I would like to preface my question here by making mention of the fact that I happen to reside several time zones away from the nearest FAA compliant airspace, meaning that there are no legal restrictions whatsoever, that would be applicable to my intended use of amplified RF signals emanating from an elevated mast, for the purpose of controlling an airborne drone.
Cutting to the chase, I would like to enquire from the experts who frequent this forum, whether my intended plan to install omni-directional whip antennae atop an 80-foot mast, with their incoming and outgoing signals amplified by in-line booster amps connected directly to the antennae, could serve the purpose of greatly extending the signal range of my drones, without any adverse effects to the drone controllers that would be connected via lengths of LMR 400 cable, from my proposed indoor ground station.
The stock configuration of my DJI Phantom 3 Standard, includes a hand-held controller sporting three antennae, of which two are 2.4GHz rated for incoming video signals, along with a single 5.8 GHz antenna for the outgoing flight control signal. My second drone, is the 2020 model Fimi X8-SE, whose handheld controller is built around twin 5.8GhZ antennae, that handle signals for the incoming video link, and the outgoing flight control signal.
Both of these drones have been acquired for the sole purpose of monitoring the destruction of tropical rainforest, just a few degrees of latitude removed from the Equator, where deforestation is an ongoing environmental scourge that can most effectively be detected and filmed from the air.
For the 2.4GHz antenna pair, I intend to connect one of these amplifiers directly to each of the antennae, atop the 80-foot mast.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RF-LINX-Bi-Directional-Amp-MN-2400SAXU/121990747480?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
For the 5.8GHz antenna pair, I ordered two alternative in-line amplifiers, shown in the ebay links below.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/5-1-5-8GHz-Microwave-Power-Amplifier-24dBm-RF-Power-Amplifier-Module-SE5004/383591859300?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
https://www.ebay.com/itm/5M-6GHz-RF-Broadband-Signal-Amplifier-Power-Amplifier-Gain-20dB-VFH-UHF-SHF/254375485893?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Knowing next to nothing about RF signal attenuation over cable lengths reaching as high as 80 meters from the hand-held controllers for these
drones, I am hoping to hear from experts in this highly specialized field of engineering, whether the amplifiers described in the above ebay links, will be up to the task of conveying inbound and outbound signals without the necessity of including bandpass filters inline to keep the noise threshold below anything that would degrade the incoming video signals from the drone, or garble the outgoing flight control inputs being made on the handheld drone controllers.
Any advice that can be offered on this project of mine, would be enormously appreciated by this complete novice in all things RF. Thanks in advance. Standing by to learn, and thus hopefully, to avoid damage to my precious drones, and their controllers.
Cutting to the chase, I would like to enquire from the experts who frequent this forum, whether my intended plan to install omni-directional whip antennae atop an 80-foot mast, with their incoming and outgoing signals amplified by in-line booster amps connected directly to the antennae, could serve the purpose of greatly extending the signal range of my drones, without any adverse effects to the drone controllers that would be connected via lengths of LMR 400 cable, from my proposed indoor ground station.
The stock configuration of my DJI Phantom 3 Standard, includes a hand-held controller sporting three antennae, of which two are 2.4GHz rated for incoming video signals, along with a single 5.8 GHz antenna for the outgoing flight control signal. My second drone, is the 2020 model Fimi X8-SE, whose handheld controller is built around twin 5.8GhZ antennae, that handle signals for the incoming video link, and the outgoing flight control signal.
Both of these drones have been acquired for the sole purpose of monitoring the destruction of tropical rainforest, just a few degrees of latitude removed from the Equator, where deforestation is an ongoing environmental scourge that can most effectively be detected and filmed from the air.
For the 2.4GHz antenna pair, I intend to connect one of these amplifiers directly to each of the antennae, atop the 80-foot mast.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RF-LINX-Bi-Directional-Amp-MN-2400SAXU/121990747480?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
For the 5.8GHz antenna pair, I ordered two alternative in-line amplifiers, shown in the ebay links below.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/5-1-5-8GHz-Microwave-Power-Amplifier-24dBm-RF-Power-Amplifier-Module-SE5004/383591859300?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
https://www.ebay.com/itm/5M-6GHz-RF-Broadband-Signal-Amplifier-Power-Amplifier-Gain-20dB-VFH-UHF-SHF/254375485893?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Knowing next to nothing about RF signal attenuation over cable lengths reaching as high as 80 meters from the hand-held controllers for these
drones, I am hoping to hear from experts in this highly specialized field of engineering, whether the amplifiers described in the above ebay links, will be up to the task of conveying inbound and outbound signals without the necessity of including bandpass filters inline to keep the noise threshold below anything that would degrade the incoming video signals from the drone, or garble the outgoing flight control inputs being made on the handheld drone controllers.
Any advice that can be offered on this project of mine, would be enormously appreciated by this complete novice in all things RF. Thanks in advance. Standing by to learn, and thus hopefully, to avoid damage to my precious drones, and their controllers.
