What? I thought both Wifi and Lightbridge are the same, using embedded digital data transferred over analog waveform?
No, these are different technologies, but both use 2.4Ghz. Both use digital technology, however Lightbridge is a one way transmission of video, like a digital TV broadcast. In addition to the video broadcast down to the ground, a separate 2.4Ghz RC digital signal goes up to the craft to control navigation.
Wi-Fi uses TCP/IP that includes a lot of two way handshaking, just like your computer uses. These TCPIP handshakes insure that every bit makes it to the destination, but increases latency and shortens video communication distance because of dropped bits having to rebroadcast all the time. In fringe areas you get lots of dropped frames, and the behavior and time to reconnect is worse with Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi is cheaper to build because of all of the off-the-shelf chips available, used in laptops. However TCP/IP was never designed to broadcast video over the air efficiently, thousands of feet away with low latency, like Lightbridge.
With video transmissions we don't care about a bit being dropped, it's not important. The increased distance and a more consistent low latency video is way more important. So a one way broadcast of video data works better in several respects.
1. Lower and more consistent video latency
2. Longer distance communication
3. Quicker reconnect times at fringe distances when video is lost
4. Earlier tell-tale signs of wandering into a fringe area (screen static) with Lightbridge, instead of sudden video drop out with WiFi.
5. Better penetration through trees (but not much).
Lightbridge is the bomb! And so far only DJI offers anything like it.