range out of the transmitter. Receiver and transmitter antennas stick out of the bag and catch on car doors, stands and jackets. The guard takes the hit. Soft TPU and the narrow joints between segments let it bend with the antenna and spring back. A clip in the hole locks the guard on the antenna, so it does not slide off when you take off the bag or the costume.
| In the set | 4 guards and 4 clips |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 10.4 mm |
| Material | TPU (soft, flexible plastic) |
| Fits | RF antennas of different lengths, e.g. on an SMA connector |
| Mounting | a clip in the guard’s hole locks it on the antenna |
| Distance from the body | the segments hold the antenna a few mm off the skin and clothing |
| Colour | black |
| Made | 3D printed, every unit checked |
| Finish | soft TPU prints less cleanly than rigid plastics, so small surface imperfections are possible. They don't affect function: every piece works as it should |
Range
Antenna off the body means a stronger signal
A bodypack transmitter’s antenna often lies on the skin or on a shirt damp with sweat. The body then absorbs part of the energy and detunes the antenna, so the transmitter radiates less power. The guard’s segments hold the antenna a few millimetres away from the body, and a clip in the hole locks the guard in place so it does not slide off.
That much more radiated power from just a few millimetres between the antenna and the skin, according to Sound Devices. Contact with skin or damp clothing cuts it sharply.
How much lower the average horizontal gain of bodypack transmitters is compared with handheld mics, because they sit so close to the body (CEPT report, Ofcom Switzerland, 2017).
In free space that is in theory about 3 times the range. On set it mostly means signal headroom and fewer dropouts when the actor turns.
Figures from published sources, not our own measurement: the gain depends on the transmitter, frequency, clothing and how the antenna sat before. Sources: Sound Devices — Appropriate Antennas Defined, CEPT FM51 — Body effect, Ofcom Switzerland.
3D printing
You can tell it is printed. And that is fine.
On the surface you will see layer lines and a fine texture, and every unit looks slightly different. That is a feature of the technology, not a defect: layer lines and small print imperfections never affect the strength or function of the product. Anything that could weaken the part is rejected at quality control. More about 3D printing.
- Fit
Checked on the gear the product is made for.
- Print
No delamination, cracks or sharp edges.