1.3Ghz Best VRx and Vtx Antenna Combo

[Magnumb]

Awesome info, thanks all. I think the 300mW 1.3ghz will be a fine transmitter, I did notice that the 800mW version is only 10$ more. Do you know if it's significantly larger? or just runs hotter? I am guessing the 300, for my needs is the way to go.

[Glenstr]

300mW should be more than enough, when I was asking Tim about the same thing when I bought my gear I'm pretty sure he said that he had been out as far as 3 miles with 300mmW - which was more than enough for me.

[h0tr0d]

I agree with what's already been said regarding power levels.

The 300mW will be plenty for your application and should be in by the end of the month according to Tim's website. I've been 4.25 miles on it with stock whip on the vtx and tuned 8dbi patch on the ground....could have gone further, but adverse weather conditions prevented it. The 400mW is in stock last time I checked and is a good unit. It can be removed from the green case making it the same exact size as the 300mW. As a matter of fact, the 150mW unit will get you further than you require as well.

The 800mW is also the same size as the 300 and 400 once removed from it's case, but I ran it with a heatsink just to be on the safe side. I was never able to push the limits of that one as I ran it into a tree last Saturday at 40mph and that killed it....lol

-Pat

[Magnumb]

Sorry to hear of your VTx's death by tree

Sounds like it had a good life and went with it's boots on!



After reading these posts, I put in my order for the 1.3Ghz 300mw package.

I went with blueBeams on both tx and rx. I went with the 700XV camera, I hope that was a good choice. few people have experience with it.

Thanks for all the help....if anyone has any more opinions, please post them, I would love to hear more feedback; I am likely not the only one to need an answer to this question.

Cheers

[KellyR]

Magnumb,

I asked Tim about the cameras a while back. Here's a copy of my Q & his A.

Through the Dominators would I be able to tell much difference between the 700xv camera & the 600xv that is in stock?

Actually, I prefer the picture quality of the 600XV. The 700XV may have more TV lines, but the picture looks better with the 600XV. The way analog cameras are rated, this is basically the horizontal resolution (i.e., the equivalent of 600x480 vs 700x480). The goggles are 640x480, but things aren't always 1:1 with analog systems and digital displays. There is a noticeable difference between the lower TVL cameras, but not much of a difference once you get over 540 lines from what I've seen.

[Psylokz]

Ok so what's the final verdict? Will the 1.3 RHCP cloverleaf on the tx work with a 1.3 biquad on the ground? I have a diversity rx with the stock omni as well. What problems can I expect if I used this for short to medium range flights? Any advice regarding a better solution? Thanks guys.

[Stuntman]

Ok so what's the final verdict? Will the 1.3 RHCP cloverleaf on the tx work with a 1.3 biquad on the ground? I have a diversity rx with the stock omni as well. What problems can I expect if I used this for short to medium range flights? Any advice regarding a better solution? Thanks guys.

A Biquad is Linearly Polarized while Cloverleaf is CP. A helical and Skew Planar Wheel or Crosshair with SPW would be the best for diversity on the ground.


This was a quote from Alex a while back:

Originally Posted by IBCrazy

This antenna is best flown in conjunction with another circularly polarized antenna on the RX. Like the Skew planar wheel, this does not play well with Lawmate RX units.


Is it true that you cannot use Cloverleafs or SPWs on 1.3Ghz Lawmate Rx's because they are closed-loop, ground themselves out, and will damage the Rx?

[IBCrazy]

What I usually recommend for guys flying quads is a 7.5dbic helical on the RX and a cloverleaf on the TX unless they plan on flying far behind themselves. The added benefit of a directional antenna allows for added video clarity for flying behind objects which many helicopter pilots enjoy. The beam is 150 degrees so you have a very wide pattern in which you may fly. The Crosshair is great for a quad when you have a lot of objects you need to puch through... like buildings or solid Earth. I don't think you will be needing that much punch.

On the other hand if you fly behind yourself, consider a BluBeam whip antenna set or a True Wired antenna set. These work very well and will have video much farther than you can fly your quad, but the video will not be clean when dipping behind solid objects.

In any case, CP is the way to go. Granted a Vee/BiQuad is an incredible combination... but only if you're looking into 15-20 mile flights.

-Alex

[HugeOne]

They work well with lawmates.

For multi-copters, a bluebeam or truewired omni set is all you need. If you want the best of the best, get a stacked fan "horizon" 4.5dB CP omni for the Rx, you will have all the range you dream of and keep omni coverage.

-Hugo

[RTRyder]

The best setup I've used so far on a multi is a Lawmate 2.4 TX and cloverleaf with an Immersion 2.4 diversity RX, SPW on one side and a crosshair on the other. I've flown 2000 feet outward at roughly 10 feet off the deck and had crystal clear video right up to the 2000 foot mark where there too many physical obstructions in between to keep a good signal. A climb of 20 to 30 feet restored the video and obviously if the altitude is above surrounding trees and dirt mounds there's no problem with the video link. Flying back I often sweep out to the sides of the field beyond the coverage of the crosshair, when I do that I can hear the RX switching between antennas as the signal changes, very few instances where I lose the signal with this setup and usually they're close to the ground behind objects and at a fair distance.

On my 5.8 quad I have a mini crosshair I built on the Dominator goggles and an Uno with either a 3 turn helical or SPW for recording to the DVR. WIth the helical I lose the signal on the DVR when out to the extreme sides of the field close in, otherwise it's as good as the video from the crosshair on the Dom's which is flawless as long as I don't get too low behind something. I've also been out to the 2000 foot limit of the field with the 5.8 and while I can't get quite as low that far out on 5.8, as long as I keep a reasonable altitude the video is perfectly clear.

For 1.3 I have an RMRC setup on 1258 with cloverleaf on the TX and the Omni Horizon on the RX, good coverage all the way around with the exception of directly overhead. I like the punch this setup has but I don't particularly like the size of the specialized antennas, I think 2.4 wins for all around balance of size vs distance, at least with a multi. If Immersion made a diversity for 1280 I'd probably use that more often than the others with an SPW on one side and a Crosshair on the other since that combo works so well with my 2.4 gear.

There isn't any place where I can fly more than a half mile or so close by so I've never had a problem with video as long I remember which frequency I'm using and what effect the surroundings will have on reception. I will say a directional antenna gives the best video I've experienced at the expense of having to stay within the sweep of the beam without an antenna tracker. Next on the "to buy" list is a tracker setup once I replenish the toy funds.

Ken