FPV Antenna orientation and why it matters

This video explains the importance of using the proper orientation for your antennas in FPV. While this only illustrates the video side, the control side follows the same rules.

[@lainchanb___k1244]

Video has this 80's vibe to it. Had to check what year was it uploaded :D Great video non the less, thank you!

[@53roger]

Thanks for the great video. It’s good to see people who know what they’re talking about put good information out

[@janefaulkner3749]

Great explanation to this somewhat stylish fad, with the antennas, a real eye opener. Explained in plain English. All your efforts didn't go to waste.

[@FPVREVIEWS]

Thanks, as always Alex! The antenna orientation visual was very helpful. I'm setting up a CP antenna for the first time and didn't know how they radiate. Hope you are doing well. Sorry to see so few products on your website, wish there were more, especially for 1.2, 1.3. thanks for all you have done and continue to do for the hobby.

[@WarChest]

I keep telling my friends their antenna orientation on both quad and receiver matter a lot. Going to send this video to them. Thanks IB!

[@jdd1777]

Thanks for another clear explanation, pun intended. I was just yesterday trying to explain this and now I have a great video to throw in their face when people insist on mounting antennas wrong just cause it looks cool. People will swear they are getting good performance with an antenna tucked up inside of their frame sideways. I guess some guys just don't know what good performance is. We need to educate people and show how great fpv can be.

[@DroneShotFPV]

If I have learned nothing else from you Alex (and I have learned lots, just sayin!) it's the proper way to mount my antennas. I always run a 45 degree on my antenna on the quad, and vertical (omni) for the goggles, with the patch / crosshair oriented to match where my head mostly is. You are a pioneer, and many would be lost without you man!

[@aaronibosh]

The animations were perfect for the description of antenna placement

[@omgwtflmaololrotfl2368]

I know lots of people including myself who stevie wonder.....even fatshark people stevie wonder...it just adds to the feel of flying...and tx for adding the stevie wonder footage!!!

[@sunsetpark_fpv]

Thank you for this video, nice to finally meet IBCrazy 😁 I have some VAS products, they function exactly as I hoped they would, and I am happy with them. Thank you!

[@blackmennewstyle]

I have to say i miss when you were uploading videos more regularly! You should not even be surprised to see people totally messing up with antennas orientation and other concepts. I mean when you have companies just promoting their products through youtubers with a lot of subcribers who don't really know much more than most of their viewers, that doesn't really help people and the RC hobby. Thanks for the great video and have a great week! Keep on flying FPV :)

[@CAGreve1231]

Videos take time and the animations cost money, so unfortunately they took a backseat for a while. However, this was one thing that needed to be addressed.

[@AndrewNewton]

Great demo, thanks Alex

[@grenaditfpv4217]

Andrew Newton I subbed to u can u sub to me

[@taysfpv7646]

you are the reason fpv is the way is it today, thank my man

[@pkvillager]

Good demonstration. I love your Minions!Broke a connector on one so cut it open and was surprised by the simple design!

[@ILikeBeerAndStuff]

The "Stevie Wonder" should be a part of the hobby too. Great video once again.

[@ruftime]

Great antenna placement Refresher! Loved the synchronized Stevie Wonder impression, I’m sure I resemble that too!

[@CAGreve1231]

You're one of the few that admit you do it ;)

[@flyem404]

Alex, very well explained subject thanks a lot!

[@vertigev]

Great video! The animations definitely help with the explanation.

[@omgwtflmaololrotfl2368]

Subbed as soon as you said you not a fatshark type goggle fan. I love my box goggles and trust me when i say i have given the other goggles a try but they just dont do it for me. Long live the box goggles!!!!

[@CAGreve1231]

I try on each new set of FatSharks when they come out just to see if I like them, but I always end up picking up my HeadPlays again.

[@janefaulkner3749]

That makes three boxtrolls I know of.

[@Mellowdark17]

Thanks this explains why I have had so many issues with my video. I will fix ASAP

[@CAGreve1231]

Glad I could help!

[@bradmustard180]

Love the video Alex! I'm running a VAS Bluebeam and VAS Pepperbox. Just starting to do a few things with long range and the Pepperbox works wonders.

[@propstrikerc875]

Fantastic advice, I think I have this issue with my omni at the moment, it's a stubby and I struggle to get it oriented correctly, I think I need to get one with a longer stalk or an angle adapter to improve things.

[@MaEtUgR]

Well explained, clear examples and visualization, such a good video!

[@1337flite]

The animations are great - really well done.

[@CAGreve1231]

Thank you!

[@NeoAnderson115]

This may have just solved my issues, thats some useful info i wish i knew earlier!

[@Dav2112]

Good video mate, very well explained.

[@Tropicous]

Great video. Well done!

[@DavidHanniganJr]

You've sold me on the Crosshair Extreme.

[@MariusIhlar]

awesome explanation! I understand this now! 🤩

[@QuadView]

Best video and explanations with those great examples

[@Politicallyhomeless957]

Great video and very very important knowledge that so many miss or get wrong. Huge VAS fan. It’s all I run on my Transformers:) crosshair and an ION. I get video reception farther than I have radio link. Keep killing it bro 👍👏

[@6hostsurfer]

Awesome video, thanks Alex, What I find hard to understand though, is that the patch can "push" through the foliage....this doesn't make sense to me because its on the goggles/ receiver and not transmitting from the quad.

[@CAGreve1231]

You are correct - it doesn't actually "push" through. What it does is gather up the bits and pieces that make it through the foliage better, that's all. Of course, if you go to a Crosshair antenna, you will never look at a patch again. The crosshair is even better at gathering up those bits than a lowly patch antenna.

[@toypilot9811]

Great video. 900mhz linear antenna placement and orientation next video please 😁👍🏻

[@erikl1003]

Love it. Good information!

[@masterchef7652]

Greatvideo and fantastic animation!

[@smackfpv]

Nicely done video! Keep these coming you do them well, uh, Stevie...

[@CAGreve1231]

LOL! You should see Turtle Brown and I race airplanes side by side. We practically spin around in place, turn our heads sideways, ect. It is hysterical to see.

[@amenotepia]

First time I see somebody flying with Headplay HD. I trust him even more now just because of that (and not teasing, he just knows his shit).

[@ramongrande6464]

Hello! Great explanation, very illustrative. I will now think in Donuts and Beams when I set up my quads. I have actually decide to zip tie the AXII antennas to one of their back arms (Floss V1), and now I understand why sometimes I get so terrible signal (Thus, I think this has save them a lot from crashes). Just one question... once I have the perfect orientation both on my quad (45deg from the horizontal) and on my googles (15deg due to always ending with my face down), whenever my quad does a flip or power loop should I expect loosing or having bad vtx signal for that brief moment when the antenna in the quad is "not aligned"? 2nd question... If I manage to place the antenna inside the quad at the right angle in order to protect it from crashes, will the carbon plates reduce /block the signal?

[@MrStevegibb]

I struggle to aim my patch correctly when its attached to my goggles would it be a good idea to have and extension and mount the patch on a tripod so it can be aimed correctly instead or would the gain loss on the cable be too much?

[@foxrace0985]

cool illustrations!

[@mafiafpv3469]

The stevie wonder was awesome bro

[@puremaga17]

Helpful info, however most of us that use horizontal mounted VTX antenna's is for crash protection, and that's why using derversity goggles is a huge plus, also 25mw in non sanctioned race flying is a bit low especially since some of the lower cost vtx's are wildly misrated (eg. 200mw may only test out to 30+-mw) so with a good set of dervisety Goggles (even box sets like the Upgraded Eachine VRD2 PRO's) fitted with a good patch and a circular polarised OMNI combo will give a great feed way beyond the goggles / monitors shown in this test, all great info however and Thank you for this post! Maybe we should bring up SWR's as this important tune seems to be overlooked by many in the FPV lifestyle, being an old dog I remember how important this was in the AM Band's and should be just as important in the FM Microwave bands we use today, Thanks Again!

[@CAGreve1231]

SWR is HIGHLY misleading. A dummy load will have good SWR, but it is obviously not a good antenna. Radiation pattern is what is most important.

[@IkurFPV]

I learned few things and had a good laugh, thank you man :)

[@CAGreve1231]

Glad I could help ;)

[@Goose51841]

Hi today I've tried the new minion antenna from you, the antenna is great! very good picture, definitely my new favorite!! :)

[@pointnozzleaway]

Awesome info right here ! and a good laugh

[@idfpv6510]

Great work !!!!!super visualization!!!!! Thanks!!!!!

[@lasersbee]

Couldn't agree with you more on the orientation issue. I've seen pilots using antennas pointing in any which way due to not understanding the basics of transmitting and receiving RF signals.

[@CAGreve1231]

It seems the use of a directional antenna is more obvious which is why I left it until the end of the video. But omnis for some reason seem to be a bit of an issue for many folks. I think the reason is that the assumption is the pattern is a sphere and not a doughnut.

[@Geroellgeraet]

Thanks for the video, TIL.

[@furulevi]

Is there a T or V shaped VTX antenna?

[@flat-earther]

yes, it's linear antenna

[@MkmeOrg]

Great video Alex! Well done

[@mikestevens3570]

Crosshair EXTREME!!! I want one!!!

[@CAGreve1231]

Coming soon... I hope. In this video I am using the revision 2. I have the parts for the revision #5 coming in a few days. If everything works like I want, then the antenna will be available by late June.

[@sleepingbearffg5008]

Great test

[@DaynHolz]

Steve Wonder for FPV-President!

[@QuadDamageFPV]

Thanks, it's always worth watching your videos. I'm using a large linear patch for directional, but it is quite sensitive about head movements at long range 4km+ . Will your new antenna be suitable for these distances, or more suitable for closer range quad/wing flying? Thanks again, my mini talon is still rocking with your IBC Skew Planar 👌

[@CAGreve1231]

For long range it is best to use a tripod since aiming it is easier. You can see in this video that even though I took care to aim my Crosshair Extreme, I still wasn't aimed quite right despite my best efforts. If I tripod mount isn't available, then a Crosshair or 5 turn helical will do the trick. They outperform a patch in almost every way.

[@QuadDamageFPV]

Thank you, I'll be checking stock at the electricwingman here in the UK - much appreciated!

[@AirsoftNY]

Great video, THANKS

[@Siamect]

On the receiver side I usually point my omni horizontally so that it has it's worst direction in the same direction as I point my directional antenna...

[@CAGreve1231]

Yes. Worst orientation for the omni. You really want to go vertical.

[@Siamect]

but then I will have the worst for the omni in the same direction as the worst for the directional... ok for the fact that it is right over your head but when you can avoid it, why wouldn't you?

[@luiz608]

Perfect vídeo 👏🏿👏🏿

[@TokeyFPV]

This video was extremely helpful. Thank you. Also can you do an explanation of what happens if your antenna is to short like a stubby and have stuff in the way like batteries etc.? Does it affect the signal? If so an animation like you did would be great...

[@CAGreve1231]

That's a good idea! I will see what I can come up with.

[@ruftime]

Yes, stubbys are very popular in my club....haven’t tried one but it’s got to adversely affect range

[@EnuffsEnuff318]

Nice job on the animation.

[@burgerlord1297]

great info !

[@onemantwohands5224]

That's the best info ever mate thanx very much :-) :-)

[@TheRCAddict]

My race quads have the antennas horizontally out the back for durability and easy placement and on clearview I have perfect video. My freestyle quads I bend them up vertically since flying a longer distance.

[@CAGreve1231]

If you have a good receiver, this is a good strategy. I find that using a TPU flexible mount for the antenna out of the back of the quad at a 45 degree angle makes for great durability and easy mounting.

[@TheRCAddict]

+Video Aerial Systems yep it's thru a TPU mount between the standoffs parallel to ground under the props, but when you're racing at 60+ degrees it comes closer to vertical.

[@CAGreve1231]

Don't forget the frame blacks the signal in certain orientations.

[@TheRCAddict]

Yep, all valid points :) View of ant in this picture instagram.com/p/BhVM6HoFsDL/?taken-by=the_rcaddict

[@pkvillager]

You are a racer flying closer to vertical than an acro pilot. Also you aren't flying through trees or putting a building between you like these tests.

[@cenabitednbfpv587]

Great vid as always, so if I'm like you and my Fav goggles are box that are not diversity what antenna would you recommend if you had to choose one for both range and high humidity conditions with trees your 3-ring helical is my favorite directional antenna and I'm tempted to you that at all times but it would leave me being a literal antenna tracker doing the ultimate Stevie Wonder at some point... Thanks ;)

[@SweFPV]

Good vid mate, nice tips!

[@dis3nchant3d42]

Alex, what do you think about 2 omnis on rapidfire mounted with one vertical and one sideways? This seems to give me really good video, and I can still fly well over a mile unless I have really poor los out that far.

[@WadeHartley]

Great animations man!

[@calehuntfpv480]

That’s my goggles at 0:48 mark :)

[@SKIDOOSH]

Thanks Alex!!! Rock on brother!!!

[@alloutofdonuts3998]

LOL Stevie Wondering! That's why I have to be seated when I fly. I've actually fallen down before heeheeeee!!!

[@CAGreve1231]

I haven't fallen yet, but I have tripped on several occasions.

[@cenabitednbfpv587]

And ps @Alex why is it that my small fpv wrist watch "screen" with tiny little antenna U see u people use on the radio itself, why does this seem to put preform even very high end goggle setups?

[@DimplePoji]

I laugh like a mad person during the "steevie wonder" segment.. haha!!

[@CAGreve1231]

That was funny! I can hardly believe we did that in unison!

[@hateeternalmaver]

I do the 'Stevie Wonder' mostly in power loops. I fly standing up and usually lean back a bit and a lot during loops... xD Funny thing is, I even dodged stuff when playing simulator on a big screen.

[@billsomrak]

I find that if you are seated, you tend to do the "Stevie Wonder" much less. I believe my current HobbyKing Cyclops Diversity DVR goggles have a Mad Mushroom on one ant. input, and an X-Air RHCP patch on the other input (used to fly quads). Cheers.

[@CAGreve1231]

^This. So much this. Standing definitely makes it worse. However, the effect of ground reflections is significantly increased while sitting.

[@billsomrak]

Soooo .. Sit on top of a 6 ft. ladder .. it will give you added incentive not to lean .. ha ha!

[@CAGreve1231]

That would do it. Might suggest wearing a safety harness just in case...

[@gypsypunkparty]

So I use a ground station with triversity, and I use an Ion for omni and two crosshairs for directional. What is the optimal angle of separation for the two crosshairs to get optimal horizontal beam width without risking a dead spot in the middle. And what about in the vertical direction? I am often out around a mile, and up a couple thousand feet in elevation above the ground station following terrain. Thanks for your great antenna designs!

[@CAGreve1231]

This is a really tough question to answer, but allow me to try: Having triversity with an omni means you won't ever get a "dead spot", but instead a point where the omni takes over due to higher gain. This angle is 105 degrees (since the Ion is unusually high gain for an omni). Thus, with a 105 degree angle between your crosshairs, being dead center between them would result in equal signal strength to your omni. If you want the center to be 2X as strong as your omni, the angle between them should be 70 degrees.

[@pmm4177]

I just built a new frame and the antenna mount is on the bottom plate so i swapped out the straight sma connector for a 90 elbow and mounted the antenna straight up and the cloverleaf is just above the top mounted battery, could that antenna not being well above the battery cause some issues with signal?

[@CAGreve1231]

Some, possibly. However, it is better than it being completely blocked.

[@selimshakur3189]

Great video. You did a great job with the animations. Is that hard to do ?

[@CAGreve1231]

For me, no... but it's expensive ;) I have one of my crew make them for me since I cannot do it.

[@nofearjer1]

Awesome explanation. Wouldn’t you say the extra extensions you’re using on the receive end are giving you a quarter of a dB of loss is worth it the extra antenna height? I’ve always tried to minimize the amount of coax between rx and antenna...

[@CAGreve1231]

Extensions have negligible loss for runs less than 20cm (8"). Thus, better antenna placement by running an extension is usually beneficial. I have a video on this somewhere...

[@martinmacko7297]

Thanks!

[@sleepingbearffg5008]

So good I'm in..subscribed..

[@thefpvyawthority8106]

VAS branded gimbal module needed So we can do the 16 up again

[@CAGreve1231]

I have something even better in the works ;)

[@shadowrider3853]

Great explanation 👍, how about rx antenna and how to properly install it? Thank you!

[@CAGreve1231]

I show you in the video as mounted on my screens (and goggles). This is both TX and RX antennas.

[@shadowrider3853]

@@CAGreve1231 I mean the remote control receiver (like futaba, frsky, flysky), not the video receiver 🤣. In the video all clear about the vtx, vrx, it's explained well and crystal clear. Thank you anyway!

[@DallyDDD]

Love the graphics, very informative, thankyou. Whatever happened to stvy1dur? What difference does , mounting the tx antenna directly on the quad do, so with no stem raising the antenna up. Like the axii little ufl antennas?

[@CAGreve1231]

You can see in this video that it harms the signal significantly.

[@DresdenFPV]

well the theory was pretty clear to me - but I totally forgot that my quad doesn't fly horizontally flat like it's standing on my workbench. So mounting upright (90° to baseplate) is of course stupid. Thanks for that.

[@CAGreve1231]

Not stupid, but not as efficient as it could be.

[@jordankearney1756]

What mod have you done to the headplays, I’d like to have a good diversity on mine too, I can’t stand the view of fat sharks but wish I could use some of their fancy modules

[@CAGreve1231]

I modified them to fit a LaForge module. The directional antenna mount is a cut up lid from the box.

[@Shroomania]

I’m a mix of Joe Cocker and Stevie Wonder mate..lol...and thereI heard Scully on the mic..

[@Alohakoa59]

Do the drone and goggles need to be of the same orientation, LHCP or RHCP?

[@flat-earther]

yes

[@dronereviewman9580]

Great info!!! This is all really good to know!!! You have a amazing channel!!! Can not wait for more reviews!!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you ever want to sell a old pair of f.p.v. goggles let me know! I need some bad the old fat sharks i have work ok but are 4 or 5 years old lol!!! This is the most fun i habe had in years flying these drones!!! Just really wish i could win on a lottery ticket and buy some new fat sharks or some Aomway's!!!! 👍👍👍👍

[@kn8alpha263]

I had a Pagoda antenna mounted horizontally and had very poor video compared to a vertically mounted cloverleaf. I thought the Pagoda had a spherical beam so it's orientation didn't matter?

[@CAGreve1231]

There is no spherical circular antenna that I know of. The pattern of the Pagoda is similar to the pattern shown in the video.

[@kn8alpha263]

What I tried to mean is the Pagoda's axial ratio is lesser than a cloverleaf, so it's more 'spherical'

[@Gamingcommunity69]

Are you part of vas? Just curious that is all! I was wanting to get some stock thru you guys for my shop but, unfortunatly dont have enough capital to spend 1500usd with vas! I have been plagued with bad video signal! This is very helpful

[@CAGreve1231]

I actually own VAS. It is my company.

[@Gamingcommunity69]

Hey thats awsome it explains why you know so so much about how they work! I own a tiny little fpv race drone shop in queensland australia! I have only been in the hobby since last september! I bought multirotor insanity at the end of december! Dont suppose you would wave the min first order of 1500usd? I want to try and only stock the best stuff at the best prises! This is an amazing hobby i want my kids to enjoy! I did apply for a vas acc a while back and was approved but cant afford that much atm im juggling orders to just stay affloat! Oh and i didnt realize it is in my mrs profile so it comes up with her name! Mine is james

[@Gamingcommunity69]

[e-mail]

[@CAGreve1231]

Email me through the website. The first order is $800, not $1500, but I can overlook that to help you out ;)

[@marko4480]

love it

[@caringcenter5375]

nice video

[@roydouek]

What about liner polarized antenna?

[@sailorjohn2224]

Aren't those pigota type , wouldn't cloverleaf style act differently?

[@CAGreve1231]

Nothing in this video is Pagoda. However, whether Pagoda, Ion, cloverleaf, or Triumph, they all have a similar radiation pattern.

[@Jimster71]

Looking forward to seeing the specs on the Crosshair extreme. Will the new Ion incur less loss than a regular ion on a 10cm extension?

[@CAGreve1231]

Let me explain it like this: A short extension cable will not incur enough loss to make a difference in your signal and thus, using one for better placement is the best thing to do. The new Ion is a different antenna which is an improved version of the Ion which will come on a longer cable for ease of use in receivers. So the loss will be about the same between them, but the Ion2 will have a slightly better signal due to some improvements I made.

[@Jimster71]

Will keep an eye out for the new Ion in the summer. Just picked up a couple of Minion antennas for smaller quads. Was trying one out on my Babyhawk R: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZfQgIqZq9mnjdU

[@kaskalo2]

Are receiving and transmitin antennas the same? Can you stick two same antennas, one on quad and other on goggles? Or you need different types?

[@CAGreve1231]

They can be the same and frequently they are. Directional antennas are goggles only but the rest can be used as both transmitter and a receiver antenna.

[@kaskalo2]

@@CAGreve1231 thanks bro!

[@lifeispancakes]

Thanks for this Alex!! Any chance you will post anything with interference related? Like effects of CF on VTX or RC link....or separating VTX asnd RC link antennas on an aircraft? Thanks for posting cool things like this!!!!

[@CAGreve1231]

If I get time, yes. These things take a lot of time. For every minute of video there is 90 minutes of editing.

[@RcBuddy]

Good info, Thanks !

[@amenotepia]

FGDude I think I do too. Let's see if somebody reviews it.

[@KrotowX]

I'm usually trying to mount antennas on quad under 45 degree angle, because on flying they become near-vertical. Better durability on upside-down crashes too. Crashing with vertically mounted antennas unfortunately often end with smashed antennas, broken connectors or even broken VTX boards if connector is soldered on board. Directional antenna with diversity receiving in googles (real diversity receiving with 2 receivers and not antenna diversity) is must have in googles as well. FYI: I'm more in freestyle treewalking, not in races :) Nothing laughable about steevie wonder :P I'm doing that too.

[@CAGreve1231]

There are 2 types of FPV pilots: Those who admit to the Stevie Wonder and those who don't realize they do it ;)

[@KrotowX]

LOL I also realized doing this only after some time :) Usually I'm trying to stand with antennas on direction where I will fly most but you will never know... At today even got a couple RSSI warnings in Taranis because didn't noticed that I turned in angle where flying spot lies behind me and car parked between me and flying ground.

[@MDP1980]

Thanks for the demo , 😂⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@tweekFPV]

Yep makes a huggggge difference! Very nice tutorial. LMAO @ the Stevie Wonder sync!! :D

[@CAGreve1231]

A friend of mine shot that video and sent it to me. It had me laughing, too. It shows that the way you fly the aircraft determines how you move your head.

[@David__]

Thanks 'Stevie' :)