ezUHF range - lo/hi power setting

[markvanhaze]

Mark....mine is set exactly as in the pic (mark knows what I'm talking about :))

I'm waiting for this to arrive, just to try out so the antenna is always vertical, might have to shorten the cable , but rather not as it can sit on top of the Van.

http://www.locuradigital.com/en/magnet_bases/mini_mag_sma.htm

Do you have anyone near you with the EZosd  ?, where are you based ?

Unfortunately im in the sticks now (Turkey) and nobody has an ezOSD. My wife is off to the UK in 2 weeks time so maybe Ill have her sort it out then.

So what range are you getting?

[Coyote]

Its easy enough making your own, but I`m sue one of the lads on here could knock one up for you

[markvanhaze]

I think the best will be to fly with the antenna vertical, set on low power. Then if the failsafe kicks in, I can still switch to High. I only hope that will work.

I have my RTL set and I tested it many times - a life saver, but I dont like relying on it entirely.

[markvanhaze]

Thanks papa_lazerous.

[Xup]

Watch this vid Mark,... gives you an idea how the RSSI works,.... on the EZOSD.


UHF antennas

[Coyote]

The reason I suggest trying horizontal is because of your problem, your experiancing rubbish range wether on hi or low power. Having your tx antenna pointed vertical does give you the best polarization, but if you failsafe, your screwed. Your high power setting right now seems to be terrible, so I would not reply on it.

I suggest the horizontal antenna position simply because you yourself are incurring the loss, so when you raise it up to vertical you get up to a free 26 dbi back, which is useful. Its a loss you have introduced and you can control.

Your output power is obviously a cause for concern, but by your tests, flicking to hi power will have no where near such a positive effect as raising an antenna will

[Coyote]

Exactly my point Xup, bearing in mind your flying level 99% of the time the Dipole walks all over a Monopole as far as performance goes 

There is no helical in the tests though, a 433 helical is massive, the helical you have there is a monopole 2.5dbi thats why its performing the smae as a monopole, only its elements are tiny so its range is terrible. You get these antennas with Open LRS and you throw them in the bin

http://www.flytron.com/antennas/104-5dbi-433mhz-uhf-antenna.html 

[markvanhaze]

Thanks Xup! So what should I be expecting in terms of range with the antenna horizontal and on low power?

[Xup]

I can now get 5 miles on low power ground range mountain top to mountain top, not tried any further but thats with both TX and rx vertical held above head hight (using Diamond SRH771 and Sander style antenna),... thats the only info I have... as I was like you know way of knowing any more than it worked or it did not !!!.

I now have the EZosd (last week)so I can gather more info/testing.

Edit to clarify,.... thats not in a plane or with camera gear just the Immersion gear connected up to 1 servo to see if I have control

[markvanhaze]

So the conclusion here is install a dipole? If so, where do you suggest to put that on a skywalker? Wing or Tail?

[Coyote]

Either / Or

More practical to have in the tail ( as it doesn`t come off for transport )

[markvanhaze]

Do I use 2 dipoles for ezUHF? Or do I use one? If its one, do I need a dummy load on the free diversity connector?

[Coyote]

Dipoles are still single antennas, you still in the diversity receivers case use two of them

[markvanhaze]

Thanks. Usually I dont bother with making my own antennas but this seems rather easy so I think unless I find some ready made ones, I will give it a go and make them myself. As a tutorial, can I use this? http://webx.dk/rc/uhf-link3/mcx-antenna.htm

[Coyote]

Yeah that ones fine bud :)