Video Signal Range ~ Normal?

[Jumpyman]

While the Mavic 2 Pro that I got from Fbook Mplace is "in the shop" with a Gimbal Issue, I got a Mavic 2 Pro off of Ebay with a 30 day return policy to fly in the mean time with the intent that it might be nice to have a "backkup". It looks to be in great shape, flys nicely, smooth gimbal, etc. BUT I noticed the range isn't at all what I expected from a "new" drone (compared to my Phantom 3 Advanced). I'm flying 500' - 1000' out and my Video Signal is already losing a bar. . I've gone 2000', LOS with maybe a few trees and the video "glitched" so I spun around and headed back. I came in the house and checked the video signal graph. Am I correct that the LOWER the number is, the stronger the signal? -70 dBm is stronger than -100 dBm? Here are some screenshots of my video signal graph with the drone sitting 5' from me in the living room. I'll also try changing the setting to Manual at 2.8 ghz (if it's anything like Wifi, the higher frequencies have greater bandwidth but don't have the range of the lower frequencies). If there's an issue with the range of this drone, I'd like to return it while I have the chance ~ thanks in advance! PS I'm using a Smart Controller and am NOT pointing the antennas AT the drone. . I understand that Parallel to the drone is best but, of course, I tried various antenna positions. . little to no effect. .

 

[Cafguy]

Where are you flying? is there something around you like a wi-fi signal that could interfere 5ghz is best if you have choppy video BUT you will lose control range alot!! 5ghz is simply less crowded and you can stream video better on it kinda its rarely used because of the control range thing.
you should be getting better range but I dont think its the Drone.

 

[Jumpyman]

Where are you flying? is there something around you like a wi-fi signal that could interfere 5ghz is best if you have choppy video BUT you will lose control range alot!! 5ghz is simply less crowded and you can stream video better on it kinda its rarely used because of the control range thing.
you should be getting better range but I dont think its the Drone.

Hey Cafguy ~ It's right around my house. . I haven't flown it anywhere else. . I guess the thing to do would be go somewhere where theres NOTHING else around and check it. I don't like using my phone but I downloaded the app for my iPhone and got THAT all hooked up just in case there was something weird with the Smart Controller. . SLIGHTLY better but still dropped that first Video Signal bar not much farther out. I'll be getting my original Mavic 2 back tomorrow and I can't wait to give THAT a shot and see. . if it's the same, then I'd guess it's either the conditions where I'm flying or it's the controller. Any other ideas are welcomed. Thanks again.

 

[mavic3usa]

If it means anything, my old M2Z plus SC used to pull in 10,000' without blinking. I could barely see it an inch above the tree line.

 

[Jumpyman]

If it means anything, my old M2Z plus SC used to pull in 10,000' without blinking. I could barely see it an inch above the tree line.

Wow. . okay. . that's kinda what I was expecting. . thanks for the input Mavic3usa and I'll see what the other M2P with SC does tomorrow and report back.

 

[Cafguy]

IT could be the controller sure. BUT Hey...I was thinking, With My whoops I only use my goggles (DJI goggles 2) , and when I try to listen to music with the phone in my pocket, I sometimes....well mostly, get choppy video back from the Drone. The whoops not a DJI (Geps) BUT They use OCCUSYNC (DJI Air units). so I would expect the same behavior from the Drones.
You should be getting better range. Have you had a hard landing? Is one of your landing legs off kilter any? If so its actually a cheap and easy fix...........If you hurry.

 

[Felix le Chat]

With the Mavic 2's: you have Ocusync 2 which isn't as tolerant with WiFi noise, which over the last 5 years has become much more of a problem, even in semi-rural and rural areas (loads more 2.4gHz and 5+ gHz personal and household gizmos and WiFi boosters).

As an example: wireless/Bluetooth headphones, earbuds and in-ear hands-free units linked to the phones in almost everyone's pockets, all of which have a strong signal up to 30 feet away. Not that much of a problem until you have a couple of hundred overlapping individual signals in relatively close proximity... then the FHSS is going to be jumping around like a cat on a hot tin roof.

Secondly: certain Mavic 2's developed a signal problem after updating the firmware past v.0670, if you search this forum and others, you will find many references to control signal problems after upgrade to .0770/.0772 firmware. This happened with my Mavic 2 Zoom: but not my Mav.2 Pro (which I deliberately left on .0670).