How to boost your 2.4Ghz Spektrum/JR Transmitter signal!
I love my Spektrum Dx7 and my 2.4Ghz JR XPS9303 and i refused to trade its solid rock performance by a 72mhz radio just to increase range of my FPV/UAV. So in collaboration with my friend JB we find out the cheapest and secure way to amplify the signal, it even works in some Futabas and virtually with any 2.4Ghz radio, but some modifications are required. Lets see some options:
-Spektrum Dx7 this is the cheapest solution for a very reliable 2.4Ghz radio, i used it for about a year and i never had any signal glitch (unless i fly beyond 2000 feet). The problem with this one is that you have to modify it, you need a SMD to U.FL adapter, drill a hole in the side of your radio and just connect and screw the adapter, no soldering required. If you have more than 5 hours of experience with Legos your qualified to do this job. Then you just need to connect the booster. The one in the picture (middle) is already modified.
-If you have the awesome JR radio but is 72Mhz you can buy the Spektrum 2.4Ghz module and just insert it in the back of your TX, personally this is my favorite setup. It's a good deal because includes a $99 dlls receiver for free! Note that JR TX alone cost around $600 dlls, but you can get it for less, i got mine for 300 bucks with Spektrum Module included on R/C Groups =P. Remember you are looking for the JR XPS9303.
If you have one of the fallowing Futaba radios:
7U Series Radios
8U Series Radios
8J Series Radios
9C Series Radios
9Z Series Radios
FN Series Radios
You can just go and buy the Spektrum 2.4Ghz module, easy and with no hassles. It's also a good deal because includes a $99 dlls receiver for free!
One of the advantages of the Spektrum receivers is the build in diversity system, you can even buy one with 4 satellites like this one, or buy a super tiny, tiny setup like this one, or the traditional one.
The diversity is crucial to have a reliable link when you are flying far away, also Spektrum has a receiver for Carbon Fiber airplanes (Carbon Fiber blocks RF signals).
The idea is to have the best reliable hardware with an SMA connector and the SMA extension cable, after that you are ready for the final step: Get an amplifier. But we are talking about a few hundred dollars here, if you get the weakest one of 100mW it will cost you around $150 dlls. This is not pocket friendly in my point of view. So again our Asians friends come to the rescue, after making some research around the net I've found on eBay and a home Wireless Amplifier, so i decided to give it a chance and i bought it for 60 bucks including shipping! Wow that's a good deal! The one i got is this one.
Note that the amplifier needs 6Volts to work, you can get a cheap 6V power regulator from here and just make the adapter. A 3 Cell LIPO is enough to supply it for a long time.
After receiving the AMP i did some tests, here are my results:
Before using the amplifier, i was able to fly around 3000 feet away (~1 km) using a 900Mhz@500mW Video transmitter. I never lost the video signal, only the radio link...
Using a 1.3Ghz@1Watt Video transmitter i was unable to fly more than 2000 feet away (~600meters). So the 1.3Ghz Video transmitter reduces my 2.4Ghz Spektrum range...
Then i got my cheap Asian amplifier and using a 2.4Ghz Patch Antenna i was able to fly around 2.6 miles (4.18Km) away without a single glitch, but i was unable to continue because now my video was causing me problems, hehe!
Not bad at all! Honestly i don't need more than 2 miles of coverage, is really a long way for an EasyStar. In conclusion the maximum range for my setup still unknown, but the range achieved is more that 2.6 miles and the +2 extra miles of coverage gained for less than $100 dlls is really a good deal for me!
Now just remember this:
-The range will be different in other setups.
-Never turn on your radio without antenna.
-Never turn on the Amplifier without antenna.
-Note that in some country's this amplifier may be illegal.
Thanks for watching!
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Comment by William Wegenast on February 26, 2012 at 10:17am -
Are there any wire diagrams/instructions for wiring this to the Hitech Spectra module? I'd love to put this on my Aurora 9.
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Comment by Andre on April 22, 2012 at 1:15pm -
anyone using it on a Hitec Aurora9 radio with optima9 Rx?
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Comment by Paulino M. Lacap Jr. on May 9, 2012 at 4:40pm
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How do I connect the amplifier with the JR 11 Zero with 2.4Ghz module? Thanks.
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Comment by Jordan Tolentino on May 16, 2012 at 5:14pm
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If I were to use a 2s lipo with this module instead of a 3s like it recomends in the article, would I lose operation time? Range? Etc. Thanks
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Comment by Mark on May 25, 2012 at 9:23pm
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Purchased and installed this setup with the stock antenna on my DX6i and flew less than 200 yards away but pretty much straight up and lost signal with my Twinstar. Any idea on the area of coverage with the antenna that comes with this setup? I'd like to have a rough approximation of the shape of the transmission coming off of this antenna so I can prevent loss of connection.
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Comment by Vernon Barry on May 26, 2012 at 1:16am
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It's a fractional wave dipole so it makes a doughnut shaped ring of semi omni-directional antenna.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipole_antenna
Inside the black plastic tube, there is the center lead of the coaxial cable wire going up a defined fractional length of the wavelength (1/2, 1/4, or 1/8th), and an equal length tube is facing down back over the coax right at the solder joints in the middle thus one pole is up and one pole is down so the doughnut surounds the antenna in the vertical plane.
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Comment by Vernon Barry on May 26, 2012 at 1:29am
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And sorry, that picture isn't perfect, the doughnut doesn't float above the antenna, it's centers on the antenna in between the upper and lower leg of the dipole.
http://martybugs.net/wireless/rubberducky.cgi
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Comment by Vernon Barry on May 26, 2012 at 1:38am
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I need to add, do not forget the receiver antenae is JUST as important, thus it has a similiar plane and window of acceptance. Ideally, the receiver uses multiple antennas, for diversity and each one occupies a different plane.
http://www.spektrumrc.com/ProdInfo/Files/SPMAR8000-Manual.pdf
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Comment by Mark on May 26, 2012 at 12:37pm
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thanks for the info,
Another concern was the range test I performed using the normal procedure with the Dx6i, however with the booster on I only got 15 paces away before I lost signal. Does the 1w booster somehow interfere with the normal rangetest mode in the Dx6i?
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Comment by Vernon Barry on May 26, 2012 at 12:55pm
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I would say yes, meaning not that it specifically interferes with that test, but rather you have a major mismatch somewhere in your setup. Adding an amplifier is no trivial task. Just like when you turn an audio amp up too loud and it distorts, the same thing can happen with adding an amp here to RF.
You need to do some analysis using at least a scope and maybe some high end radio test equipment.
I know you think it's plug an play, but clearly you do have a range problem (you lost it once) and need to figure out which part of the system is not performing. It could be the amp, the antenna, the connectors, the cables and so forth.
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