5.8ghz antenna selection

[daneger21]

Getting ready to purchase a 5.8 goggles kit from readymade. What do you guys think for antennas?

Should i upgrade the kit and go with...

CW skew/omni combo

Or go for the cheap whips to save money in the kit, but then purchase...

CW Long Range combo seperately?(skew/helical combo)


I figured there is only about a $40 difference in the long run, thoughts and opinions?

[WNCmotard]

When you say goggle kit, are you going to use a stand alone video TX and RX, or use the RX built into the goggles? How far are you trying to fly also? 5.8 doesn't penetrate objects well at all, so anything between you and the aircraft is most likely going to kill your video feed momentarily. You could run a set of CP (circular polarized) cloverleafs that make a big difference over the stock omnis, yet still perform well as an omni directional antenna. You can also run a CP clover on the TX, and a helical on the goggles / ground station for more gain, at the expense of it being directional.

[daneger21]

Originally Posted by WNCmotard

When you say goggle kit, are you going to use a stand alone video TX and RX, or use the RX built into the goggles? How far are you try to fly

Hero2
Fatshark 5.8 ghz Dominators
Immersion 600mw tx

Since its going on a quad, distance is the factor anyways, so i dont know maybe 1-2miles depending what the battery will allow. And since im starting on a quad i do like the convenience of the dominators being all in one. Then i could throw them and a few batteries in a backpack and go on a hike.

[WNCmotard]

Well, I'm with you on the convenience thing and being able to throw it all in a backpack. But, for me at least, the terrain where I live will most likely limit me before video range will. If I can get 1/2 mile radius of my take off, I'll be fine most likely, and if not, I'll re-evaluate my setup. 2 miles is a long ways on a quad, not saying it can't be done as I'm pretty new to this myself, but that is a long way unless you mean round trip. I assume you're running LRS or UHF for control also?

[daneger21]

Originally Posted by WNCmotard

Well, I'm with you on the convenience thing and being able to throw it all in a backpack. But, for me at least, the terrain where I live will most likely limit me before video range will. If I can get 1/2 mile radius of my take off, I'll be fine most likely, and if not, I'll re-evaluate my setup. 2 miles is a long ways on a quad, not saying it can't be done as I'm pretty new to this myself, but that is a long way unless you mean round trip. I assume you're running LRS or UHF for control also?

Yeah like 2 round trip max. Mile out mile back. Although that wouldnt be my intentions, maybe for peace of mind. More fore close proximity "exploring". I would say atleast 60% of my flying will be in light to medium wooded areas with no to medium hills. Weather its flying above them or in them. So maybe 5.8 isnt what i should be looking at.

But yes i before i run this ill be converting to a DragonLink uhf.

[WNCmotard]

Well, that all sounds good other than the 5.8. Unfortunately, not a good choice for dicing through the trees. The lower bands, 900 and 1.3 are much better suited for that.

Check out this vid comparing 5.8 and 900 with only minimal tree coverage. I really wish it performed better, especially for where I live. Everywhere is woods down here LOL.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nda3QqrQsqo[/ame]

[daneger21]

Was that your video or just one you came across?

Looks like 900mhz will be the ticket. Readymade has a bluebeam omni combo for 900mhz. I wonder how well they preform for within a fair distance, obviously again not looking for max distance but more for peace of mind without going crazy with full directional antenna and antenna tracking...

[WNCmotard]

It's a video that was posted on another forum for the comparison since a lot of people ask what frequency to run. 5.8 is great for convenience in wide open areas, but other than that, as you see it drops out quickly. 900 is what is recommended from my research for the best combination of distance and penetrating trees / foilage / obstacles. But again, I'm still new at this also, so do your own research as well. One other thing also, the smaller the band, the larger the antenna, with 900mhz being the largest. For a quad, that's a consideration as well.

[daneger21]

True, i did see the omnis for 900mhz have a 7" diameter

[rstekeur]

Doesn't 900mhz get a lot of interference if you live close to city's or cell towers? I've been thing about getting a 5.8 because I live close to a city

[blindside]

ifyou are looking for that range you are going to need your amateur radio lic. with all the hype going around about drones we need to be doing everything to standard.

[daneger21]

Originally Posted by blindside

ifyou are looking for that range you are going to need your amateur radio lic. with all the hype going around about drones we need to be doing everything to standard.

Thanks for the antenna recommendations lol

[aaronredbaron]

Originally Posted by daneger21

Thanks for the antenna recommendations lol

He's right... If you are going to be using amature radio frequencies, do us all a favor and make sure you get your HAM license. You will likely enjoy the process and learn valuable information anyway. Its only $15, good for 10 years, and you learn a lot about the very questions you are asking here. (for example, how to select a proper antenna...) There are way too many people flying FPV without a HAM license, and just because others are doing it doesn't justify it. Practically every FPV system available requires a HAM license.

[WNCmotard]

I'm fully within the legal bands right now, but will be doing my HAM soon and going UHF for radio control and 1280mhz for video.

[daneger21]

Originally Posted by aaronredbaron

He's right... If you are going to be using amature radio frequencies, do us all a favor and make sure you get your HAM license. You will likely enjoy the process and learn valuable information anyway. Its only $15, good for 10 years, and you learn a lot about the very questions you are asking here. (for example, how to select a proper antenna...) There are way too many people flying FPV without a HAM license, and just because others are doing it doesn't justify it. Practically every FPV system available requires a HAM license.

Thanks for the antenna recommendations lol

I want real life experience not what a test says. Never said i wasnt licensed or going to get it, just wish people would stop thinking everyone but themselves are newbies and illiterate.