FAQ - Prodrone.pl

FAQ

Custom antenna tuning ?

for more information please check this page:
Antenna tuning service - Prodrone.pl

Connector types ?

Here I will post some graphics to help you choose the right connectors.
On picture below, on the left are female connectors (connectors with thread on outside) and on the right side of picture there are male connectors (connector have inside thread).

There is also a problem with U.FL and W.FL connectors. Here you will find a diagram showing how to find the differences between them. Generally, the W.FL (IPEX4) connector is smaller.

U.FL vs W.FL (IPEX4) And here's a comparison of the most popular connectors used in RC applications.

Counting from above:

SMA connector at shop (this is sma male),
U.FL,
IPEX4,
MMCX straight,
MMCX angle.

How fast i will get my order ?

Immediately after placing your order, you will receive an email with a link that you need to click to confirm the order - that's when we start the process of fulfilling it. You will receive information about the status of your order regularly to your email address.

The delivery date is equal to the shipping date plus the delivery time.

The shipping date depends on the availability of the products and the chosen payment method, while the delivery time depends on the delivery method you have chosen.

As we are a manufacturer and have certain limitations, the expected delivery date may change in case of:

a larger number of orders,
when the order includes a larger quantity of antennas that need to be paired with each other,
orders for LHCP antennas (these orders are exclusively made to order),
when there are days off during the fulfillment of the order (we also do not work on Saturdays) - our system does not take into account days off when providing the order fulfillment date.

How i should mount antennas ?

In the case of circularly polarized antennas, the positioning of the antenna is not as important as in the case of linearly polarized antennas. The positioning of linearly polarized antennas is significant, as it can have a significant impact on the range. Both linear antennas should be positioned so that their polarization matches. A good way to check the correct antenna positioning is to check the RSSI level on the receiver.

In the case of directional antennas, the antenna should be directed towards the other antenna. Failure to do so will result in a loss of range.

It is also important to properly and safely connect the antenna connector to the transmitter/receiver. Using an incorrect connector may result in a lack of connection with the antenna and therefore damage to the transmitter. If you have trouble determining this, please contact us. We will be happy to help and advise you on how to position the antennas to achieve the best range possible.

Can I use adapters for antennas?

Yes, you can use adapters. However, it should be remembered that each adapter used will cause a slight loss of signal (about 0.3dB). Poor quality adapters can also slightly change the characteristics of the antenna.

What means those information on labels ?

Labels are a confirmation that the antenna has been checked on an analyzer. The labels also provide information on very basic antenna parameters, such as the VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) in a given frequency range.

Understanding the information on the label - for example, if the label shows information:

5640-5750<1.3 it means that the VSWR in the given range from 5640Mhz to 5750Mhz is less than 1:1.3. The smaller this coefficient, the better. The given range is also the recommended range in which to use the antenna.

The tags may also contain information such as 5700=1.05 - this means that the antenna achieves a coefficient of 1.05 at this frequency. This is also the point at which the antenna achieves the best performance.

In the case of several antennas, the selection of the range will consist of choosing a frequency that falls within the ranges indicated on the labels of the antennas.

For example:
Antenna no.1 - 5630-5780<1.3
Antenna no.2 - 5650-5805<1.2

The recommended range is between 5650 and 5780Mhz.

What has impact on range of antennas ?

Many factors affect range. The basic ones are:

transmitter power
receiver sensitivity
antenna gain and matching antennas (specially for 5.8Ghz on both sides, because 5.8Ghz band is quite wide)

We can also include factors that affect range such as:

terrain shape
objects that may interfere with the radio wave path

In the case of high frequencies (around 6GHz), humidity can also have an impact.

In general, the higher the frequency, the lower the wave penetration and the more it will bounce off other objects.

It's possible to mix antennas with LHCP and RHCP polarization (and maybe linear) ?

No, you cannot mix antennas with opposite polarizations. If we decide to use antennas with RHCP (Right Hand Circular Polarization), then all antennas should have such polarization. Using LHCP (Left Hand Circular Polarization) antennas when we already have RHCP polarization antennas will result in a signal loss of 26 db (which is a lot).

The only exception here is "mixing" linear antennas and circular polarization antennas. Here, there is also a signal loss, but at a still acceptable level of 3db. Such solutions are successfully used, for example, with a circular polarization antenna in goggles and a linear antenna on a drone, where the distance we will fly will not be that important. However, it should be assumed that we should use the same type of antennas everywhere.

What polarization is best - RHCP or LHCP ?

Both of them "work" the same way. It doesn't matter which one we choose. The most important thing here is to stick to one polarization. If we decide to use RHCP antennas, we fly only on RHCP - that is, we stick to right-hand circular polarization.

What does it mean that an antenna is directional?

It means that the antenna receives a signal in a specific direction and with a specific beamwidth. In short, this means that the antenna should be pointed towards the other antenna. Antennas with a narrow beamwidth should be used together with a tracker.

If you have a problem determining this, please contact us. We would be happy to help and advise you on how to best position the antennas to achieve the best range.

Can I bend the antenna cable/wire?

Yes, antenna cables can be bent. However, some can be bent more frequently than others as they were designed with this in mind.

One group of cables that can be bent (but not too frequently) are Semi-Rigid cables. After a few bends in the same spot, the cable's braid can become damaged. RG402 and RG405 are examples of Semi-Rigid cables. The minimum bend radius for RG402 cable is 12mm. These cables have their advantages, such as "remembering" their shape and having better parameters.

The second group of cables are flexible cables, such as RG178, RG316, RG316D, and RG400. They tolerate frequent bending much better than Semi-Rigid cables, but they almost return to their original shape after being bent. You can use a hairdryer to help shape them after bending. After bending and waiting for it to cool, the cable should remember its shape.

Why is impedance matching so important?
Antenna needs to be impedance matched for the user's environment so it works efficiently in the desired frequency range. When the antenna is optimized, it provides the best range, uses less power, produces less heat, and ensures reliable data/video FPV transmission.
It's useful to know that an antenna acts like an impedance transformer. It takes power from the RF circuitry through the transmission line (usually 50 Ω) and sends it to free space. Matching the antenna's input impedance to 50 Ω is crucial to transfer maximum power from the RF circuitry to the antenna with minimal reflection.
The standing wave ratio (SWR) measures how well the antenna's impedance matches the transmission line's impedance.

What is best antenna for micro drones like tinywhoop or beta ?
We and many of our clients think that microvee is in many cases best choice.
Please look here:
http://prodrone.pl/index.php/en/best-linear-polarized-antenna-for-racing/

Do you have antennas for Digital FPV systems ?

more information can be found here:
http://prodrone.pl/index.php/en/antennas-for-digital-systems/

Can i get more information about antenna types ?

You can find some information here:
http://prodrone.pl/index.php/en/importance-of-using-good-quality-antennas-for-long-range-drones/

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