I am trying to build a Moteino node (RFM69HCW 433Mhz) that transmits to a gateway Moteino situated in the centre of the area that I need to cover (~50-60 metres radius mostly open area with 2 walls in between). The node can be at any point in this radius at any point in time and can be facing any direction. I am using a 173mm simple wire antenna (wavelength/4). Thing is I cannot keep the antenna vertical as suggested by almost everyone due to the height of the box that I am using (pictured below) so I have wrapped the wire around the sides of the box. The gateway does not have this constraint and I can keep the antenna vertical.
Will this approach decrease the range of the Moteino? I could alternatively make a hole in the box's lid and pass the antenna through that hole but I need the enclosure to be waterproof as much as possible so I am trying to avoid any unnecessary holes. Also will the wrapped wire have more/less range than a helical antenna?
Another thing, the antenna keeps breaking up from the Moteino due to flexing and I am afraid that soldering again and again might break the ANT connection on the Moteino. Can I use 2 wires as one Antenna, one small one which will be kept vertical attached to ANT and another one soldered to the shorter one, so there is less chance of the shorter one breaking? I read that I could use a Coaxial cable too, which one would be better?