I'm using the bare module rather than a rtf transmitter with built in voltage reg etc.
should otherwise be the same thing though

Just checked on google maps and the range is more like 350-450m :/

Originally Posted by deleted

Hi Guys,

I bought the 5.8ghz 200mw system for my quad about a month or two ago as my introduction to FPV. I am using these spironet antennas from HK.

I don't seem to be getting anyway near the range I expected (1km). At the most in a clear LOS area like the beach I get around 150 - 200meters before the signal starts to degrade. I get the same range if I fly at a sports field as well. From what I have read I should have been able to get at least a few hundred meters with the stock antennas and around 1km with the spironets.

Are the HK spironet antennas no good or is there something else I am missing?

Thanks in advance.

I have the same setup as you RC305 and 200mw with sproNet form Hobby King and I thought I'd get more range. The farthest I got was 3,000ft. I have my antenna mounted on the end of an arm on my quad.
I ordered a Dragon Link and I also want more video range so I'm going to order a 1.3 400mw system.

Originally Posted by jasper7821

I have the same setup as you RC305 and 200mw with sproNet form Hobby King and I thought I'd get more range. The farthest I got was 3,000ft. I have my antenna mounted on the end of an arm on my quad.
I ordered a Dragon Link and I also want more video range so I'm going to order a 1.3 400mw system.

I would be happy with that range as that is all I am aiming for for the moment!
Could you please post a pic of your setup on your quad? Maybe placement of the vtx and rx is key?

Can any of the gurus advise why the range would be so different and any help for me to get a bit further out that 200 meters?

Thanks

Originally Posted by deleted

Hi Guys,

I bought the 5.8ghz 200mw system for my quad about a month or two ago as my introduction to FPV. I am using these spironet antennas from HK.

I don't seem to be getting anyway near the range I expected (1km). At the most in a clear LOS area like the beach I get around 150 - 200meters before the signal starts to degrade. I get the same range if I fly at a sports field as well. From what I have read I should have been able to get at least a few hundred meters with the stock antennas and around 1km with the spironets.

Are the HK spironet antennas no good or is there something else I am missing?

Thanks in advance.

i'm willing to bet anything that it's the positioning of your antenna on your rig, when i first tried mine (200mW 5.8) w/blue beam antennas (more or less the same as your spironets) i got maybe 100m before i started losing signal. After I installed legs on it and let the antenna hang down way below the rig i was getting 1km

Originally Posted by polix

i'm willing to bet anything that it's the positioning of your antenna on your rig, when i first tried mine (200mW 5.8) w/blue beam antennas (more or less the same as your spironets) i got maybe 100m before i started losing signal. After I installed legs on it and let the antenna hang down way below the rig i was getting 1km

So to clarify you mounted your antenna upside down on your quad ie. below your quad? Does placement near other electronics on the quad matter as well?

Originally Posted by deleted

So to clarify you mounted your antenna upside down on your quad ie. below your quad? Does placement near other electronics on the quad matter as well?

it does help if your tx is further away from your electronics, and yes my antenna is pointing straight down at the moment. the bulb i guess you could say is about 6" from the bottom plate of the hex, so no matter how much i tilt in any direction i always get clear LOS to home.

having said that, i just finished my 900mhz tests today on my hex (i have both 5.8 and 900 mounted on it) and i was able to tx video through a lot of trees with the 900, so the 5.8 is likely going to be removed

luckily i have good size clearance legs, the 900mhz cloverleaf is BIG

Originally Posted by polix

it does help if your tx is further away from your electronics, and yes my antenna is pointing straight down at the moment. the bulb i guess you could say is about 6" from the bottom plate of the hex, so no matter how much i tilt in any direction i always get clear LOS to home.

having said that, i just finished my 900mhz tests today on my hex (i have both 5.8 and 900 mounted on it) and i was able to tx video through a lot of trees with the 900, so the 5.8 is likely going to be removed

luckily i have good size clearance legs, the 900mhz cloverleaf is BIG

Thanks for your input - I will try this placement although I don't have a lot of clearance below.

Here's a few photos.
I had it mounted upside down on the arm. I tried to get more range and I moved it to the rear on a piece of brass plate so the antenna was several inches in the air. That way made it worse and I only got about 500ft or so if I remember correctly.
So I moved it back onto the end of the arm and the farthest i can get is 3,000ft and that's with the RX on a pole about 8ft above the ground.

With the TX sitting on top of my monitor that's on my tripod I only get about 800ft or so.

I also had it mounted here and got terrible range.

Originally Posted by jasper7821

Here's a few photos.
I had it mounted upside down on the arm. I tried to get more range and I moved it to the rear on a piece of brass plate so the antenna was several inches in the air. That way made it worse and I only got about 500ft or so if I remember correctly.
So I moved it back onto the end of the arm and the farthest i can get is 3,000ft and that's with the RX on a pole about 8ft above the ground.

With the TX sitting on top of my monitor that's on my tripod I only get about 800ft or so.

Thanks for the pics - that really helps. I was thinking of moving to the position you have in your last picture (right at the back) but won't bother given you have had no luck.

I will try upside down at the end of one of the arm.

Thanks again.

Also check the channel selection DIP switches on both vTX and RX. Their wrong position is often the cause for short range. For channel 1 they must be all 4 to the ON position ( the manual has some mistakes about this). You can check very quickly if the position causes the short range by flipping all 4 mini knobs (from either vTX or RX) to the opposite direction (right now you might be on channel 8)

Originally Posted by futurebreeze

Also check the channel selection DIP switches on both vTX and RX. Their wrong position is often the cause for short range. For channel 1 they must be all 4 to the ON position ( the manual has some mistakes about this). You can check very quickly if the position causes the short range by flipping all 4 mini knobs (from either vTX or RX) to the opposite direction (right now you might be on channel 8)

Thanks but I am already on Channel 1. Might try channel 3 if the vtx placement change yields no joy.

I'm getting 600 meters at home( 800+ on the model field) and now that i have put table tennis balls on the aerials to protect them i only get 500 meters, this is with 'terry build' 4 lobes or my home built 3 lobes, there's no difference.

table tennis balls = white plastic, i.e. 99% chances to be white due to titanium oxide, the most used white pigment in industry.
titanium oxide = conductor, thus absorbing microwaves, proof this by placing a ball in mw oven, if warm then I am right.

hi,

use a separable acryl-ball ... no dampening! like this http://www.ebay.de/itm/Acrylkugel-Ku...item92b23776bf

cu Thomas