Discussions

Tell me what pains you about drones/UAVs. (VENT AT ME)

Posted by Robert Merki on November 10, 2014 at 1:44pm

I've been fascinated by drones for quite some time, but have recently had the opportunity to join a university engineering team and we're looking to develop some sort of drone component. We've had a few great ideas so far, but we want to do some more research by asking actual thought leaders and seasoned hobbyists. 


I want to hear what really pains you about drones. What would make your life easier? How can we build something to fix your problems? Also, I'm very open to having a Skype call!

You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!

Join diydrones

Tags: component, fix, hate, pain
Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

            • Chris Khosravi > Jake Stew November 22, 2014 at 7:04pm

              Jake Stew, what country are you from? Here in the US, we can legally transmit over a watt on 433 MHz, in fact I think we can do 4 watts legally with a HAM license.

              • Jake Stew > Chris Khosravi November 24, 2014 at 12:50am

                We're not talking licensed operation.  Very few here have a HAM license.

                Very doubtful you can legally transmit over 10mW here in the US on 433 without a license.

                If you're aware of a regulation or loophole that permits more without a license, please post it.  In my research I've been unable to find this anywhere, and nobody else has been able to either.

                • Steve Cain > Jake Stew November 24, 2014 at 6:58am

                  Jake,

                  as I stated above the legal limits for un licensed operation in the 433 mHz band are 100mW. Actually that figure is a bit dumbed down for the forum.  The actual legal limits for unlicensed emission are found in the CFR 47 part 15.209.  which is 200 micovolts  per meter at a distance of 3 meters.  To get this figure you have to know the transmitter power and antenna gain.  To simplify this, a 1/4 wave mono pole and and a transmitter of 100mW will be close to this figure thus manufacturers build unlicensed gear to a max power of 100mW.

                  The 47 CFR contains these regulations under part 15

                  CFR is a link to a summary of the CFR for this topic the... second link is the actual doc table.

                  CFR

                  FCC docs

                  Its a common fallacy that since you don't know something, it is therefore not known by anybody.

            • Steve Cain > Jake Stew November 22, 2014 at 5:18pm

              3702874019?profile=original

            • Nicholas Witham > Jake Stew November 22, 2014 at 4:15pm

              With the right set-up, you can definitely get 5miles on 1.2GHz 300mW

              Google "video transmitter range calculator"

              • Jake Stew > Nicholas Witham November 24, 2014 at 12:55am

                Sure, if you happen to use a 10 foot satellite dish.

                Find me any manufacturer that even claims this range at that power/frequency.

                • Chris Khosravi > Jake Stew November 24, 2014 at 6:51am

                  No, I use omni-directionals. Maybe you have a faulty transmitter?

                  Not sure why you don't believe 5 miles is easily achievable with 300mW 1.2 GHz.

                  If you are just going off manufacture specs, keep in mind, it is with the non-tuned monopole, and ground-to-ground line of sight. A transmitter in the air is much different than on the ground.

                  • Jake Stew > Chris Khosravi November 26, 2014 at 3:16am

                    @Steven

                    That link shows next level gear, experience, and test equipment.

                    They're using high gain directional antennas mounted on antenna trackers.  They also made many antenna designs and are using VERY expensive frequency analyzers to tune them.

                    A stock 300mW system is going to get you 1/2 mile if you are VERY lucky.  Add better/larger standard antennas and you MIGHT get 1 mile max.  Add large, high gain directional antennas mounted on antenna trackers and the sky is the limit.

                    When talking ranges you talk about stock antennas or normal, cheap better antennas, otherwise it makes no sense.

                    For example did you know a Geo Metro can go 250 mph while towing a 2 ton trailer?

                    Sure, if you added a supercharger, and nitrous system, and you were going down a 45 degree hill, and you had a tail wind.

This reply was deleted.

Activity