Thanks for the info guys. The WiFi settings appear useful extending range.
*** In return, I share key information about the 5.8ghz RC Uplink and the P3S' internal 2.4ghz WiFi Repeater Module. ***
Far more than just raw Drag Strip Type, Down and Back, Deep Downrange Flying; doing something practically useful with extended radio link range capability contributes to our mutual interests and progresses the evolution of the technology ecosystem.
Solving issues related to deep down range radio link performance
and especially hard to reach or penetrate locations is an interesting endeavor. (such as around corners or over hills or buildings.)
These four drone systems are essentially the same from a radio hardware (and functional) architectural perspective:
- Phantom 3 Standard - P3S
- Phantom 3 4K - P3 4K
- Phantom 2 Vision+ - P2V+
- Phantom 2 Vision - P2V
Note: The P3S simply moved the WiFi Repeater Module inside the controller. It's possible to remove the P3S' internal WiFi module and mount it outside and completely separate it from the controller; rendering it in effect just like the P2V+.
Special Note: The P3 4K's internal WiFI Module is not removable since the engineers this time tighter integrated the 2.4ghz WiFi repeater circuit onto the controllers main board. Too bad for us !
Observation: Here we are in the latter part of the second decade of the 21st century and RC controllers STILL tightly combine the Operator Control Hardware (ie joysticks and switches) with the Radio Link Hardware (ie the transmitter and antenna). That means the human is both the operator and radio control tower. (the next extension of that logic is to mount a lightning rod ontop our heads.)
Military Drones: Have you ever heard of long range military drone operators standing outside ? They are thousands miles away which means the Radio Link Hardware is always detached from the Operator Control Hardware.
The four drones listed above use the same radio scheme as shown below:
(there are subtle protocol differences; hence the controllers are not compatible between the P3S and P2V+)
- 2.4ghz WiFi - Video / Telemetry Downlink <-- standard WiFi protocol with a few added non-published schemes. Note: The P3S' internal WiFi Module is easily removed since it is held in place via a two row pin socket strip and a small piece of double sticky foam. (Power and pin-out information is available.) It is powered using 3.3VDC. For the most part, it does the same exact function as the P2V+' wifi module; of course engineers like to change things so the P3S' wifi module is not compatible with the P2V+.
- 5.8ghz RC - Control Uplink <-- A Packet based frequency hopping scheme using FSK modulation. The in-air bit rate is 1mbs. Packets contain a Control and Payload section. The Control section contains a unique address based on the serial number of your drones controller; not the drone itself. The Payload section is fixed width (up to 32 bytes) and also encoded with a 16 bit CRC. The Payload section contains joystick and switch position information. The controller transmits Packets are blindly repeated ~143 packets per second. The controller is transmit only and the drone is receive only. The 5.8ghz radio hardware does not support two-way communications (ie they are not transceivers). If a few Packets get through per second to the drone then controlled flight is maintained. Else, the drone times out and executes an RTH (Return To Home).
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*** I'd like to share (
for free) as much as I can "without" the perception of promoting a specific
Vendor product.
To fly out of (or in to) places that are completely impossible for all other drone solutions; that seems to be a core and mutual objective for many of us.
Firstly: Like the majority on this forum, I have a passion for our hobby-interest-sport-venture.
Secondly: I started a small UAV business venture; trying hard to make happen on a very tight budget. (trying to post on this forum separately as a Basic Member and also as a would-be Vendor has produced a few random warnings or censorship notices... which I respect and want to avoid. It's confusing and prone to subjective interpretation.)
*** I'd like to share more of my experiences as a
Basic Member on this forum; and... not intended as directly promoting a specific
Vendor product.
> EXAMPLE VIDEO LINK < change the resolution gear-looking setting icon to 720p or better
This video demonstrates combining multiple third party Vendor products. What emerges is a unique niche-solution that no other drone system can come close to achieving (as of this date). (ie ... a solution equipped with 3 axis motion stabilized HD realtime color video downlink.)
*** In order to openly share more as a
Basic Member, I'll attempt to remove specific text and graphics embedded in certain videos in hope that it makes it OK to publish and portray as
"Vendor Agnostic".
At this point, I'd rather just be granted and switched back to a
Basic Member than labeled and tracked as a
Vendor.
