Thanks for the info guys. With the two FPVLR antennas on my + I've gotten altitude of over 4400 feet at about 500 feet horizontal distance away from me. Didnt have a neck strap at the time and aiming became critical at that distance so I kept losing signal at that point unless I was totally still. This was NOT in a rural area so I'm guessing I could have gotten even further in a rural environment and with a neckstrap to help steady the transmitter. I'll be heading out into a very rural area this weekend and will try some horizontal distance testing as well as another high altitude run.
Tony: I understand what you are saying about amplification. Im just reluctant to add another battery and amp to the back of my transmitter (inconvenient) hence my question about just getting a more powerful transmitter altogether. But the frequency issue clearly takes away that option, and not sure if Im even all that interested in going beyond 4k feet right now on any regular basis anyways. what I will be interested in is whenever technology (whether its DJI or someone else) does whatever is needed frequency or transmission wise to allow us to do non line of sight flying. So many times I've flown maybe 1000 or 2000 feet away beyond a tree line over into a clear area..I then want to descend into that clear area but of course, as soon as the trees get in the way of the signal, a RTH begins. I'd LOVE to be able to fly this over and beyond a structure (or trees) and land or hover low for great pics, then ascend and fly back. THATS what Im waiting for.