dBi on a patch antenna

[DOG]

Hey there. Ive heard that the higher the dBi on a patch antenna that it will increase your range limit and reception? My stock patch has 6.5 dBi and I found one with 14.5 dBi and I was thinking about getting one only if it's true about increasing the range limit and reception. Any thought on this. Thanks

[pvolcko]

Yes, you'll get more reception sensitivity. But it will also be more directional, meaning you will have to keep the quad in a cone like zone leading out from the antenna to get that reception capability. I believe people that use these kinds of antennas tend to use them either mounted to multi-antenna arrays to cover larger areas, or have them mounted on head gear so they can turn their head to keep it pointed in the direction of the quad. They may also have auto tracker mounts for tripods that will keep the antenna pointed at the quad, but they're probably pretty pricey. The further off axis you are, the more drastically the reception clarity will drop. If you aren't doing long distance flying or having to maintain reception through trees or something, personally I'd stick with less directional antennas. And if you do want to try out higher gain, directional antennas, make sure to conduct some tests to get a feel for how far off axis you can go, how far away you can pick up, etc. before you try to rip up the skys with it.

[DOG]

Thank you Paul Yeah I'm not really trying to go long distance. Like you mention, it's mostly maintaining my reception through trees and concrete structure objects like my house and mother in law house "Cabana" that sisters up to the main house. I guess I'm going to have to buy it and give it a try. That's the only way to find out. It's $20.00 for the patch and I wasted a lot more money on other stuff anyway

[Stambo]

If you are running diversity, which I think you are, make sure your second antenna is omni directional.
All that will happen is if you are out of the directional cone it will revert to the omni.
Directionals are good for pulling the best signal through trees and stuff so it's worth a shot.
I use a helical to get better reception in an area around my place that has some interference.
Makes a big difference.

[DOG]

Hey there Stambo. Yes sir, I do have a omni directional. I have two, one for the goggles and one for the quad http://www.getfpv.com/fpv/antennas/lume ... -rhcp.html and I was planning to get this patch antenna http://graysonhobby.com/aomway-circular ... p-sma.html or like you mention, a helical antenna https://www.helidirect.com/fpv/fpv-ante ... ic-v3.html. Which should I try out first, Aomway or helical? Derek also mention that he has a helical and works great for where he fly's.

[pvolcko]

I second Stambo's suggestion there of using it with a diversity receiver, such as:

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/5-8ghz-32ch ... y-vrx.html
https://www.getfpv.com/lumenier-rx5gdr- ... eband.html
https://www.getfpv.com/fat-shark-5-8ghz ... v2445.html

The bottom one is kind of a compromise diversity receiver. It will select an antenna with the best signal strength, but not necessarily the best image quality. You can have a high gain and resulting relatively high signal strength on a bad quality image due to reflected signals and other phenomena, while the lower gain omni antenna may pick up a more direct signal path that offers better overall signal quality while being lower power/strength. The benefit of the other two is that they will actually receive on both antennas at the same time and then choose the video output with the least amount of snow/garbage on it, giving you a the higher quality image of the two, regardless of the signal strength it was received at.

[DOG]

Thanks guys That was my first choice was the Lumenir-rx5gdr. The problem is my goggles are diversity but has nothing for any kind of input That's why I'm trying out different antennas on the goggles and quad . I don't want to purchase another set of goggles if I don't have to but Sounds like I have to purchases real goggles in order to get the clear reception I'm looking for I was hoping not to go down that road.

[pvolcko]

Buy goggles with an external video input, then use these kind of receiver options. Will save you money overall and allow you to more easily upgrade pieces as need and funds allow.

Cheapo quantums have simple A/V input capability: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/quanum-diy- ... 2-pro.html and many other do too. Are you sure your googles don't? It's fairly unusual for FPV goggle systems to not support simple analog A/V input and/or HDMI input.

[DOG]

Hey there Paul. No my goggles has no input. Here are the goggles I have http://graysonhobby.com/eachine-vrd2-v2 ... rsity.html. If I have to get new goggles, I might as well splurge for a good pair instead of el cheapo. I bought the one I have because I didn't know what I was getting into. My bad I should of done some research before purchasing them. I didn't think I was going to have to much fun but I was wrong, once again

[Stambo]

The biggest problem with directional antennas mounted on your goggles (head) is keeping them pointed in the right direction.
(Any decent directional antenna will give you an improvement, if it's pointed in the right direction.)
Diversity, as you have in that set, negates this to a degree as the omni will take over if you end up out of your directional cone.
This is the beauty of a ground station, you can point the directional antenna to the area of weakest signal.
The down side of a ground station is that it is not so easily transported.
I do not have a receiver in my dominators but I will probably look at getting one when I can afford it for the added portability.
This does not mean I will stop using the ground station, more that I will not need to use it for some flights.

[DOG]

Hey guys. I was just looking around and I found this and want to know if this will do the job for what I need http://graysonhobby.com/eachine-goggles ... les-2.html I'll just sell my 2 pair of FPV goggles for cheap then or save some cash and get something like Skyzone or Fatshark?

[DOG]

Hey guys. I was just looking around and I found this and want to know if this will do the job for what I need http://graysonhobby.com/eachine-goggles ... les-2.html I'll just sell my 2 pair of FPV goggles for cheap then or save some cash and get something like Skyzone or Fatshark?

I also found this one but haven't heard anything good or bad about it http://www.buddyrc.com/hiee-7-hd-5-8g-4 ... d-set.html

[pvolcko]

Okay, you can get a directional antenna and simply use it with the googles you have. Yes you'll need to keep it pointed in the direction of the quad, but as Stambo said, the omni will pick up if you go off-axis enough to lose signal on the directional. Test things out, see if the increased reception is something you really want and can benefit from for the kind of flying and the locations you fly. If it is, then figure out what the best way to utilize such an antenna will be for you. Ground station, keep with the head mounted rig, multiple directionals or stick with one direction and an omni, etc.

No need to spend money or sell anything off at the moment. Try out an antenna and see if it helps or not, move on from there.

[Stambo]

The Eachine set look like they only have HDMI in, so if you intend to eventually use a ground station they are not much good to you.
The second set appear to have AV in and a 7" screen.
Nice looking unit but unknown brand.
As Paul said, try the directional antenna with your current set (if you can keep your head pointed in the right direction).
You can also use your head to track the quad from the sound, by moving a little when the signal reduces you may be able to improve it a bit.

[Lee]

Check these goggles out DOG.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbbflaWHXdI&t=618s

[DOG]

Sorry for the late update but I want to thank all the members for their advice I ended up using two lumenier Pagoda2 antenna. One on the goggles and one on the quad.

IMG_1356.JPG (185.21 KiB) Viewed 5264 times

I'm happy to say that the reception and the quad dropping has gone away. For what I want to do, this combination works just fine for me . Maybe latter on down the road I'll splurge for new goggles and ground station . In the beginning, I wasn't sure if FPV was my thing. Well... I was wrong It's a blast when I pretty much able to go anywhere I want and not leave the chair On the other hand there's nothing like the raw power and control sensation I get when I fly my helis Between the two, I very satisfied in all the fun I'm having Thanks again everyone