Almost 2mi from $33 DIY...good?

[rmsmis]

I've been having fun with my new P3S, but I couldn't wait to maximize the distance since I live in a rural area with wide open spaces to fly. I just couldn't justify the DBS, ARGtek, or FPVLR kits. Really they are just bigger antennas with nice mounting. I bought 3 antenna cables, two 2.4Ghz panel antenna, and a 5.8Ghz panel antenna. I mounted the 5.8 in the hole where the old antenna came out, and drilled holes for the cables of the two 2.4 antenna. I have the 5.8 antenna pointing up, and the 2.4s pointing down. I tested my build out a little bit ago and my $33 setup gave me a maximum distance of 10,253ft. I'm very happy with the performance so I'm just passing this on as an idea for a less expensive option.

 

[Tony Cowan]

Show us a pic of this setup. That's pretty good stuff you did there. Nice. Congrats. Almost 2 miles for sure. Did it just blink out?


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[gvsukids]

I've been having fun with my new P3S, but I couldn't wait to maximize the distance since I live in a rural area with wide open spaces to fly. I just couldn't justify the DBS, ARGtek, or FPVLR kits. Really they are just bigger antennas with nice mounting. I bought 3 antenna cables, two 2.4Ghz panel antenna, and a 5.8Ghz panel antenna. I mounted the 5.8 in the hole where the old antenna came out, and drilled holes for the cables of the two 2.4 antenna. I have the 5.8 antenna pointing up, and the 2.4s pointing down. I tested my build out a little bit ago and my $33 setup gave me a maximum distance of 10,253ft. I'm very happy with the performance so I'm just passing this on as an idea for a less expensive option.

More details on parts could help us out. I've seen others with similar setups

 

[rmsmis]

Here you go...

2016-03-04 19_34_38-HealthyDrones.com - Innovative Flight Data Analysis That Matters - Chromium

• rmsmis
• Mar 4, 2016

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• rmsmis
• Mar 4, 2016

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• rmsmis
• Mar 4, 2016

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• rmsmis
• Mar 4, 2016

 

[rmsmis]

More details on parts could help us out. I've seen others with similar setups

Here is a list of parts from eBay.
Alfa 7 dBi gain RP-SMA directional panel antenna Wi-Fi APA-M04
Best FPV 5.8Ghz 11dBi High-gain Panel Antenna 200mW TX
3 x 8" Mini PCI IPX U.FL to RP-SMA Antenna RG178 Cable for DJI Phanom 3 Standard

 

[Alan Russel]

Hi pilots I find using a $5 DIY Windsurfer on my P3s (CE mode) easily doubles my range..it just works!

 

[rmsmis]

View attachment 46074 Hi pilots I find using a $5 DIY Windsurfer on my P3s (CE mode) easily doubles my range..it just works!

I can't tell if this is real or some sort of SPAM. A windsurfer will not really help a Standard very much because the only external antenna to use it with is the 5.8Ghz FPV antenna. The 2.4Ghz antennas inside are really what get you the distance since they are for controlling the UAV. If you are loosing video before you loose connection, then a windsurver (or cut beer can) would help.

 

[LuvMyTJ]

I've been having fun with my new P3S, but I couldn't wait to maximize the distance since I live in a rural area with wide open spaces to fly. I just couldn't justify the DBS, ARGtek, or FPVLR kits. Really they are just bigger antennas with nice mounting. I bought 3 antenna cables, two 2.4Ghz panel antenna, and a 5.8Ghz panel antenna. I mounted the 5.8 in the hole where the old antenna came out, and drilled holes for the cables of the two 2.4 antenna. I have the 5.8 antenna pointing up, and the 2.4s pointing down. I tested my build out a little bit ago and my $33 setup gave me a maximum distance of 10,253ft. I'm very happy with the performance so I'm just passing this on as an idea for a less expensive option.

Nice job. I have been talking about doing just what you did but with an omni-directional 5.8.

 

[gvsukids]

Here is a list of parts from eBay.
Alfa 7 dBi gain RP-SMA directional panel antenna Wi-Fi APA-M04
Best FPV 5.8Ghz 11dBi High-gain Panel Antenna 200mW TX
3 x 8" Mini PCI IPX U.FL to RP-SMA Antenna RG178 Cable for DJI Phanom 3 Standard

Can you show us a pic of the setup? Is it similar to http://www.phantompilots.com/index.php?posts/682493?

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

A windsurfer will not really help a Standard very much because the only external antenna to use it with is the 5.8Ghz FPV antenna. The 2.4Ghz antennas inside are really what get you the distance since they are for controlling the UAV.

Other way around. On the Standard, 5.8 is for control and the 2.4s are for the wifi video link.
Phantom 3 Standard - Specs, FAQ, manual, video tutorials and DJI GO | DJI


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[LuvMyTJ]

Can you show us a pic of the setup? Is it similar to http://www.phantompilots.com/index.php?posts/682493?

He did in post #4

 

[JamesG2571]

I got 2890ft (881m) out of my stock P3s which I am happy about.

Also I am from the UK so my Phantom uses CE which has a shorter range than the FCC range.

 

[Mike's Bird]

I've been having fun with my new P3S, but I couldn't wait to maximize the distance since I live in a rural area with wide open spaces to fly. I just couldn't justify the DBS, ARGtek, or FPVLR kits. Really they are just bigger antennas with nice mounting. I bought 3 antenna cables, two 2.4Ghz panel antenna, and a 5.8Ghz panel antenna. I mounted the 5.8 in the hole where the old antenna came out, and drilled holes for the cables of the two 2.4 antenna. I have the 5.8 antenna pointing up, and the 2.4s pointing down. I tested my build out a little bit ago and my $33 setup gave me a maximum distance of 10,253ft. I'm very happy with the performance so I'm just passing this on as an idea for a less expensive option.

Did you do a 'before and after' mod test? How far could you go in the same location in the stock configuration?

 

[dg8882]

I have been waiting for a good and cheap signal extender, thank you for this!
I am ordering mine right now, it's only $35 so even if it doesn't do much, not a big loss.
I will reply back with my results when i got it together!

 

[kirk2579]

Other way around. On the Standard, 5.8 is for control and the 2.4s are for the wifi video link.
Phantom 3 Standard - Specs, FAQ, manual, video tutorials and DJI GO | DJI


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+1
you beat me to that ,

having had a few p2's one being a plus.......

 

[gvsukids]

How was this mod installed?

 

[PapiGordo]

View attachment 46074 Hi pilots I find using a $5 DIY Windsurfer on my P3s (CE mode) easily doubles my range..it just works!

How do you get it to go in CE mode?

 

[finalfantasyfan]

Other way around. On the Standard, 5.8 is for control and the 2.4s are for the wifi video link.
Phantom 3 Standard - Specs, FAQ, manual, video tutorials and DJI GO | DJI


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Yes. I got 7800 ft with Stock 5.8Ghz antenna. I put windsurfer on it and got 12600 ft on the same path. So the antenna is definitely used for control.

 

[PapiGordo]

Nice mod!!

So this means that instead of buying a DBS MOD for $110, you could buy some mods for less than a third of that and still achieve double the distance?! That's insane! I'd love to give this a try but I don't want to drill into the RC...

 

[Mike's Bird]

How do you get it to go in CE mode?

The remote switches automatically between the FCC and CE according to the GPS data of your location.
Here it is from DJI (p24):
"CE or FCC Compliance
The remote controller complies with CE compliance as default. Switch between CE and FCC is
automatically adjusted according to the GPS locations acquired
by the DJI GO app."