I almost hate to bring this up. I know it has been discussed many times before. But I don't' rally want to have to read all the back posts to find the answer.
I purchased the ARGtek Range Extender Mod and installed it. At one point, I was able to go out 1,250 feet before "Signal Lost" message. And I was able to up up to 450 feet with no problems. Video remained constant. But as I got closed to the Home position, I started getting the Signal Lost message again. I was getting it intermittently at about 300 feet. The signal was just not reliable at over 300 feet. With the Mod, I fully expected to get somewhere around 1500 at least. My altitude for the test was 150ft, and I tested both the pole and the flat antenna with the same results. I always faced the Drone. I was in the open desert, so there was no interference. The app firmware is 2.8.1. Until I get a reply to this post, I'll continue to read other posts to see what I can find. At this point, I'm not sure the cost of the mod was worth it. My unit is a P3S.
Any advice would be appreciated.
GD
Before you fly, do you use a Wi-Fi analyzer app to see what type of signals may be causing interference? I know you said you fly in the desert, but it would help to use the analyzer. I did this for all areas I designated "safe for flying". I would first map out an area using Bing Maps and then when I arrived, I used the Wi-Fi analyzer to see if there are any signals in the area, if there were, I'd do a test flight, and then move to another area. Needless to say, I always got better distance when there were no Wi-Fi signals in the area, so I mainly flew far away from inhabited areas.
However, I'm willing to wager that the cables in the ARGtek Range Extender kit are sub par.
This type is better quality:
Not cheap black cables that are used in the ARGtek Range Extender:
http://data:image/webp;base64,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 http://data:image/webp;base64,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
However, it may also be the antennas in the ARGtek Range Extender kit. For example, I bought the
FPVLR antenna mod and
Alfa antennas and did a comparison of the two. In my one test (that's all I needed) the FPVLR wasn't much better than the stock range I was getting (~3100 ft) whereas the Alfa antennas got me over 4800 ft before loss of signal. Shortly after I gave up trying to mod the P3S and bought a P3A. Much happier now. Went over 11,000 ft stock (in ideal conditions, no wi-fi signals in area).
At this point, I'm not sure the cost of the mod was worth it
I hear ya. I never sold mine as I felt like I would be taking advantage of the buyer. I can't guarantee that the FPVLR antenna would benefit someone else, however, I do know for a fact that the Alfa antennas were far less expensive than FPVLR, and I can guarantee that it would benefit
any stock P3S. One good thing about the FPVLR kit was that it had those better quality cables I referenced above. I actually used the black cables on another P3S controller and still got good distance using the Alfa antennas; Not so good when I swapped the FPVLR antenna on the cables.