The Foil Drive External Antenna is a secondary antenna mounted to the top of your board to improve signal connectivity with Gen2 and Gen2.5 Foil Drive systems.

It is primarily designed for boards with full carbon foil tracks laminated into a full carbon board, where the carbon construction can interfere with the signal between your controller and Foil Drive system.

For most boards and setups, the standard antenna built into your Foil Drive system provides excellent connectivity and an External Antenna is not required.

Not everyone needs an External Antenna. We highly recommend watching the Connectivity Masterclass before purchasing to determine whether an External Antenna is appropriate for your setup.

Watch: External Antenna Release & Connectivity Masterclass

External Antenna Release Video

Connectivity Masterclass

Shop the Foil Drive External Antenna

How Does the External Antenna Work?

The External Antenna consists of a thin 2 mm antenna plate installed between your Foil Drive electronics box and the bottom of your board.

A thin cable runs from this plate along the bottom of the board, around the nose and connects to a small antenna pad positioned on top of the board.

The antenna cable is available for both the Gen2 and Gen2.5 systems in the following lengths:

• 130 cm
• 180 cm

The External Antenna is completely passive. It does not require power and does not plug into or electronically connect to the Foil Drive electronics box.

Once installed, it can remain permanently attached to your board, regardless of whether you're using your Foil Drive.

Why Is the Antenna Mounted on Top of the Board?

Carbon fibre can interfere with the radio signal travelling between your controller and the antenna beneath the board.

The External Antenna provides an antenna location above the carbon structure, helping improve the signal path between your controller and Foil Drive system.

This is why correct installation of the antenna pad on top of the board is important.

Before Installation

Check Your Mast Plate Bolt Length

The antenna plate adds approximately 2 mm of additional height between your board and Foil Drive system.

Depending on your board, foil track depth, shims and setup, your existing mast plate bolts may no longer provide sufficient engagement with the T-Nuts.

Longer mast plate bolts are available:

• 85 mm – Assist MAX
• 65 mm – Assist Slim

Watch how to measure the bolt length here

Shop Longer Mast Plate Bolts

Nose Cone Foam

Foam is supplied with the External Antenna to compensate for the additional height created by the antenna plate.

Install the supplied foam onto your Nose Cone as required so the electronics box and Nose Cone remain level when mounted to the board.

How to Install the External Antenna

1. Position the Antenna Plate

Place the antenna plate over your board's foil tracks.

The side marked:

THIS SIDE FACES THE BOARD

must face the board.

Position the plate with the Foil Drive logo facing toward the front of the board.

2. Position Your Foil Drive System

Place your Gen2 or Gen2.5 Foil Drive system on top of the External Antenna plate.

Use the raised guides along the rear and side of the antenna plate to correctly position the electronics box.

3. Install the Mast Plate Bolts

Check that the mounting holes through the Foil Drive system, antenna plate and foil tracks are correctly aligned.

Install your mast plate bolts and securely engage the T-Nuts.

Important: The External Antenna adds approximately 2 mm to the mounting height. Confirm that your bolts are long enough to securely engage the T-Nuts before riding.

4. Secure the Antenna Cable

Before applying tape, thoroughly clean the board surface.

Remove any:

• Wax
• Sunscreen
• Salt
• Sand
• Dirt or other contamination

Run the antenna cable in a straight line along the bottom of the board and toward the nose.

Use a small piece of tape initially to hold the cable straight and under light tension.

Once correctly positioned, tape the entire length of the cable securely to the board.

Tip: Where possible, use a continuous length of tape that extends around the nose and onto the top of the board.

This avoids leaving exposed tape edges underneath the board that may begin peeling back while riding.

5. Position the Antenna Pad

Turn the board over and position the antenna pad on top of the nose of the board.

The exact position on the nose is not critical, provided the antenna is correctly mounted on top of the board.

Secure the antenna pad firmly in place.

6. Finish Securing the Cable

Continue the tape around the nose of the board, creating a secure and continuous taped path from the underside of the board to the antenna on top.

Make sure the cable is fully secured along its entire length and cannot move freely while riding.

Do I Need an External Antenna?

Most Foil Drive users do not need one.

The standard antenna within your Foil Drive system is designed to provide reliable connectivity for most boards and riding configurations.

An External Antenna is primarily intended to help where board construction — particularly full carbon boards with carbon foil tracks — is interfering with signal transmission.

If you're experiencing connectivity issues, we recommend watching the Connectivity Masterclass and working through the recommended connectivity checks before assuming an External Antenna is required.