I lose signal (remote controller disconnect) at 3/4 mile. This is in a suburban area too.

[gerard143]

So I routinely loose signal (remote controller to aircraft zero bars and disconnected on remote) and it initiates return to home. I measured straight-line distance with google earth. This seems abnormal to have such subpar range. If i keep elevation higher i can go a bit further.

 

[dylanthecat]

Remember the controller to the chopper is a line of sight connection. Building, trees and such can block the signal. Higher is getting you above obstructions so range increases.

 

[gerard143]

more detail, my starting elevation is 587 ft. I try to fly to my buddies house 3/4 mile straight line. His home sits at 607 ft elevation. As soon as I drop below about 70 elevation by his house on the drone in the air I completely lose signal. His house is a ranch so its not very high. Drone elevation is above the house. This is in an area where homes have like 5-10 acres of open land around them. Not very populated and trees are bare this time of year here cuz its winter. Just some typical power lines running to homes down the roads and people with wifi. Not much else for interference.

 

[dylanthecat]

You said you are in a suburban area. A suburbs to me is a group of homes and trees and such away from a major city. Lots of stuff to block signal when that far away and that low. Roughly figured, your bird is at about a 1 degree angle above the horizon (simplified). This would mean a 9' tall object about 500 feet away could block line of site.

 

[gerard143]

Google Maps see the area for yourself. google maps link. See the round dirt race track. I can stand on the other side of rt 5 there and at the far end of the racetrack by chat field road I lose signal. Idk how much more open then that you can get.

 

[dylanthecat]

Looks fairly flat, but it doesn't take at lot low altitudes. I don't have a ton of experience flying that far, so not sure if I can be of anymore help.

 

[james_mav]

more detail, my starting elevation is 587 ft. I try to fly to my buddies house 3/4 mile straight line. His home sits at 607 ft elevation. As soon as I drop below about 70 elevation by his house on the drone in the air I completely lose signal. His house is a ranch so its not very high. Drone elevation is above the house. This is in an area where homes have like 5-10 acres of open land around them. Not very populated and trees are bare this time of year here cuz its winter. Just some typical power lines running to homes down the roads and people with wifi. Not much else for interference.

Why don't you take your drone up to about 300 feet & see how far you can fly without losing signal? If you can go a mile or more out then you know the problem is a blocked signal when you're descending & not a drone problem.

 

[787steve]

It might just be curvature of the earth. The horizon from a 3' height (approximate height of your controller) is approximately 2.2 miles due to the curvature of the earth.
Formula is:

Where d is distance in kilometers and h is height above ground in meters.
That assumes a perfectly smooth surface. Throw in a little vegetation, surface height variability, and it could be reduced significantly.

You might have someone come with you and spot the drone through binoculars. As you go below 70', does it drop below the visual horizon?

And of course you have the old " remain in visual line of sight" issue, which you seem to have already discarded.

 

[dylanthecat]

No way that you can see anything 70' in the air at 3/4 of a mile distance. Not even a school bus. Maybe on the Bonneville salt flats.

 

[gerard143]

Yup. Agreed. But 5 mile range claims. Seems way bs if you can’t even get 3/4 mile.

 

[Mossiback]

Yes, you should get better range. You could try:

• Flat side of antennas facing Mavic?
• The M2 has two frequencies it operates on and my understanding is you can pick one over the other (M2 owners help me out here).
• I cringe to suggest a firmware update but both/either the M2 or RC may need updating

Looking at the racetrack area you should be able to easily fly way past VLOS. The N end of the racetrack to Chatfield Rd. is only 1,500 feet. I have gone past 8,000 feet away with my MP (cheated and used binoculars - I know I shouldn't have) and still had a good signal.

 

[Canuk]

I live in a remote place and have range tested my mavic and I can get about 17000 feet before getting a weak signal . Battery power is what stopped my flight . I was thinking of having my wife follow it on a old road and see how far it would go one way

 

[gerard143]

Ya I keep seeing these posts of crazy distances and true 5 mile range. Then a few of us with awful range. I swear there’s some bad ones out there.

 

[Canuk]

You should find someone with a drone like yours and try there RC . I have 2 pro and they both work well

 

[gerard143]

Ya that’s a good idea.

 

[787steve]

I live in a remote place and have range tested my mavic and I can get about 17000 feet before getting a weak signal . Battery power is what stopped my flight . I was thinking of having my wife follow it on a old road and see how far it would go one way

At what height are you flying?
Perhaps trying a run at 70' might shed some light on the matter.

 

[Canuk]

About 150 feet but I was on top of a high spot

 

[787steve]

Ya that’s a good idea.

Silly question, but you do know that the antenna should be vertical, right? Some people think the end should point at the drone. Quite logical, and quite incorrect.

 

[Canuk]

In the pic I posted you can see about 20 miles . All forest without a single person in it

 

[787steve]

About 150 feet but I was on top of a high spot

His issue seems to be more on flat terrain. Only about 20' difference. Maybe you could try a run at 70' from the lower area. But wouldn't want you to loose your bird.