My amp/antenna build and distance test (I will update thread as i go)

[Drone_guy]

Thank you guys for the well wishes!

She was diagnosed with Leukemia in February '17, she had 3 separate chemo treatments since then but relapsed after every one. They did a bone marrow transplant 4 months ago and so far she's cancer free but has had some serious ongoing complications.

It's really been a nightmare in a once perfect life. Not to be a bummer...we're both in very good spirits and optimistic for the future.

I will be working on this antenna project little by little and will document my progress in a separate post.

 

[droneuser]

I thought I would post an updated I been busy so I haven't had time to fly much BUT I hope to be flying in again about in a week I will get back to my distance tests so check back here or my you tube channel

 

[Drone_guy]

Been wondering what happened to this. I'm still going to replicate what you're doing just have to take care of other things first.

 

[Elton Hammonds]

+4 Prayers from my wife and I for you and your wife!!!

( 2 prayers for each of you two = 4 )

Family comes first.

 

[Drone_guy]

Thank you Elton!

 

[AlexM1982]

Anyone have an idea which setup would give me more distance? 4hawks Raptor SR with 2W Sunhans Dual band boosters or just a 4hawks Raptor XR? I have the SR on my Mavic Air RC and flying from a low lying area with trees all around me, I get about 3000 feet before the signal cuts out.

 

[Drone_guy]

Anyone have an idea which setup would give me more distance? 4hawks Raptor SR with 2W Sunhans Dual band boosters or just a 4hawks Raptor XR? I have the SR on my Mavic Air RC and flying from a low lying area with trees all around me, I get about 3000 feet before the signal cuts out.

Elton Hammonds has the Raptor XR, he'll be able to give you better insight on that model. I have the Raptor SR and have only used it a couple of times, mostly in my neighborhood, but doubled my range where there were no obstructions. I bought this model because I got an incredible deal on it otherwise I would have bought the XR.

I don't have boosters yet, just haven't had the time to mess with it, but I would have to beleive the boosted SR would outperform the unboosted XR. Not sure why you wouldn't just buy the XR and boost that? There's not much of a price difference between the two.

 

[AlexM1982]

Elton Hammonds has the Raptor XR, he'll be able to give you better insight on that model. I have the Raptor SR and have only used it a couple of times, mostly in my neighborhood, but doubled my range where there were no obstructions. I bought this model because I got an incredible deal on it otherwise I would have bought the XR.

I don't have boosters yet, just haven't had the time to mess with it, but I would have to beleive the boosted SR would outperform the unboosted XR. Not sure why you wouldn't just buy the XR and boost that? There's not much of a price difference between the two.

I suppose I could get the XR and boost it. I think it will take trial and error to see how I can push the signal through the deep trees. I have gotten 10K+ feet in open areas so I've come to the conclusion that its the area around my house that's the problem.

 

[Drone_guy]

I suppose I could get the XR and boost it. I think it will take trial and error to see how I can push the signal through the deep trees. I have gotten 10K+ feet in open areas so I've come to the conclusion that its the area around my house that's the problem.

So you're dealing with lots of trees and wifi interference from your neighbors houses? If that's the case you may do better with an omni antenna, that's what Titan Drones recommends for that situation.

 

[AlexM1982]

So you're dealing with lots of trees and wifi interference from your neighbors houses? If that's the case you may do better with an omni antenna, that's what Titan Drones recommends for that situation.

Its not really interference from other houses. I'm flying in 5.8 and when I go more than 3000 feet, the signal cuts out. Here are my range tests plotted on a map. Its more interference from trees than wifi I think.

 

[droneuser]

flying in 5.8 I would assume you mean that in ghz? ( frequency) if so keep in mind 5.8 dosent go as far as 2.4. if you can switch it to 2.4 to see if that helps some

 

[Elton Hammonds]

flying in 5.8 I would assume you mean that in ghz? ( frequency) if so keep in mind 5.8 dosent go as far as 2.4. if you can switch it to 2.4 to see if that helps some

Excellent point and recommendation.

I'm waiting to try it, but I bought a couple 2w Sunhans amps that say they work with both 2.4ghz and 5.8ghz to connect between each antenna connector on my remote and each side of my Raptor XR antenna.

I'm not sure when I'll get the chance to try it out, but I hope it won't be too long.

 

[AlexM1982]

flying in 5.8 I would assume you mean that in ghz? ( frequency) if so keep in mind 5.8 dosent go as far as 2.4. if you can switch it to 2.4 to see if that helps some

Weird because I have previously flown in 5.8 GHz over 10K feet from more open areas. I’ll try some tests in 2.8 and report back.

 

[Turn11]

Weird because I have previously flown in 5.8 GHz over 10K feet from more open areas. I’ll try some tests in 2.8 and report back.

2.4GHz will give you better penetration and distance (lower frequencies have less attenuation) The 5.8 GHz is better for highly congested WiFi areas (in town).

I have the Titan Switch for both my MPP and M2P and live in primarily flat terrain with some pretty steep rolling terrain in some areas. I like to be able to dip down "over the hill" to get a closer look at something. I lock the M2P on 2.4 GHz


Another view down the Colorado River (official elevation is 504') from about 150'. Flat for the most part W A Y past battery capacity. About 10 - 15 miles one way. I have gotten near 20,000' on stock battery and just the 5 DB whips in the Omni amp flying down the side of the Colorado River

Edit: changed elevation to 504' from 204' (poor proofreading )

 

[tmantheman]

here are some videos I made for people who like to watch video's I will be adding more "amp" videos

mavic pro distance test with diferent antennas WIth 4 watt amps - YouTube

mavic pro antenna mods NO amps!!! - YouTube

I wish the videos were still available

 

[tmantheman]

Thanks for that video @droneuser

I have found over the years that unless you are purchasing antennas from a commercial RF supplier, you have about a 50/50 chance of getting what you expect from places like amazon and eBay.

AND, there are so many cut rate suppliers that mix and match 2.4 and 5.X gHz products. You can use a 5gHz antenna on a 2.4 radio and it will function just fine, but your dBi gain is roughly half of what it was rated for 5gHz. I see this all the time where the listing will say 15dBi gain antenna for 2.4 and 5g, and all they are doing is selling the same 5g antenna for both use cases.

Antenna theory and manufacturing is more art than engineering and there is no single rule book for how to make an antenna. There are hundred of valid ways to make an operational antenna that may look completely strange (like you described in your video). Don't let the "strange" part bother you, just test them and see if they perform to their specification or not.

Lastly, this is just a broad rule of thumb but if you are comparing the guts of similarly manufactured 2.4 and 5g antennas, the 2.4 elements and overall sizes is roughly 40% larger that the 5g variant. This is just a quick visual check you can do when inspecting antennas.

Very good information thank you!

 

[bertmag]

I would say be careful about giving the Russians ideas, but we all know they'd c*ck it up somehow... Like use "Top of the line" antennas made from measuring tapes.