Anyone know how I calculate the range of a 2.4GHz RF Modem?

How far can I fly with the video from the FPV still being clear?

Originally Posted by GuerillaFilm

Anyone know how I calculate the range of a 2.4GHz RF Modem?

How far can I fly with the video from the FPV still being clear?

Hi mate,

Big questions in a little package, to which there is no easy answer, but I'll try. The question really is how far you want to fly (line of sight) and how far you are permitted to - FPV is usually limited to the extent parks or airfields where you are insured.

As a rule of thumb, the higher the frequency, the shorter the range (without significant increase of TX power). This is the reason that 5.8GHz and 2.4GHZ are used primarily for short range control - most countries do not permit using this spectrum without frequency hopping and restrict TX power otherwise.

In the US you can use the 1.2 / 1.3 GHz Video TX which will give you more range.

The actual range depends on many factors:

• TX power
• Antenna configuration
• TX frequency as above
• Level of interference in the TX frequency band
• Whether you are tracking the location of your plane e.g. antenna tracker

With a strong 2.4GHZ unit like the FY-606, the supplier advertises 4 km for DATA, NOT video. On my RFD900 (915-928MHz) data radio with antennae duality I can realistically get 20km+ (40km is advertised although I have never tried this)

My 5.8GHz unit (which I am limited to by Australian law) does not get more that 3km with a 1W TX on the plane, and that is with antenna tracking and specialised antennas.

This is different from UAV which is usually beyond line of sight and a whole new ballgame.

Ask yourself how far you want to FPV and build the system for that with the the furthest range / frequency technology legally available in your country.