Amateur Radio Aeronautical Mobile - AREDN Node on sUAS (Drone) Platform

[@TheErilaz]

You could use a RC glider with solar panels and ardupilot. It will soar a long time, because the battery will recharge constantly.

[@robertjeffery3237]

I would look into LiFePO4 batteries and pushing the voltage input by a volt or two. Also look at the antenna. Rather than the rubber duck, look into a full wave wire. That will save mass

[@Commsprepper]

Agreed. I see a version 3.0 on this project.

[@derektrounce937]

Look into the dual moxxon antenna that is popular with long range drone control, it may be the way to go with the bullet hanging from the drone and the eggbeater antenna pointed towards the ground.

[@IY6C]

Glad you are back. Welcome home and thanks for your service

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks Six. It's good to be home!!!!

[@survivalcomms]

Welcome back ! I have done lots of contract work for a rural ISP that uses 5 Ghz Ubiquiti airmax / airfiber for transmission and distribution. For stable platform LOS links it works great with directional antennas end to end but millimeters of movement in extended distance links make a profound difference in performance. If your drone could handle the weight of a good 10 - 13 dbi omni & radio it would really help. I have not had much luck with those small omni antennas even with < 1 mile links @ > 100 ft. Its fun stuff to play with regardless. Thanks for sharing !

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks for the welcome home and tips on antennas. Working on a new approach to this project now. Respectfully - Hank

[@alvarogaitan2529]

thanks very much terrific video 73 from kb2uew good luck

[@Commsprepper]

Many thanks!

[@Iridium242]

Now this is a cool idea. I have long thought about how to incorporate ham radio and my drone. Have the same one you have in this vid too.. so it could do it. Would make for a very good short term cross band repeater if I could find a radio small enough too.

[@Commsprepper]

I too have been looking for some small radio for a simplex repeater test.

[@barrykery1175]

That looked like a fun day. Getting a drone in spring. Yet another use for one. Barry, KU3X

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks for the comment and channel support.

[@rkaag99]

Makes me wonder what kind of lift is produced by a helium balloon kit (tethered obviously). The party kits from Walmart etc. No RFI/desense on the front end; possible longer deployment; quieter. You're doing great things!

[@Commsprepper]

I don't see why not.

[@williamcleveland6297]

How about some shielding above the node, possibly aluminized Mylar on the top of the printed cradle.

[@Commsprepper]

I had a similar idea but could not find any scrap stuff lying around. I will start working on my version 3.0 this week and print something new.

[@shadeshiest22]

Wow this is awesome!!! Please more videos on this!!!!

[@Commsprepper]

Coming soon.

[@robertfrawley]

Raise a endfed 160 meter antenna or a simplex u/v repeater

[@Commsprepper]

Simplex repeater would be great - if I could find a small transceiver

[@robertfrawley]

@@Commsprepper Remove the heavy battery from handheld and use drone battery for power, also may fill large plastic garbage bag with helium and fishing line to aid in lift and use much less battery to keep it up.

[@bobdixonw8erd647]

It would be great to have a tethered drone, sending power up the tether, so it could could fly indefinitely. That requires thin wire and high voltage; not easy.

[@Commsprepper]

The do make tethered drones but I can't afford one.

[@cfisupply]

I'd thought of tethered drone or a tethered weather balloon. For use in SHTF or everyday life public service events. I'd still love to try it sometime.

[@r0bv123]

Wow love this idea and proof of concept! What's the payload capacity for the drone? I have the same model.

[@Commsprepper]

not much but I don't have a number.

[@stewartrv]

Why don't you change out the small wifi antenna's for HiGain ones? I little more weight but not a lot.

[@Commsprepper]

I have not found ones I like yet.

[@tom_olofsson]

What do you recommend for a mobile Ham rig?

[@tom_olofsson]

Welcome home

[@KM4ACK]

Great video. Looking forward to seeing where this goes. de KM4ACK

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks.

[@kennethh5657]

I'm thinking a handheld cross band repeater would be handy.

[@Commsprepper]

Me too

[@hyperionsixzeroeight5064]

Can you flash the BULLET with the AREDN software?

[@Commsprepper]

Some versions of the bullet but they are not MIMO units

[@maxprepper9126]

Welcome back!

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks.

[@TheFremenChick]

This is really cool.

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks.

[@tubeyoujoe]

commsprepper, one option to consider is using different antennas with the GL.iNet device. It is a 2GHz MIMO device and offers improved performance using 2 antennas-polarities. The Bullet is a polarity-antenna-polarity device. If the device is moving around a lot or spinning, this can be problematic. The radiation pattern for these antennas is a donut shape and the signal strength would be going in and out for the Horizontal and the Vertical risks at this height reaching the ground. Maybe there is a dual-polarity flat patch antenna that can be sourced with a downward wide angle shape. Here's a commercial grade test, the 2 antennas inside the device are pointing to the horizon for users to to connect to miles away. www.arednmesh.org/comment/12193#comment-12193

[@Commsprepper]

I am thinking about stripping down a Nanostation Loco and try putting that up. I will need to workout the center of gravity and print a housing for one.

[@Loco_Lui]

Very interesting. I like things that get people thinking! Never know where it might lead. Keep up the good work! 73 de K5QF

[@Commsprepper]

Thanks

[@rangerjay7971]

They make these things that attach to cameras called "tripods" all this fancy stuff and no tripod.

[@Commsprepper]

Yeh... I have a few but I have not found a tripod that can put a radio repeater 300 feet in the air.

[@norm_sueb122]

I don't know much about drones, but how about putting a metal shield (Aluminum foil?) on the top of your cradle to block the signals between the drone and the router. Also they make a smaller router supported by AREDN (amzn.to/2Mkw01F) that you could hang vertically with a small battery pack that might help. Not certain if any of these ideas are helpful or not. Keep up the good work!!

[@terrymac9570]

This would be totally illegal in the uk, you Americans have many freedoms and toys the rest of us do not

[@Commsprepper]

Maybe when Brexit is complete you will get some freedoms back - independence is a beautiful thing. Thanks for the comment and channel support.

[@terrymac9570]

Commsprepper no worries Hank love the vids m8