What direction do I point the Antenna's when in flight

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I'm sure this is a stupid question and is answered somewhere on the forum, but I'm going to ask anyway ?

I know the antenna's need to point where the AC is in sky so there must be a way from the telemetry display that shows you where exactly to point the antenna's. When you 2500' out and not flying a straight line, it's not so simple.

THX TO ANYONE WHO CAN HELP
 
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When you are that far out even at higher altitude the drone is at a relatively low angle in proportion to your RC.
I have best experience with having the antennas always vertical unless the drone is close or above.
 
You have to know the beam-width of the antenna you're using. Direction and angle is not as critical with an omni-directional antenna as a directional flat panel. If in doubt, with the omni antennas, just face the direction of the drone. With the flat panel, try to make it perpendicular to the drone, based on its distance and height. a lot depends on the antenna design and dBi. Here is a more exhaustive explanation:

Decibel-isotropic (dBi) refers to "decibels relative to isotropic radiator". Decibel was a term coined by Bell Telephone Laboratories to measure transmission loss in one mile of cable at a frequency of 795.8Hz. OK? Now, ram-dump all that and think of a perfect omni-directional antenna that transmits power in all directions. The signals would appear as a sphere and the power measured on any point of the sphere would be the same as any other point. The antenna doesn't exist but it's power would be 0dBi. Now think of the antenna transmitting in a single plane around the antenna (like Saturn's rings). The power measured on the edge of the ring would be more than measured at, say, directly overhead the antenna. That ratio is expressed in dBi and is the "gain" of the antenna. When comparing the dBi of two antennas, it's imperative to know the angle of the beam. For example, two antennas might be 7dBi but one radiates horizontally in a ring, as previously described. The other has a beam width of 60 degrees (30 above and 30 below the previous antenna). Which one is more useful to the remote controller transmitter/receiver and the UAV? With the first, you would have to point the radiation pattern of the antenna directly at the UAV. With the second, you only need to keep the UAV within the beam width. Now, let's confuse the scenario with two dipole antennas (what is furnished with your DJI controller). Without going into wavelength and frequency, imagine that each antenna is producing the same doughnut pattern as we previous examined. One antenna is the "north pole" and one is the "south pole". A new doughnut ring is produced, between them, that extends beyond each the two antenna's propagation. Imagine the new doughnut being squeezed between each of the doughnuts produced by each antenna. The new doughnut is "squished", meaning its signal is farther but its beam width is narrower. That's basically why dipole antennas are superior to one omni-directional antenna. Now, let's take off the two omni antennas and install a directional antenna that is flat. Instead of the signal propagating in a 360 ring, it is more directional, in the horizontal and vertical planes. Though we don't see the "innards" of the antenna, it is also a dipole arrangement (both outs of the controller feed into the antenna). The dBi of this antenna will be greater than an omni antenna but it's pattern is much more directional. Think of the P4 flying in a 360 pattern: it would be necessary to keep turning the controller toward the P4 to ensure the signal to and from the P4 was within the beam width of the antenna. Similarly, if we held the directional antenna in a horizontal position, the farther away the P4 is in horizontal distance, the more likely it will be within the beam width. As it gets closer, the more likely the P4 will be above or below the beam width. Think of a plane on approach to a runway with an instrument landing system. The pilot gets feedback whether the plane is above or below the glide slope and right or left of the glide path. It means the plane is either within the strongest signal or straying toward a weaker signal. If the signal is lost, it is no longer within the beam width of the ILS system. Just as with the omni antenna, it is essential to know the beam width of the directional antenna, for dBi to be meaningful. If we connect amplifiers to each pole of the antennas, the characteristics of gain and loss of the antenna are not changed. The antennas must be bi-directional to increase the amplitude of the transmission/reception signal. The DJI controller/antenna is a designed system. When you introduce an amplifier for transmission/reception, you can overload the built-in receiving amplifier. Using an external amplifier can also result in unwanted "reflections", in an urban area, with buildings and structures. An amplifier can't improve the signal quality of a poorly designed antenna system. Start with a well-designed antenna for the drone then add an amplifier.

Which antenna is best for you? Get both! when you have line-of-sight signal with the drone, the directional will be better for maximum signal propagation/reception. When you're in an urban area, disconnect the directional antenna and connect the two omni antennas. With the P4P, you are going to need a dual band antenna. If you decide to use amplifiers, they must be dual band, also. Amplifiers introduce a point of failure and are not needed when there is a strong signal between the controller and P4 (if you can control the P4 and have video/ battery feedback, an amplifier is not needed).
 
Look at page 40 in the -drumroll please...............- MANUAL!
 
Not trying being a butthead- too much- with the stock antennas, at 2500' out the angle of the transmission is plenty wide if you keep them straight up.
 

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