I have been wondering what is best, a sanhans type amplifier OR a better antenna w/ no amp.
Saw this vid and was impressed, a nice experiment and controlled decently well.
it is using ItElite MaxxRange Antenna (Full Kit) for a dji type controller.
I believe this is just a 2.4ghz antenna (or 2 inside) which is all dji uses, and the size of the antenna seems comparable to those for yuneec controllers.
If you view the Utub above this static mounted, although a bit higher than normal standing humans is quite impressive in its distance BUT it is in flat country.
One of the points i wanted to make was that of the 'beam' shape of antennas, many of you know this some not, but normal use antennas have both a vertical and a horizontal beam shape (actually it is 360 degrees in all directions but lets keep it simple), the above vid shows this, on this day and conditions, it well may be diff if you move any metal including the coax conns around or even if temp is diff, everything can slightly or massively alter, and of course this is with NO trees and other obstacles in the way.
but normally the beam shape is symmetrical, the same on both sides from the 0 axis (the center where the antenna is pointed), the same for vertical and horizontal so his flight result is a bit one sided, could be due to one side having better propagation of signal or just a better connection on that side of antenna, who knows.
now wavelength, a 2.4ghz wavelength is approx 4" (wavelength is the sinusoidal shape of an ocean wave, it then begins again on next wave), the 5.8ghz is half that, ~2" long.
these are longer than are visible light, or gamma rays, or x-rays, etc, but pretty short, and a rule of thumb is if a obstacle thing (leaf, rain) is approximately a single wavelength long or larger, it can block or absorb that frequency, so if you think 4" and 2" then you can see that tree leaves and bushes can easily decrease the signal of our controller/drones, so fly higher, reposition.
How about the shape of an antenna, a straight one for 2.4ghz wifi or a spiral one, same for 5.8ghz video wifi, why straight or spiral.
Straight antenna are likely the length similar to the wavelength of the signal of interest, the 2.4ghz is really something like 2.2ghz --> 2.4+ghz range, same for the 5.8ghz it is a small range of frequencies mandatde by the fedgov/fcc in murca, same for other countries, actually agreed to for the earth to prevent interference.
A spiral has to be the same, approx the wavelength in diameter, and it might make it slightly more directional but not much (go see write up about yagi antennas and driven elements, reflectors, etc antennas actually are NOT simple & many types too - i know someone who uses an old small satellite dish for 2.4ghz wifi - works very well but then so do many others!!).
Spirals vs straight simply may only just be smaller rather than better, it is ALWAYS in the testing, theory many times fails in the performance of an antenna (a designer once told me that testing is the only way to be sure, theory may fail in real world).
The itelite dbs & Hawk are just printed circuit board antennas, which they may be spiral shaped or some other shape but must be associated to the wavelength of the antenna in dimension, IOW, generally either 1/4, 1/2, 1/1 of the wavelength is what is used for antennas of all types, 1/1 is best.
Thus, the question of 'is an amplifier better $100 spent OR is $100 for a 'better' antenna' ?? You can purchase 2000mw or even 10,000mw amplifiers for 2.4ghz same likely for 5.8ghz, these are really illegal for our use but then those loud exhaust on motorcycles, trucks, cars are likely illegal too, so are we legal is up to us !
It is all about signal strength and if more than a straight wire the length of the wavelength then it likely has 'gain'.
The more directional an antenna, the MORE gain it has, it is simply focusing the transmit power in a smaller area and that antenna should also be good enuf to receive a signal well too.
So an amplifier (booster) can 'drive' a signal thru tree leaves,etc OR a very directional antenna can also.
** both transmitters and receiver in our drones and controllers are amplifying in both directions, so even a straight wire antenna has 'gain' but it is purely electrical amplifier gain NOT antenna gain **
So what is the ultimate answer, I don't know, but to preserve your warranty an external antenna or a external amplifier is best rather than breaking open the controller/drone and adding antennas, once the warranty is past, do whatever.
BUT BUT BUT, do your research, ie get real world data about your chosen solution, amplifier, antenna or both, and remember it IS a TWO way communication, from BOTH drone and ground controller !!
ps: i saw a total BS vid about the FPVLR antenna, but it was NOT the factory guy doing it, but a dealer guy (greed!), thus i mostly forgive him, but the problem is did you know it was totally bogus what he did and 'surmised' ? OF COURSE NOT, so the ONLY proof is in the flying distance, no matter your choice - that is FACT no fake news/nonsense !!!!
I have no clue if this helps anyone but maybe it helps the thinking, but bottom line, do NOT believe the PR but ONLY trust the proven flight distances !!!
PS: LOS can mean Loss of Signal, OR Line of Sight, confusing to me, i have always thought Loss of Signal but both pertinent to this hobby/biz !!
Saw this vid and was impressed, a nice experiment and controlled decently well.
it is using ItElite MaxxRange Antenna (Full Kit) for a dji type controller.
I believe this is just a 2.4ghz antenna (or 2 inside) which is all dji uses, and the size of the antenna seems comparable to those for yuneec controllers.
If you view the Utub above this static mounted, although a bit higher than normal standing humans is quite impressive in its distance BUT it is in flat country.
One of the points i wanted to make was that of the 'beam' shape of antennas, many of you know this some not, but normal use antennas have both a vertical and a horizontal beam shape (actually it is 360 degrees in all directions but lets keep it simple), the above vid shows this, on this day and conditions, it well may be diff if you move any metal including the coax conns around or even if temp is diff, everything can slightly or massively alter, and of course this is with NO trees and other obstacles in the way.
but normally the beam shape is symmetrical, the same on both sides from the 0 axis (the center where the antenna is pointed), the same for vertical and horizontal so his flight result is a bit one sided, could be due to one side having better propagation of signal or just a better connection on that side of antenna, who knows.
now wavelength, a 2.4ghz wavelength is approx 4" (wavelength is the sinusoidal shape of an ocean wave, it then begins again on next wave), the 5.8ghz is half that, ~2" long.
these are longer than are visible light, or gamma rays, or x-rays, etc, but pretty short, and a rule of thumb is if a obstacle thing (leaf, rain) is approximately a single wavelength long or larger, it can block or absorb that frequency, so if you think 4" and 2" then you can see that tree leaves and bushes can easily decrease the signal of our controller/drones, so fly higher, reposition.
How about the shape of an antenna, a straight one for 2.4ghz wifi or a spiral one, same for 5.8ghz video wifi, why straight or spiral.
Straight antenna are likely the length similar to the wavelength of the signal of interest, the 2.4ghz is really something like 2.2ghz --> 2.4+ghz range, same for the 5.8ghz it is a small range of frequencies mandatde by the fedgov/fcc in murca, same for other countries, actually agreed to for the earth to prevent interference.
A spiral has to be the same, approx the wavelength in diameter, and it might make it slightly more directional but not much (go see write up about yagi antennas and driven elements, reflectors, etc antennas actually are NOT simple & many types too - i know someone who uses an old small satellite dish for 2.4ghz wifi - works very well but then so do many others!!).
Spirals vs straight simply may only just be smaller rather than better, it is ALWAYS in the testing, theory many times fails in the performance of an antenna (a designer once told me that testing is the only way to be sure, theory may fail in real world).
The itelite dbs & Hawk are just printed circuit board antennas, which they may be spiral shaped or some other shape but must be associated to the wavelength of the antenna in dimension, IOW, generally either 1/4, 1/2, 1/1 of the wavelength is what is used for antennas of all types, 1/1 is best.
Thus, the question of 'is an amplifier better $100 spent OR is $100 for a 'better' antenna' ?? You can purchase 2000mw or even 10,000mw amplifiers for 2.4ghz same likely for 5.8ghz, these are really illegal for our use but then those loud exhaust on motorcycles, trucks, cars are likely illegal too, so are we legal is up to us !
It is all about signal strength and if more than a straight wire the length of the wavelength then it likely has 'gain'.
The more directional an antenna, the MORE gain it has, it is simply focusing the transmit power in a smaller area and that antenna should also be good enuf to receive a signal well too.
So an amplifier (booster) can 'drive' a signal thru tree leaves,etc OR a very directional antenna can also.
** both transmitters and receiver in our drones and controllers are amplifying in both directions, so even a straight wire antenna has 'gain' but it is purely electrical amplifier gain NOT antenna gain **
So what is the ultimate answer, I don't know, but to preserve your warranty an external antenna or a external amplifier is best rather than breaking open the controller/drone and adding antennas, once the warranty is past, do whatever.
BUT BUT BUT, do your research, ie get real world data about your chosen solution, amplifier, antenna or both, and remember it IS a TWO way communication, from BOTH drone and ground controller !!
ps: i saw a total BS vid about the FPVLR antenna, but it was NOT the factory guy doing it, but a dealer guy (greed!), thus i mostly forgive him, but the problem is did you know it was totally bogus what he did and 'surmised' ? OF COURSE NOT, so the ONLY proof is in the flying distance, no matter your choice - that is FACT no fake news/nonsense !!!!
I have no clue if this helps anyone but maybe it helps the thinking, but bottom line, do NOT believe the PR but ONLY trust the proven flight distances !!!
PS: LOS can mean Loss of Signal, OR Line of Sight, confusing to me, i have always thought Loss of Signal but both pertinent to this hobby/biz !!
