Aircraft Antenna Mod

[ZeeKodadii]

Where did you find those at??

Here is the link but I found them cheaper on eBay

2.4GHz 2 Watt Signal Amplifier for DJI Phantom 1 & 2 (White)

 

[sprtbkrydr]

Here is the link but I found them cheaper on eBay

2.4GHz 2 Watt Signal Amplifier for DJI Phantom 1 & 2 (White)

Thanks!

 

[GooniesNeverDie]

While I had my bird opened up doing this mod, I was always annoyed by the excessively bright LEDs on the rear end. With a little effort, you can unseat them with your fingernail. There are 2 on top and 2 on bottom of the mother board. Since there are exposed power connectors after removal, I siliconed over them for safe measure.

I hope this might save a little power on the next distance run.

View attachment 17343 View attachment 17344 View attachment 17345 View attachment 17346

So I was thinking... the next time you want to throw a grand in the toilet give me a call. I'll gladly take it to the casino.

 

[punkinhead]

Very interested in the results of your test

 

[beanbubba]

So I was thinking... the next time you want to throw a grand in the toilet give me a call. I'll gladly take it to the casino.

I think those 4 LED's are with about $20, not a $1000

 

[beanbubba]

Thanks!

Hey MM, looking at the RPSMA connector on that other amp, I don't think it is much smaller.

 

[beanbubba]

I have tried nearly every mod you could think of antenna and battery, on the P2,P3 and P4. Believe me, the P2 vision series, and the P3 standard requires modification on both ends. I have not found it to be the case even though I've tried, that light bridge on p3&4 benefit from any birdside modifications.
based on the fact that I have a screenshot of a great signal with stock Mavic controller and aircraft at 50,000 feet, something I could never do on any other DJI, I can't imagine a benefit of a birdside modification! That being said, your enthusiasm and curiosity Bubba is what keeps these threads alive, and I will be following along and wishing you safe returns. good luck and have fun brother[emoji41]

As dirtybum pointed out when this thread started, this may all be for naught if I think this mod could improve on the world distance records (most likely not, but you never know until you try).

BUT, I am looking to improve the range from my home base where I mostly fly. I have a hard 6 mile radius and have to climb to max altitude to achieve this (I think sport biker has a terrain limiting radius as well). So if I can perfect and streamline this mod, it might help others too that are terrain challenged and provide more areas to explore and photograph.

 

[sprtbkrydr]

As dirtybum pointed out when this thread started, this may all be for naught if I think this mod could improve on the world distance records (most likely not, but you never know until you try).

BUT, I am looking to improve the range from my home base where I mostly fly. I have a hard 6 mile radius and have to climb to max altitude to achieve this (I think sport biker has a terrain limiting radius as well). So if I can perfect and streamline this mod, it might help others too that are terrain challenged and provide more areas to explore and photograph.

Yes, you are correct. I have the same problem here. My circle is about 5 miles in the best direction.

 

[MacIak]

Here is the link but I found them cheaper on eBay

2.4GHz 2 Watt Signal Amplifier for DJI Phantom 1 & 2 (White)

Those are tiny and cheap! 2w is more than enought too.

 

[beanbubba]

Those are tiny and cheap! 2w is more than enought too.

Well, I guess I must buy and test these too...

 

[sprtbkrydr]

 

[beanbubba]

Those are tiny and cheap! 2w is more than enought too.

The ones on eBay and hobbyking show shipping from china, so it will take a couple weeks or more to get them in.

 

[sprtbkrydr]

The last few items I bought off Ebay coming from China came in reasonably fast considering.

 

[ZeeKodadii]

Ya things from china are coming in faster then things from cross the county

 

[dirtybum]

Those are tiny and cheap! 2w is more than enought too.

Well, I guess I must buy and test these too...

cheap is the right word! warning, the sma connectors break off those regularly! I went through half a dozen of those in the p2 days, very attractive price, and may work but not like sunhans or chinese black 4w's.
I used them for p2 birdside and controller mods, 4 of them the sma broke off, a couple others that did last a month burnt up. these days you could use some $30 harris solder to reinforce the fragile sma stem but I wouldn't expect enough life or performance to make their cheap price and 2 1/2 week wait worth it.
Jus sharin my experience [emoji41]

 

[sprtbkrydr]

BeanBubba I doubt that they will live up to your expectations I would just forget about them.

 

[beanbubba]

cheap is the right word! warning, the sma connectors break off those regularly! I went through half a dozen of those in the p2 days, very attractive price, and may work but not like sunhans or chinese black 4w's.
I used them for p2 birdside and controller mods, 4 of them the sma broke off, a couple others that did last a month burnt up. these days you could use some $30 harris solder to reinforce the fragile sma stem but I wouldn't expect enough life or performance to make their cheap price and 2 1/2 week wait worth it.
Jus sharin my experience

I have to agree that the sunhams resemble mil spec gear (and priced accordingly), but you get what you pay for in life

 

[MacIak]

I have to agree that the sunhams resemble mil spec gear (and priced accordingly), but you get what you pay for in life

I must say that out of 3 sunhans amps 1 malfunctioned after a couple of flights. Just like that! All indications were normal but no boost.
Advantage being it was refunded under warranty.

 

[sprtbkrydr]

Well I'm 6 &0 all mine have been good. I never realized just how small these Gold amps were until I got this setup for the Mavic. All my others have been the larger 2.5 watt versions.

 

[beanbubba]

Well, I can't find those darn U.FL connectors so the factory aircraft antennas will have to wait. I put the bird back together and started to test external antennas.

I started with the circular antennas I found on eBay. This did not go well, I took off and 20' up and already at 3 bars of signal. Those were a fail. I suspect the merchant mislabeled these as 2.4, but from the size they look like 5.8gHz.



Then I got this error below. I have never done this calibration so I will go look it up now.



Once I get her flying again, next on the menu are these 6dBi gain omni's.