Mavic 2 Zoom - how signal boost

[outsider6]

Hello!

I need to get the best possible signal in the Mavic 2 Zoom drone within a radius of 1-3km. It has to be omnidirectional signal amplification, not directional.
I have to fly low (mainly at an altitude of 2-5-10-15m) where there are often obstacles such as trees, bushes, buildings.
After changing from CE to FCC it is much better. How could I improve it further? Some antennas? Is there anything else besides the NLD 2.5W Bi-Di Signal Booster/Amplifier? I would not like to interfere with the drone that much, but if I have to, I will use this option.

Regards!

 

[Cafguy]

The best I have seen is the alientech boosters but They still have problems between obstacles.

ALIENTECH 2.4G/5.8G Antenna Signal booster long Range extender f DJI

ALIENTECH PRO/DUO II antenna series whit power amplifier, which applies to all DJI Drones, include Mavic Pro, Mavic 1/2 Pro/zoom/Mini/2/Enterprise/Air 2, Air 2 S, Phantom 3/4 A/Advanced/Pro/V2.0/RTK, Inspire 1/2 Pro, Matrice 100/300/200/210/600 Pro, Smart controller, Cendence. Parrot Anafi...

alienth.cn

 

[outsider6]

Are these antennas directional? Does the signal drop significantly when the drone is behind me? I ask because I mainly operate the drone in a car (mainly because I have a better view of the camera image).

 

[Cafguy]

They are omnidirectional.

I ask because I mainly operate the drone in a car

Thats going to be a problem....You gotta get out of the car really for it to work well, any antenna will have a problem there.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Hello!

I need to get the best possible signal in the Mavic 2 Zoom drone within a radius of 1-3km. It has to be omnidirectional signal amplification, not directional.
I have to fly low (mainly at an altitude of 2-5-10-15m) where there are often obstacles such as trees, bushes, buildings.
After changing from CE to FCC it is much better. How could I improve it further? Some antennas? Is there anything else besides the NLD 2.5W Bi-Di Signal Booster/Amplifier? I would not like to interfere with the drone that much, but if I have to, I will use this option.

Regards!

Your best option is to locate yourself and the controller as high above the terrain as possible. Flying low requires flying from above to maintain clear LOS, to prevent signal obstructions. Find a roof, tall building, or elevated location, or even the top of a tall ladder. Use the obstructions to your advantage and fly from the tops of them.

 

[outsider6]

They are omnidirectional.

Thats going to be a problem....You gotta get out of the car really for it to work well, any antenna will have a problem there.

I can leave the car temporarily, for example, if I had a broken signal, but work takes many hours and I have to be in the car, for example due to the weather, access to power, laptop, etc.
Do you think that if I noticed a huge difference between CE and FCC, it would be a big change if I used the Alientech antenna?

 

[outsider6]

Your best option is to locate yourself and the controller as high above the terrain as possible. Flying low requires flying from above to maintain clear LOS, to prevent signal obstructions. Find a roof, tall building, or elevated location, or even the top of a tall ladder. Use the obstructions to your advantage and fly from the tops of them.

Every now and then I have to change the location, if possible of course I use natural elevations.
I do not expect that I will always have 100% signal within a radius of 1-3 km, the question is what to use to be able to improve it even more. As I mentioned after changing CE to FCC there was a big positive noticeable difference.

 

[Cafguy]

If you must stay in the car then you aren't gonna get much help from the booster. By the way you cannot fly a drone and operate a motor vehicle at the same time.just sayin

 

[outsider6]

By the way you cannot fly a drone and operate a motor vehicle at the same time.just sayin

haha I only stay in the car during the flight, the engine is turned off!

 

[tstr14]

As an amateur radio operator, I look at any antenna boosters with suspicion both of their performance gains and cost effectiveness. Many devices on the market for radios and cell phones are nothing but scams, and some even reduce signal strength. Alien's prices 'may' indicate some legitimacy, but I would either want independent verification or a full money back (including shipping) refund if the device failed my own testing.

Remember too, the device has to improve both sending and receiving. Being able to send a signal 10 miles won't help a lot if you can't receive at the same distance.

 

[Felix le Chat]

Hello!

I need to get the best possible signal in the Mavic 2 Zoom drone within a radius of 1-3km. It has to be omnidirectional signal amplification, not directional.
I have to fly low (mainly at an altitude of 2-5-10-15m) where there are often obstacles such as trees, bushes, buildings.
After changing from CE to FCC it is much better. How could I improve it further? Some antennas? Is there anything else besides the NLD 2.5W Bi-Di Signal Booster/Amplifier? I would not like to interfere with the drone that much, but if I have to, I will use this option.

Regards!

With what you described: your main problem is with penetration (the signal being able to pass through attenuating obstacles). In this case, no matter how much you increase signal strength: you'll only get a small gain over current performance.

If the control signal was transmitted on 1.2gHz: you'd get the performance you're looking for (mostly).

2.4gHz (the drones base control band) will give reasonable distance and penetration, but it is being interfered with more and more by competing signals from WiFi devices in urban and semi-rural areas.

5.8gHz gives you a very stable control signal that does not suffer greatly from interference from other transmitters (yet) but you'll definitely lose signal as a result of objects blocking the transmission.

Unless you use a drone that can leverage the DJI 4G dongles, you will always have signal attenuation problems in built up areas, and even then: 100% connection 100% of the time is not guaranteed.

ADDENDUM

Drone-Hacks offers the option to use what they refer to as the FCC BOOST hack. This increases the transmitter signal strength to the maximum allowed by Law: which, in America is +30db: greater than the DJI firmware set FCC limit (+26db) but still technically within the legal range.

If you reside or operate in a CE controlled region, that legal transmitter strength limit will be considerably less.

If you do this: be aware that the modification is applied at your own risk and the responsibility for it rests on your shoulders.