Can DJI RC Controller Range Extenders Improve Signal? | Mini 3 Pro Test

[@RonaldBrown59]

I used to use Yagi's a few years back, but with the new 04 transmission signal from DJI, I no longer feel the need to use them anymore. Great testing, and thanks for sharing.

[@GAVINHR]

Indeed O4 really is a game changer!

[@olabergvall3154]

A classic Gavin HR video to start the weekend ❤

[@GAVINHR]

Thank you kindly sir!

[@olabergvall3154]

@@GAVINHR and thank You!

[@davidharle952]

Another great test, thanks Gavin. Obviously with the better 03 signal strength they mustn't be needed. Yet I remember when you tested across the Humber with the old Mini drone and they worked perfectly.

[@GAVINHR]

I think its down to the design of them David - they are not even aligned with the antenna placement ! ah yes good times those were!

[@gravyboatdrone4060]

I think any of those attena will simply alter the focus of the transmission, that may give marginal signal boost but limits the feild of focus.....in essence if you do get boost you will need to be pointing them in exactly the right direction to get that benefit.

[@Jeremy-ff3jm]

So usually when your drone is far away (when this device is effective) you’re facing the other direction? Odd

[@gravyboatdrone4060]

​@@Jeremy-ff3jm?

[@duanespeck2316]

That doesn’t make sense lol

[@DEEPITAKHI]

⁠@@duanespeck2316It makes perfect sense its just you who dont understand

[@duanespeck2316]

@ no, it doesn’t. I’ve made a video on the distance I get with, and without the range extenders. I was able to go about 1,200 ft further using them.

[@CptnKase]

talking about electromagnetic "signals", and using the word polarizing, had me in stiches hehehehe

[@cyberherbalist]

My first drone was a Hubsan H501SS. Out of the box its range was only 300 ft. I found a range extender project on Dustin Dunnill's channel, and made antenna mods to both the controller and the drone. Wow, it pushed my range out past 1.5 km. It could probably have gone much further, but it was about that time that I got a "real" drone and so didn't use the Hubsan after that. I do have the Yagi range extender for my Mini 2, but so far I haven't needed it.

[@fcava-ti7mb]

Hi Gavin, very nice test 👍

[@GAVINHR]

Thank you very much!

[@francfortina3473]

As a Radio operator. Yagi's are great for line of site. However, propagation is always an issue no matter what frequency you are using. IE One day a mile next day 25 etc.

[@StuFliesAroundCornwall]

Thanks for the brilliant video. Great to see you in the Drone Show Live. Just subbed 👍

[@GAVINHR]

Thank you very much! See you next week!

[@Drone.vision]

I have used the haggis and parabolics before and they do make a difference , I have had a noticeable range improvement! Thanks for sharing, great video! Watched liked and subbed from drone show 👏👏

[@GAVINHR]

Thank you kindly ! Yes they 100% make a difference

[@Drone.vision]

@@GAVINHR you’re very welcome mate, they sure do I remember seeing your video testing the Yaggis last year 👍

[@nicholascrocker4329]

Thanks for that! You’ve saved me a few quid. Would do the FCC hack but it appears to be a bit complicated to set up on IOS. Also I believe on the RC controller I wouldn’t be able to choose to use either the FCC or CE. It would be stuck on one or the other?

[@GAVINHR]

The FCC mode really makes a huge difference to be fair, it wasn't a bad process actually on iOS once he got the UUID he did it straight away ! with the RC you are un CE unless you open the iOS app so you get to choose :)

[@1EyeInTheSky]

Great test. I was wondering if these things would work. In theory yes but in practice not so much.

[@GAVINHR]

Yep! others have worked, these just seem to make zero difference at all

[@johnnymac26]

Nice test mate i do have a set of parayaggis i find they do boost slightly but directional issues do come with them.

[@GAVINHR]

Yep! certainly need to be more precise when pointing them mate! then again they got the mavic mini to 5km back in the day !

[@Luke-xe4dh]

Could you please test some more antenna boosters for the DJI RC? It seems that this is the only controller range boosters don't work on, probably due to the internal antennas.

[@GAVINHR]

Bingo, boosters work in general but the antenna placement inside means they don’t, you’re better off with the FCC hack from drone tweaks

[@Luke-xe4dh]

@@GAVINHR Thanks for the reply 👍

[@kamikazekaos]

Anyway putting min4pro front arms onto mini3pro would it be straightforward? To improve signal

[@GAVINHR]

Now that would work!

[@donology]

So great video. I will say on the Mini 4, not so much distance but yagis did help with interference for me, I did a test where it went to one bar.. same for the yagis but it kept going....

[@GAVINHR]

Hi David! Thanks for the comment, yes I can imagine extenders on the rc2 will work fine ! But if you take a look at this they are not even aligned with the antennas on the controller, in short it was basically never going to work

[@Avikkills818]

Does this work for mavic pro 3?

[@vintgant9295]

Antena Yagi działa tak, że pręty zwane direktorami mają skupić sygnał na dipolu, czyli tutaj na antenie wewnętrznej RC.Reflektor ( półksiężyce) mają chronić sygnał przed zakłóceniami z tyłu i skupiać prawidłowy sygnał na dipolu.A przy częstotliwości 2,4GHz a tym bardziej 5,8 wszystkie odległości prętów muszą być idealne.Wymiary prętów co do ułamka milimetra.O silnej kierunkowości już napisano wcześniej.Więc o realnym wzmocnieniu trudno tu mówić.

[@Matanumi]

3:23.... wasn't the REAL reason due to the design of the mini 3 pro? Dji drones always had their receivers built into the LEGS of the Drone VIRTICAL prior to the M3P which Was horizontal within the arms- harder for it too detect when facing away. Doing this to shave to 249g Mini 4 pro AND the mini 3 later corrected this. I imagine it was one of the major reasons for the fast turn around in the making of M4P over M3P only a year later

[@GAVINHR]

This was indeed the reason my friend, antenna placement of the mini 3 pro!

[@dogswhistlesharam9029]

They may work, trouble is if they are not tuned correctly, and throw the SWR out you will put strain on your output RF transistors which is very bad for your transmitter. Yours 2E0CJV

[@DRONE-GTA]

我測試過在mini2,在低干擾下的確有效

[@DavidUnderwood-m9b]

How the heck are you losing signal at 370 and 450?

[@terryshrives8322]

I remember when I first got my mavic air 2 in 2020. With all kinds of obstacles around me, I could fly 4 miles with no signal drop. Now after all the updates years later, I might get a half mile in the same area before completely losing signal. I’m NOT a believer in government control over how far I fly my drone. The line of sight rule is null and void to me. I think if dji advertised 20km or what ever the hell they are claiming now days, it should do it. That’s why I moved into autel drones. None of that to worry about. Dji is nothing short of controlling nazis. Ya, don’t support.

[@nawafakbar9980]

Try fcc mod with mavic air 2

[@zackdaripr]

I’ve seen people easily go 4 miles with the mini 4 pro. Perhaps your drone has an issue and needs fixed.

[@matthewkimani4988]

Autel drones are nice but with DJI you get more. Comparing the Autel nano vs the DJI mini’s, the nano’s just not quite as good when it comes to specs and features.

[@SpeedsterIG]

Yagis require much more direct line of sight than omnidirectional antennas. Therefore, I think a true comparison of range with/without Yagi should be done in open areas, in the countryside, and not within residential areas. Personally, I believe that these devices are of no real use. In open terrain I achieved a range of more than 4 km with the M3P and at this great distance I also had to align the RC with the drone. You may gain a little distance putting on these Yagis, but then the connection will be even more sensitive to variations in the orientation of the remote. The main range problem in your test setup is the lack of direct line of sight. Too many buildings, I suppose.

[@GAVINHR]

They do indeed, however the issue is as you said yourself in the countryside you won’t have a range issue, not to mention here in the UK all I will get is people screaming vlos these days if I did that. Back in the day using range extenders I took the mavic mini to 5000m - they 100% work, but I have to go it over shorter distances these days. If I can align yagis over a 5km distance I can certainly manage it at 450m, the issue is simply this model doesn’t work, the same test using the RCN1 yagis worked perfect

[@DavidSmith-uq4mj]

If you loosing signal on that blackspot area, it means someone is using a signal jammer system from their house to prevent drones from scouting their home. Its a lot of money to get a signal jammer system so the individual using this system has a lot of money

[@jerometanguay8375]

So the range extender do work? Or not.. I’m confused… I thought you said they did…but then you seemed to say no…confused.

[@GAVINHR]

Range extenders in general do work but these don’t

[@christian-van-e]

Bought one (an expensive range extender) in the past; did absolutely nothing

[@Matanumi]

I got a decent quality one for the mini 2 It DID make a difference abit a small one. Made the range/video more clear.

[@IslaVision3]

las tengo en rc 1 y son fantásticas.saludos

[@lumixS5M2]

That half dish, not work proper. Only work if full dish reflector

[@lumixS5M2]

Wrong, you need a log-per antenna. You also not hamradio.......?

[@GAVINHR]

Whats wrong exactly? did you watch it?

[@lumixS5M2]

@@GAVINHR Because you need use a log-per antenna for both bands, BTW i am hamradio for 48 years TRX up to 24GHz.

[@GAVINHR]

So you’re telling me the extenders do nt work?

[@lumixS5M2]

@@GAVINHR use log-per type antenna for the both bands. If not know what log-per antenna is, google search. And a half size dish on back, not work you need full size or nothing (mismatch antenna radiation diagram).

[@lumixS5M2]

@@GAVINHR Search for Log-periodic antenna

[@Matanumi]

Also.... these videos remind me how BAD CE is. Being from an FCC country I never really have to worry about having weak range past O2.

[@GAVINHR]

yeah its horrible honestly, like signal giving up at 450m? crazy!

[@Matanumi]

@@GAVINHR I'll havethe same issues as well.... ...With TONS of obstruction. Actually Impressive. 450m in clear view sucks

[@michael18754]

Why would you need the extended Antennas. You cannot have your drone out of line a site. So why want to Travel A longer distance.

[@GAVINHR]

Oopsie…. Somebody didnt watch the video ;) maybe watch it then comment

[@edicionnovum4092]

Doesn´t works..

[@ACTIONDANhero]

your location must be bad cas i just launched then went back inside my house to lie in bed and my drone still reached 1800m Getting less than 600m range is hard

[@GAVINHR]

Once again… the sooner you realise in Australia which gets double the broadcasting power we do in Europe, do you even know there’s a difference between FCC and CE power? You even aware that it exists? Based on the comment you made on my other video I strongly suggest instead of trying to talk crap about other creators you do your research and it’s not cool especially from somebody trying to grow their own channel

[@ecosseskyview]

Nice video m8 gets a sub from me cheers

[@GAVINHR]

Thank you!

[@dogswhistlesharam9029]

They may work, trouble is if they are not tuned correctly, and throw the SWR out you will put strain on your output RF transistors which is very bad for your transmitter. Yours 2E0CJV

[@mavicairflyeruk]

not heard of SWR for ages Lol reminding me of the CB days 😆

[@dogswhistlesharam9029]

@@mavicairflyeruk it’s applicable to every device that’s transmits a wireless signal, all manufacturers have their antennas especially tuned by design these days, put anything near the antennas that’s metal can affect the SWR if not specially designed. These days manufacturers use fractal antennas on the pcb itself and are of exact in dimensions so there’s no need for the user to tune them.

[@dogswhistlesharam9029]

@@mavicairflyeruk a physical size of an antenna is relative to the frequency being transmitted a quarter wavelength antenna for 27 MHz is around 1 metre long, they used to give you about an inch or so of antenna adjustment to tune the SWR in. A quarter wavelength antenna for 5.8ghz is actually 12.9mm long in total length, so you can see how critical the length is to be exactly tuned in for higher frequencies , so you can see why I have my doubts about these products, they need to be really precisely the correct length, and also positioned in the exact spot to not cause SWR issues on the 5.8 GHz band, yes they can make the pcb antenna more directional, but due to not an exact match on that frequency can cause the RF transistors to be strained and thus create more heat and shorten the life of said component. I’m a qualified radio amateur and design engineer, I design antennas and electro mechanical products. My call sign is 2E0CJV