P2V Plus upgrades for beginners

[neoneo]

Im no stranger to quad copters but I'm new to the Phantom series (and electronics). Im 13 flights in and my max range so far is 3500 feet out at 650 alt. I want to go farther but keep it below 400. There's too many low flying planes around here. the suggestions i've gotten are antennas like these:

the TP Link 5 dbi antenna
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004PF ... PDKIKX0DER

and the U.FL Mini PCI to RP-SMA Pigtail Antenna WiFi Cable
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005UW ... DZ03XONGGK

but should i put that on the wifi box first?
should i put it on the controller first?
should i be looking for the antennas for the quadcopter itself?

I would like to graduate in steps. maybe one upgrade a week or so.

bentwng suggested:
12dBi 2.4GHz helical antennas (google search 12 or 14dbi 2.4GHz antennas and all kinds of products pop up w/ all prices. confusing)
14dBi 5.8GHz patch antenna
2.4GHz pinwheel antenna
but idk what all that means.

in this video (http://youtu.be/aEHzDi4hHKU) he does an excellent job explaining how to do it. and he makes it look easy. but I still have to ask… What do i buy first? I don't want to start with a 5di for $8 then upgrade to a 12dbi for $25 and be stuck with an extra antenna (the 5dbi) lying around. but at the same time I don't want to spend $60 per upgrade.
So if anyone can shed some light on how a newbie non electrician like myself can upgrade painlessly please let me know. post some links to products that i and other beginners can just click on and buy, then install.
Thank you

 

[J Dot]

Visit ( fpvlr.com )
Search p2v+ FPV antennas!
I'm going with the stage 2 ones.
No mods to vision, only controller!
2 to 4 times stock range!

Jerry D
USA
( J Dot )

 

[neoneo]

Visit ( fpvlr.com )
Search p2v+ FPV antennas!
I'm going with the stage 2 ones.
No mods to vision, only controller!
2 to 4 times stock range!

Jerry D
USA
( J Dot )

fpvlr.com has a lot of good stuff but the prices are ridiculousness. for $14 i could get a 5 or 6dbi set up off amazon that is said to boost 50%. idk. maybe next month i'll put out another $168 for the stage 2. please let me know how it works out for you

 

[neoneo]

flying a couple hundred feet away (in an urban neighborhood) and descending to 10 feet (out of line of sight) causes disruption. will a antenna on the wifi box help with that or does it just give me more range (distance).

 

[neoneo]

my antenna and cord are on the way. Amazon

 

[DBS]

fpvlr.com has a lot of good stuff but the prices are ridiculousness. for $14 i could get a 5 or 6dbi set up off amazon that is said to boost 50%. idk.

my antenna and cord are on the way. Amazon

The antenna you linked... that is a 2.4ghz antenna so it will be for the wifi extender box... it would work for the controller also but it wouldn't be 5dBi anymore... The "50% boost" you are referring to would be "50% better than the 3dBi 2.4ghz wifi antenna that comes with your wifi router"... probly better off with the antenna that comes with the controller...

Also ... if you are going to put this on your wifi extender it won't gain you any range as it is not a better antenna than what is inside the wifi extender in the first place... The wifi antennas on the P2V+ extender are circular polarized and directional making them sensitive when pointed towards the phantom... The antenna you linked to is vertically polarized and omni-directional making them less sensitive and missmatched to the Phantom's polarity... but "maybe" better for flying when you don't want to move the controller around and point it at the phantom in a small area... I wouldn't plan on that working too well... using a vertically polarized antenna on the ground with circular polarized antennas on the phantom is bound to give you less than what you've already got.

 

[neoneo]

fpvlr.com has a lot of good stuff but the prices are ridiculousness. for $14 i could get a 5 or 6dbi set up off amazon that is said to boost 50%. idk.

my antenna and cord are on the way. Amazon

The antenna you linked... that is a 2.4ghz antenna so it will be for the wifi extender box... it would work for the controller also but it wouldn't be 5dBi anymore... The "50% boost" you are referring to would be "50% better than the 3dBi 2.4ghz wifi antenna that comes with your wifi router"... probly better off with the antenna that comes with the controller...

Also ... if you are going to put this on your wifi extender it won't gain you any range as it is not a better antenna than what is inside the wifi extender in the first place... The wifi antennas on the P2V+ extender are circular polarized and directional making them sensitive when pointed towards the phantom... The antenna you linked to is vertically polarized and omni-directional making them less sensitive and missmatched to the Phantom's polarity... but "maybe" better for flying when you don't want to move the controller around and point it at the phantom in a small area... I wouldn't plan on that working too well... using a vertically polarized antenna on the ground with circular polarized antennas on the phantom is bound to give you less than what you've already got.

I ended up getting the 8dbi antenna.
http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-ANT240 ... words=8dbi
Im not very good with antenna's or electronics so i have to rely on internet videos and reviews. this is the first i've heard of the circular polarized and directional having issues with omni directional. but i guess i'll find out lol. And no I'm not a big fan of keeping the tx pointed at the drone. when the sun shines so bright that i cant see my screen, i turn around. Which happens exactly every time i fly during the day
take a quick peek at these vids and let me know what you think:

http://youtu.be/aEHzDi4hHKU
http://youtu.be/DhyLySJK4vs

 

[tizzl10]

you will be better off getting a panel antenna. I went 4000+ feet distance today with this bad boy. still had control and could have kept going.

http://www.amazon.com/Docooler-Antenna- ... el+antenna

 

[neoneo]

maybe next month. i'll see how the 8dbi works for now. I got 4600 feet stock yesterday and i only turned around cause i was 800 feet up and i was fighting the wind big time. We'll see how much further the 8dbi gets me. i'll keep you guys posted.

 

[neoneo]

fpvlr.com has a lot of good stuff but the prices are ridiculousness. for $14 i could get a 5 or 6dbi set up off amazon that is said to boost 50%. idk.

my antenna and cord are on the way. Amazon

The antenna you linked... that is a 2.4ghz antenna so it will be for the wifi extender box... it would work for the controller also but it wouldn't be 5dBi anymore... The "50% boost" you are referring to would be "50% better than the 3dBi 2.4ghz wifi antenna that comes with your wifi router"... probly better off with the antenna that comes with the controller...

Also ... if you are going to put this on your wifi extender it won't gain you any range as it is not a better antenna than what is inside the wifi extender in the first place... The wifi antennas on the P2V+ extender are circular polarized and directional making them sensitive when pointed towards the phantom... The antenna you linked to is vertically polarized and omni-directional making them less sensitive and missmatched to the Phantom's polarity... but "maybe" better for flying when you don't want to move the controller around and point it at the phantom in a small area... I wouldn't plan on that working too well... using a vertically polarized antenna on the ground with circular polarized antennas on the phantom is bound to give you less than what you've already got.

so do you know if the 8bi antenna will get around the buildings blocking my line of sight better or will it just increase my line of sight range.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UB ... UTF8&psc=1

 

[phantomguy]

No antenna will remove necessity for line of sight

 

[borgqueenx]

you will be better off getting a panel antenna. I went 4000+ feet distance today with this bad boy. still had control and could have kept going.

http://www.amazon.com/Docooler-Antenna- ... el+antenna

Would you mind sharing how to install that?

 

[DBS]

The antenna you linked... that is a 2.4ghz antenna so it will be for the wifi extender box... it would work for the controller also but it wouldn't be 5dBi anymore... The "50% boost" you are referring to would be "50% better than the 3dBi 2.4ghz wifi antenna that comes with your wifi router"... probly better off with the antenna that comes with the controller...

Also ... if you are going to put this on your wifi extender it won't gain you any range as it is not a better antenna than what is inside the wifi extender in the first place... The wifi antennas on the P2V+ extender are circular polarized and directional making them sensitive when pointed towards the phantom... The antenna you linked to is vertically polarized and omni-directional making them less sensitive and missmatched to the Phantom's polarity... but "maybe" better for flying when you don't want to move the controller around and point it at the phantom in a small area... I wouldn't plan on that working too well... using a vertically polarized antenna on the ground with circular polarized antennas on the phantom is bound to give you less than what you've already got.

so do you know if the 8bi antenna will get around the buildings blocking my line of sight better or will it just increase my line of sight range.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UB ... UTF8&psc=1

You're not gonna get away from line of sight problems with 5.8ghz... we would have to switch to a much lower frequency like the 700Mhz band used by 4G LTE cell towers that will penetrate buildings and still give good cell reception inside homes ... 5.8ghz is actually moving our controller in the wrong direction for long distance flight... we can fight that problem with antenna tuning and good line of sight connection... but once you start putting obstacles in the way it's all over.

Think of one of those booming car stereos driving by with the windows rolled up... you can hear the bass (lower frequency) coming thru the solid body panels... but the treble (higher frequency) is all muffled and muted because it can't make it thru solid objects as well... same type of concept and you can't change it by buying better tweeters.

 

[tizzl10]

you will be better off getting a panel antenna. I went 4000+ feet distance today with this bad boy. still had control and could have kept going.

http://www.amazon.com/Docooler-Antenna- ... el+antenna

Would you mind sharing how to install that?

it's a simple install..all you need is a ufl to rpa-sma cable and the panel or patch antenna. open the controller and carefully remove the white glue holding the original antenna. replace with new cable. that's pretty much it. check out youtube for detailed instructions.

 

[neoneo]

You're not gonna get away from line of sight problems with 5.8ghz... we would have to switch to a much lower frequency like the 700Mhz band used by 4G LTE cell towers that will penetrate buildings and still give good cell reception inside homes ... 5.8ghz is actually moving our controller in the wrong direction for long distance flight... we can fight that problem with antenna tuning and good line of sight connection... but once you start putting obstacles in the way it's all over.

Think of one of those booming car stereos driving by with the windows rolled up... you can hear the bass (lower frequency) coming thru the solid body panels... but the treble (higher frequency) is all muffled and muted because it can't make it thru solid objects as well... same type of concept and you can't change it by buying better tweeters.

have you heard of anyone doing that?
would that effect the range?
It would be cool cruise at 100 feet up for 2000 feet or so

 

[DBS]

It would be cool cruise at 100 feet up for 2000 feet or so

Dude... I do that every day and I haven't changed a thing on my setup yet :?

 

[neoneo]

It would be cool cruise at 100 feet up for 2000 feet or so

Dude... I do that every day and I haven't changed a thing on my setup yet :?

wow, i lost signal just going behind my house twice at 100 ft alt. i have a lake behind my back yard that has already claimed a mini cp (3d helicopter) so i pull back to the front of the house immediately. even with the failsafe i don't quite feel comfy going over water yet. i'll soon be testing it going down the beach in Atlantic city. i hope all those buildings/casinos right on the boardwalk don't cause issues. I can always go 1 town over where theres no buildings at all and fly there. that sounds like a better plan for testing distance. then i'll go get some nice shots of the casinos.

 

[borgqueenx]

you will be better off getting a panel antenna. I went 4000+ feet distance today with this bad boy. still had control and could have kept going.

http://www.amazon.com/Docooler-Antenna- ... el+antenna

Also, how much battery does this use? How much battery life you get with installing this?

 

[neoneo]

It would be cool cruise at 100 feet up for 2000 feet or so

Dude... I do that every day and I haven't changed a thing on my setup yet :?

How?

 

[Didjelirium]

I managed to go to 350m high and about twice that in distance. Fpv was still live, so was the control. I still didn't reach the point where the drone HAS to come back, still chickening out. Already had my heart beating fast the few times i tried the RTH function, always afraid something might go wrong.
Switched to NazaM, trying the home location thanks to IOC, still on firmware 3.0 and no major issues so far (aside from an accidental bumping on the floor due to my phone which slipped and pushed the left stick all the way down' while i was just taking off).

I am thinking about modding up the controller and wifi repeater but afraid it might cos more troubles, less battery and also not the need so far because it's going far enough for me straight out of the box, even in strong wind as i tried today. Though sometimes I happen to randomly lose the fpv connection, for a few seconds, probably due to the many wifi interferences in Shanghai. Is the fpv really more reliable when modded antennas are added ?

Found this on Taobao.com (don't be afraid of the chinese characters) and was thinking about ordering some since it's used by most of you professional modders !

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z ... 8530147639

Thanks for sharing your tips and infos and advices on this forum, it helps quite a lot on my daily flying basis.

Bless !