Long range UHF RC systems part 1 (the basics)

In this overly-long white-board based video, I discuss some of the theory behind long-range UHF radio control systems and the pro's and con's of using them. This video is the precursor to a series of reviews of a range of systems including:
the Immersion EZUHF
the DragonLink LRS system
the Scherrer LRS
the Arkbird UHF system
the Open LRS (Orange) system
Please leave your comments and questions in the space provided below.

[@jaimeriveras]

Hi, Bruce. I was trained as an electronics engineer. My focus was on audio circuits an antennae. Yours was a superb presentation of a complex subject. Thanks,

[@saisankar6477]

Hi Bruce. This is, hands down, the best video on UHF systems (or even radio systems) out there. You taught what a textbook would teach in 100 pages, in less than 45mins. Being an engineer myself, I truly appreciate the effort you put into these videos and how all of the content just makes perfect sense. Thanks again for all your videos. You add so much value to KZbin and fill your videos with so much amazing information. The KZbin community is very lucky to have you.

[@labanlabansson6147]

Such a rare and precious experience watching someone explain things in this manner. I lift my virtual hat and thank you for the video sir.

[@ME-zu5kg]

Bloody Fantastic, great education and I would suggest this is shown in Physics classes in the UK when dealing with Frequencies. Absolutely the best on the subject so far your getting better every video.

[@ramongarciano569]

even if its been that long since this video was made i wanna thank you for sharing your priceless knowledge on how our hobby systems work and put it in layman's terms with a bit of humor. god bless..

[@TrentAyers]

Good sir, you make some of the best and most informative videos in this community. I have to thank you so much for all you put up. So great! I would be interested in a HAM license series/video. Fantastic info! Great vid!

[@Norminal1]

I am so glad I found your video. Been thinking about long range fpv, have been very confused but your simple English lay mans approach is wonderful. Thanks so much.

[@waynependrigh4669]

Brilliant stuff. This video is exactly where Im at, but up until now I really didn't know why I was there. Great stuff.

[@matmo4665]

Currently Trying to decide which uhf to go with my taranis. Voilà Bruce comes out with a video. Your the man, quirks and all!!! Ive been using your reviews to make my big fpv purchases and have not once been disappointed with those purchases. Can not wait for part 2. Im pulling for Dragonlink as i hear good things and their customer service excels, plus as fellow muricans Id like to keep it local!

[@55Wings]

I really appreciate the whiteboard videos. Excellent explanation of theory with practical applications. Thanks for all your hard work in promoting the hobby.

[@mrfrog8502]

That is one of the best and most practical explanations of RF I have ever watched. Thanks for making videos like that. Really enjoyed that.

[@mikeaweber5059]

I can't believe there are any thumbs down. You are FANTASTIC. Thank you for doing this.

[@pjwlk]

Ditto on the "highest quality content on youtube" comment. Outstanding Sir! Thanks!

[@Catalysis1144]

I really like these white board videos which goes into fundamentals.. Please keep it up

[@Chretze]

This has got to be one of the highest quality content on youtube on the topic of RC. Subscribed!

[@raimondw6498]

Great job, safety first!... Another point to getting a Amature Radio Operators license(Ham) is that when there is a natural disaster in the operator's area, the UAV can be utilized in the search and recovery or the damage assessment and documentation areas. Always enjoy your videos. Continue the fight to fly.

[@amawarifaasamuel7645]

You are a blessing and a gift to our world. God bless you and keep you in health Sir.

[@PWOODHAMS]

Excellent overview of uhf systems. Looking forward to other videos in this series.

[@garyballiet8340]

Stellar video sir. We (in the fpv/rc community) need your no compromise style. You just need to ask and the premium channel will be a success. Thank you.

[@drifter1949]

Thanks Bruce, your style makes the information easier to understand, looking forward to next episode.

[@networkit]

Great video. Great information and very well presented! I've been using tslr uhf for almost 5 years and swear by it. Thank you!

[@pietercolombo2187]

Awesome video. I knew so much more about frequencies now. This is the best way i have ever heard something some complex explained so simple. Defiantly prime channel material.

[@Mixedtinkerings]

Thanks for this educative video! I don't think it is too lengthy at all. I actually enjoy learning theoretical stuff from you and the white board!

[@JamesHurd]

Prof Bruce Simpson your knowledge is unreal please keep up your great work.. A big thanks from me in wet old Ireland. : )some of this stuff is going straight over my head but it all sounds good..

[@jacobyyarrow8554]

nice profile pic :)

[@NorthOlbo]

Great explanations...explains why my Phantom flew away as I was approaching some high power antennas. They were far away, I thought, but not far enough for that weeny receiver. Looking forward to the series. Cheers from Canada.

[@gooutsideeveryday2017]

I knew from the intro that I was in the right place. Sure enough, I learned a lot. Thank you!

[@plowboyh6054]

Spot on basics theory Bruce can't wait to see the lab test thank you sir. This is what I have been looking for before I invest money in UHF gear.

[@Fast1Guy]

Perfect timing Bruce. I have reached the limit of my Futaba 7c 2.4 at 4.2km along with 1.2 video (Lawmate 1000mW) with a Notch Filter. Trying to decide between EZuhf and DragonLink. DragonLink is reported to be much improved since IBCrazy's shootout awhile back so this is of great interest.

[@BMSWEB]

Fantastic information here Bruce!! Young Thomas is really enjoying this one! Big Thumbs up buddy

[@iskess]

I would happily pay for this type of premium content. I think $20/yr is fair. $15/yr is a no brainer. Of course it depends on how often you can produce this type of content.

[@rctv-uk3126]

Brilliant Bruce this may just be the best video series out there for UHF RC systems. ATB Malc Team Nana UK

[@gratefulamateur1393]

What a brilliant and masterfully staged presentation. I wish you had been my EE prof! Thank you.

[@ecleveland1]

I'm very interested in this series. This information is great!

[@JMathieson]

Nice job Bruce explaining interference and signal propagation

[@drone7922]

Brilliant Bruce! Very good info! I combined 2.4 and 1.3 video lost my quad at just 40 feet. I connected the video transmitter to the wrong power 16V instead of 12V. When I switched power then I lost my craft at 200 feet!! I didn't know at that time about harmonics!

[@marcusdutra7091]

We are looking forward to watching the comparison! I hope it will be posted soon! Cheers!

[@codymattiello9700]

I'm a little ashamed how much I loved this video!!

[@Troy707]

Hi Bruce. We are really looking forward to the rest of the UHF RC systems test. We're waiting for your results to make our UHF RC gear purchases. Keep up the good work. You're doing a great job !!

[@traxialrc7369]

Nobody does this educational stuff better than you do! Great stuff,THANK YOU!

[@MrGantzFan]

Hello Bruce, First off, I really enjoy your videos, and often watch them several times a month. Thank you for continuing to provide RC'ers with up-to-date reviews of products and offering guidance! While I agree with the general spirit if your explanation of lower frequency systems offering better range than 2.4 GHz systems, I do take issue with the way it's explained. Atmospheric absorption of energy is negligible at both frequencies, and free-space (path) loss is a bit of a misnomer. In actuality, there is a frequency dependency with the aperture size of the antenna. If transmit EIRP, range, and receiver gains are kept equal, a UHF system will still receive more power than a 2.4 GHz system due to this frequency dependency of the effective aperture size (that is, the antenna is physically larger for the UHF system and thus acts like a larger "net" to capture the energy propagating towards it). Just my $0.02 worth as a RF/antenna engineer :).

[@bobbyddybbob]

thanks for breaking in down in layman's terms Bruce. Very interesting stuff cant wait to watch the next one and learn more.

[@k.orengaarder7438]

We need more videos from you on this subject 😃 now. You are doing a great job, bruce! Keep em coming👍

[@Valium_x]

Another excellent, well considered and produced video. Thank you Bruce!

[@stilldking]

Excellent video. Looking forward to subsequent videos.

[@nellodude]

Very well done Bruce. I only use UHF and love it as I fly long range all the time. The harmonic on 1299 can be a problem but I find the key to success is to separate everything. On the model and on the ground.

[@lasersbee]

Great RC Radio/Video information Bruce. Can't wait for the next video in the series.

[@PriusDr1VER]

Thanks for the video, its one of the most informative videos I have watched on KZbin in quite some time. I look forward to the follow on videos and hope for a more in depth ham discussion, as your way of explaining it all is a lot easier to absorb than my prep manual.

[@Anesthez]

I've been checking everyday for a 2 months for part 2 !!

[@Freebird_67]

Anesthez I don’t think Bruce wants to push LR flying is why he may have stopped. Some folks just don’t get it and do stupid stuff with these kinds of technology and just shouldn’t have it in there hands. I’m thinking Bruce has done the right thing by stepping back and not promoting LR because he may think he could be held reliable for some idiots mistakes. Kudos to Bruce.

[@Stashmanfpv]

Bruce is a brilliant teacher! 🎯 Sure wish I could pull your ear for a day and answer "ALL" my long range questions. 😎 Totally legit and adding to his Patreon for all his help and hard work! Thank you Bruce and best to you. ✌🏼

[@alex-pope]

I really like your white board videos. Thank you for this

[@giarcnamron2566]

Super awesome stuff Bruce. really enjoyed watching.

[@skflyer5392]

Really well explained. Good job Bruce!

[@johnsmith-cn5yv]

Very much looking forward to the full video series. Nice to see some variety from mini quads :)

[@kevinbrain917]

HA HA Back to school with bruce just like sitting in a class room .. great video bruce as always thanks for the info.

[@deathbychicken]

Hi Bruce. I'm new to the fpv/multirotor world but very old to the radio world from the early 80's onwards. I'm impressed with the new technology and how readily available it is. Even the cheap imported stuff works infinitely better than the prohibitively expensive 'hi-tech' I used to covet in Practical Wireless every month. The biggest issue, as you touch on in your video, and still is, is noise. I built a ZMR250 and put an oscilloscope on the ESC 'filtered' output with a PDB LC inline and the ripple was shocking even at idle throttle speeds. Power on the vtx and a GoPro and all Hell breaks loose! I see some people wrap their servo leads on a ferrite ring which will help but not a huge amount. Maybe a video on basic noise reduction would be handy? Decent decoupling, ferrite beads and coaxial bonding made an enormous difference for my set up. I'm a novice pilot but the responsiveness at a longer range was easily visible. Anyway, keep up the good work. Your channel is a regular view for me it is good to see some old school knowledge still exists out there in this hobby :)

[@JustinMrShakesBailey]

Great video! Looking forward to the rest of this series.

[@KaranSharmaindia]

love this man & the way he explained I wish he was my teacher in my maths class ....

[@TheRCAddict]

Watched the entire video...loved every minute!

[@andre-dx4yw]

very interesting thanks Bruce, was considering one of the uhf transmitters but after seeing the build quality im now considering the scheerer

[@shawnzilla83]

would you compare the JR module EZUHF module to the standard aluminum box version of the EZUHF as well?

[@Ultra2040]

Thanks for taking the time making these videos Bruce. I'm a newbie on the FPV scene but it's my next box to tick and I've learnt so much from your content. Thanks!

[@thpethaled]

A video on what you need to know to get a HAM license would be awesome. I've looked into it and started reading a bit about whats in the tests but it's not long before I'm on the floor in the fetal position. Another great lesson by the way

[@padcom]

I'm watching this video in 2023 with things like ExpressLRS and ImmersionRC Ghost using different modulation of the signal over the air as the old 2.4GHz transmitter and giving results like 100km at just 2W of output power and 100mW of telemetry... Things did change a great deal in the last years :) Good times!

[@traxfan32]

So excited fir this series!!

[@ruckushoot513]

part 2 looking forward to it then ill go out and buy thanks Bruce

[@Bishop-FPV]

This is going to be an interesting set of videos and I'm looking forward as always. Ez for me all the way with a homemade moxon.

[@sputniksam]

Really well put together, Bruce. As you pointed out the laws vary country to country. Here in the UK, even with an Amateur Radio License, 433MHz isn't permitted instead there is an allocation for RC on 459MHz. Also 433MHz in this country, 430MHz to 440MHz, is allocated to amateurs on a secondary user basis with the Ministry Of Defence being the primary user, and you certainly wouldn't want to upset the Men with the poisoned tipped umbrellas 😉 Again, using the UK as an example, 433.050MHz to 434.970MHz is a very busy ISM/SRDS band but there are also relatively high powered amateur radio repeaters ( anywhere up to 50Watts into antennas with gain ) also within this allocation. Regards Nidge

[@thetechnorat6466]

Perhaps a really stupid question but why is all FPV equipment on either 900, 1.2/3, 2.4 and 5.8? Like why isn't there 1.7 or 2.8 or 3.5?

[@Jellman86]

Brill Bruce looking forward to the rest!

[@bozcans]

Hi Bruce, We are still waiting for other videos of this series. I hope the they will come soon. Thanks for this awesome videos.

[@wulfdean]

most entertaining 40 minutes of my life ........ duff duff duff ... duff duff duff. thx Bruce

[@blackmennewstyle]

So much details! That was a great video! Thanks for sharing Bruce and have a great new week

[@JohnnyFaber]

Great work Bruce! Awesome job. I always enjoy your vids, and have learned a ton from you. Thanks so much for your awesome contribution to the hobby!!!

[@Mallavogue]

Great video mate. You always supply those unanswered questions I ponder about. I just got my ham license this past Sunday! I would like an invitation to the party now please.

[@vk2icj]

Part 2 please Bruce. We are all waiting patiently :)

[@MrCorrupt1982]

Just what I have been waiting for, cheers

[@etab83]

It's about time. This is the juicy stuff lol!

[@babakzekibi315]

First of all a wonderfull video. Thanks a lot. A lot :) I am using frsky 2.4 ghz system with l9r receiver, 600 mw immersion rc for video, and from my experiences, if you have good antennas placed properly, you can have 7 - 8 km range with no problem and for me it is more than enough. I have 4000 mt asl flights in clouds with 6-7 km distance and I really don't need go go further.If you want to, land your plane, go 10 km more with your car and fly again, :) And if you use a RTL autopilot system which I think every fpv pilot must, you can do amazing flights with confidence. Ham radio operators may use a strong signal and deafen your receiver with a high power radio broadcast, so can the radio towers etc. I love your videos and from my perspective people without enough knowledge must stay away from 433 uhf band and if they want to, they must get an amateur radio operator licence. 2.4 and 5.8 is more than enough for rc models.

[@martinknoesen]

I would be happy to pay for content like this on a premium channel. Well Done.

[@szorba900]

Very informative and understandable. As usual.

[@garylowe8601]

I agree. I'm not a brain box. I can find it hard to understand electronics and this type of stuff sometimes but I found it quite easy to follow. I too will be looking forward to the rest of the series.

[@jamiedodger1]

Well done Bruce!

[@odie175]

Thank you Bruce ! another fine video !!

[@Danjul89]

Exceptionally good explanations as allways Bruce, love your work!

[@JohnJohn-me5gj]

Thank you, Bruce! I'm looking forward to your Ham's license video.

[@Aschefr]

Oh thanks so much for that video ! I always want to know everything about UHF, i can't wait part 2 !

[@brubakerjm]

Fantastic video, Bruce. Thanks for taking the time to put it together. Would also love to see how the EzUHF JR module stacks up against the rest of the competitors. It seems like that is more targeted towards people who might be new-ish and just making their first foray into UHF (myself included). These are the types that can benefit the most from your knowledge base and advanced performance testing. Thanks again!

[@johncoffield3782]

Great video! Lots of good info. looking forward to the rest of the series.

[@TheJohanJonker]

Awesome video, can't wait for the next... On the ORX gear.. maybe once many people watch this they would know why the range are so bad and how to resolve it.. cause many have (including me) done better with openlrs than other brands.. Since you are such a guru with your soldering iron, maybe some video on a simple saw filter upgrade on the Rx.. I'm truly excited about the upcoming videos.... if I could have press the "like" button more than once I would have...

[@SiriusPilot]

Your videos are awesome thanks for making them. I wanted to mention that having a ham license is one thing to be legal but there are also ham operators transmitting mega juice from antenna array, even the ISS has a ham radio. With a big range you could easily run into one. :)

[@TheAdamtoolanen]

Great video Bruce!

[@1mountainllama1]

Great video. I like to know the hows and whys, and you have done a fantastic job explaining them. I still got a lot to learn. I am actually learning while I save to get into the hobby. Hopefully my learning curve will be much less.

[@joacimwennerberg8310]

I really enjoy your videos. Looking forward for the other videos in the UHF series . :)

[@AdamDemas]

I wish I could like this video more than once

[@dougkuechenmeister8733]

Great job Bruce! Thanks!

[@palerider16s]

YOUR THE MAN BRUCE.....THANK YOU FOR THE KNOWLEDGE!!!!

[@benmorris460]

Looking forward to part two.

[@segwaydave]

Bruce, Fantastic video!!!! Thank you!

[@TechHobbyGear]

Nice video with full of information on radio, thank you so much ....

[@tjsmith7061]

Amazing stuff, your going to skyrocket with subscribers!

[@GunnerRA155]

Turnigy 9X FTW! I have had my 9X for years (I bunged in a FRSky module for the failsafe function) and have never have a single problem with it.