1.3ghz Long Range Omni "Horizon"

[durangoflyer]

I was hoping to discuss this antenna, as there is little information on it and no user reviews that I can find.

I love the freedom an omni gives me while flying my quadcopter down on the deck and between trees, etc. If I understand this design, it flattens out the pattern to more of a doughnut shape with a larger null above and below. This gives more range than the more apple shape of a CL or SPW. What kind of heights has this been tested to say out to a mile? Would this provide any additional help in object penetration over a SPW?

[Derrick]

Is this the antenna in question?
http://www.truerc.com/index.php?main...roducts_id=459

[durangoflyer]

No, I mean this one.
http://www.truerc.net/canada/index.p...roducts_id=189

The radiation plot helped me picture the pattern vs the windmill like omnis.

[durangoflyer]

I guess I am trying to decide if I want to use a 3 turn helical with or without a SPW on diversity or just use this antenna.

[Derrick]

That looks pretty neat... The plot/description would lead me to think that it would be ideal for a quad/RC truck. If you end up getting this please post your results here, I'm very interested as I have a quad frame on the work bench and I am starting to collect parts, this could be the antenna I end up going with.

[volto]

The only thing that turns me off of this antenna is the complexity of the build, might be fun to try though, and it would make the ground station look that much cooler.

[durangoflyer]

I doubt very much that I would attempt to build one, but it would simplify my ground station vs purchasing another Rx and a helical or crosshair. Would have less to go wrong at the ground station and consume less power, lighter weight on the tripod...

[durangoflyer]

In theory this would give me more gain for flying low and a little farther out than the SPW would give me.

[durangoflyer]

There is also the durability factor to consider and how it will be mounted and protected on the GS. I think I would put them inside a GNC protein powder container on top of my project box on the tripod. That way it would afford some protection against getting dinged up in transport.

[GLEvideo]

If the pattern plots are real then you are about -3 dB signal loss when you fly up to around 15 degrees above the horizon and about -10 dB signal loss when you are 30 degrees above the horizon. This is true if the receive antenna is situated level with the horizon. Also take into account that the antenna, according to the plots, exhibits about 4.5 to 5 dB of gain. So the -3 dB in loss is still about +2 dB of gain over a unity gain antenna and the -10 dB loss would be about -5 dB loss as compared to a unity gain antenna. The gain really falls of sharply when you fly up beyond 30 degrees, down to about no signal, and then builds back up again at about 60 degrees when you enter a secondary lobe.