Why RC antenna polarization is important

[@1ShopSnipe]

Awesome lesson! I've never seen a demo like this with sunglasses. 🤯

[@5zero7RC]

Thank you for making this video! I point people to your other antenna videos all the time. A little knowledge ( about RF ) can go a long way!

[@flyingweed9671]

Great explaination and visualization. I can remember a lab experiment I did years ago as part of my training. For every degree difference between aerial angle, signal levels dropped by 1%. At 45 degrees difference between aerials, nearly 50% of the signal was gone. At 90 deg, 90% of signal was gone (10db).

[@johnk8825]

Definitely need more of this, you can never learn too much. Thank you Bruce.

[@jumpstartfpv]

I always see these videos from you. They always have something new for me to learn.

[@materia79]

Best visualization ever with the light polarization filters!

[@PsicoPete]

The way you showed us radio waves polarization is just so simple and amazing! Forget the boring product reviews that a million youtubers copy from one another. Gut the damn things open and keep going with the technical stuff that you're so great at. Props to you, "Sir" Simpson!

[@pofotiouzois]

Please make more educational content like this!

[@RyanQuellet]

Great explanation. Please make more educational content like this. Make sure it isn't condescending, just informational. Thanks again!

[@peteengard9966]

Two thumbs up for this one Bruce. My helicopters are set up with two satellite receivers. One horizontal and the other vertical. No matter the orientation, no loss of signal.

[@SuperBigCamel]

Yes, thank your for educating the next generation of model pilots, electrical engineers, technicians, ... This type of content helps retaining our hobbies excellent safety record.

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

Thank you for this uncomplicated and waffle-free explanation. I’ve had a couple of frights with signal interruption. Vertical antenna from now on!

[@sUASNews]

My favourite sort of Bruce videos! Good show.

[@ErraziBProductionS]

Well that was quick!! Thanks Bruce. The hobby needs this type of information being explained by people who understand it thoroughly.

[@pnwRC.]

Great video! I really appreciated the bench demonstration, as it demonstrated in such a manner that even I can understand what you were trying to demonstrate!

[@SniperUSMC]

Thanks so much for your videos! I feel I could earn a PhD in radio, antenna theory and aerodynamics watching them. You have an unmeasurable amount on knowledge.

[@mrblueskyfpv]

Awesome, What a great way to demonstrate how polarization and RC signal works. Thanks Bruce.

[@dr0n3droid]

These educational "white board" videos have always been my favourite. Keep 'em coming Bruce.👍 For many years I've kept my antenna in horizontal orientation due to the unorthodox angle at which I hold the Tx. In vertical position, antenna points upward at a 45° angle if I'm sitting, closer to 30° when standing. Null is exactly where model was flying LOS. While horizontal, null is always directly out to the side, regardless of my position. Embarrassed to say many failsafe crashes were required for me to make this change. Now to figure out how to keep my patch from pointing at the ground.

[@badmofo350]

I was familiar with rf antenna polarization but the bit with the glasses surprised me. I knew that my polarized sunnies eliminated glare and helped me see into the water when fishing but I didn't really know why. Very cool. Thanks Bruce!

[@skysailorfpv]

Wow so well explained, thank you for simplifying, and making easy to understand great demo too

[@100SteveB]

When I was but a wee lad - back in the 70's, when just about every house had a tv aerial on the roof, I always wondered why in some areas the antennas were mounted vertically, whilst just a few miles down the road they would all be horizontal. Being a bit of a geek i went to the library to get a book that would tell me. That little bit of knowledge came in handy a few decades later when i started to fly rc aircraft. But did not know so much about null points until I started to watch your videos Bruce, it was only then that I realised that vertically polarised is normally the best option for my flying.

[@sarahdaviscc]

This is helpful Bruce. Thank you.

[@Bishop-FPV]

I miss these learning videos you do. hopefully more to come. Cheers!

[@terrellma]

Love your videos. My brother was having issues with his quad and I forwarded this to him.

[@markcrane6959]

I've watched your videos for years and they got me into the hobby. You have a great skill to teach. The sunglasses demo was simple and effective great job , love learning new stuff from smart people

[@GrayMagellan]

Its a great video, Bruce! Thank you very much. You are clearly demonstrated us the importance antennas placement on RC transmitter and model. One little note I want to make - its better to turn the monopole antenna down for 80 degrees to earth, so its radiation maximum pattern will look to the sky at 10 degrees to horizon

[@y_i_fly5418]

That’s good to know and to think that Bardwell thinks he’s the know it all. A bit of competition never hurts, keeps the other guy on his toes. With age comes experience, knowledge with a bonus of wisdom I recon. Very well done Bruce.

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic, Bruce! Thanks a lot! 😃 Now it's much clearer! Now I started to understand why diversity receivers are so interesting... You can put one antenna each way! Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@LeonMatthews]

Love the Tech Time videos, thank you.

[@daviddorney6233]

Very interesting Bruce and probably the reason for strange unknown signal loss when flying.

[@joelzwerk4162]

Thanks for a very informative video. I had this happen last year with a Turnigy i6 radio. Had both antenna in the same plane but 90 degrees to each other. The plane did not range check so no flying that day. Put one antenna out the top of the plane inside a small straw. No problems at all since then. I doubt that many folks understand this polarization concept with 2.4 radios. Again, many thanks for the video.

[@joatmon_servant]

yes Bruce more videos like this, at least helps me to refresh back some of the subjects I learnt during undergraduate more than 15 years ago.

[@JP-vp8bt]

Amazing and well done presentation. We need more videos like this throughout KZbin. Thank you, knowledge is power

[@shortlytall7926]

Wow, that was amazingly explained! Thanks Bruce, polarity is now clearly understood :)

[@lasersbee]

Great Antenna info for Newbies and experienced RC flyers..

[@calisti9308]

I love your style of explaining!

[@ronhatten1692]

Definitely need more videos like this. Thanks for the knowledge.

[@williamhoenstine5057]

Please keep them coming. Very helpful!

[@nicksavage4763]

BRUCE, Thank you for your Channel and sharing your expertise. Over several years, have learned a lot From tuning in. Your serious laid back approach is refreshing in place of those Who love to hear themselves talk, saying Little or Amusing themselves with their Juvenile🤡humor and so clever in reality Its plain stupidness. For those who consume Many videos to sponge knowledge, time wasted. Your channel is a good substitute For not having a neighbor like you to learn From. From Florida🍊Thanks again🎉

[@terryblackman6217]

Thanks for today's video. This affect was more noticeable in the days of 27mhz single channel. You had your antenna coming out of the side of the fuselage and pinned to the fin. Almost horizontal and the transmitter vertical.

[@agentrfr1]

I learnt this lesson the hard way. I failsafed my cinewhoop in a rock garden 400 meters out with my brand new Gopro8. It took me two days of hiking to find it. I was naive to think using a FRsky Rx without telemetry to warn me of low RSSI, plus my TX16 with the antenna pointing sideways would be "fine" for a quick flight just up the hill at golden hour.

[@archivist17]

Very good explanation. Very clear. Thanks Bruce.

[@viperscot1]

Excellent informative educational video keep them coming bestest from Scotland

[@kindoblue]

More of these educational videos, please!

[@fpvdave]

Have to agree with you 100% Bruce For BEST reception, the receiving antenna is required to be the same polarization as that of the transmitting antenna. Either vertically, horizontally or circular polarized. The difficulty is when one of those antennas are changing their polarization as on the quad when it flys around. This is where higher power output from the transmitter will help mitigate the issues of differing polarization or flying close proximity. This is easily seen if you change the output of your vtx to just 25mW. Just try flying a few hundred meters away with trees between you and start doing some acro flying, you might just have a little walk ahead of you. More importantly, if you fly long range, than it becomes essential that you maintain the same polarization between transmitter and receiver. You don't see many long range quad pilots doing their acro flying when they are a kilometer or more away. 😁

[@shannonnewman3091]

Thanks for the info and video!

[@duffs1080]

Love the instructional videos Bruce

[@derekvair9341]

More like this ... definitely ! Well explained (as always - I've watched some of your other technical content), and very applicable across the hobby - not just for FPV/drone folk.

[@ShawneeConsulting]

Great practical demonstration!

[@cndbrn7975]

That was really cool! Now I have to watch a quad race

[@MrDoneboy]

Great info, Bruce...Thanks so much!

[@INTELMAXELL]

Thank you teacher. I learned something new today.

[@ainsleyisrael6603]

Wow Trust a Kiwi to explain polarization and make it understanderble . Great job . Also your T shirt is awsome

[@bartonfink5051]

Great visual explanation!

[@joannthomases9304]

I know nada, i had mag pull simplified, all this is interesting. Thank you. Trying to comprehend my heart frequencies, and what's going on in the body, from this. Thanks.

[@petebuttons210]

Very informative. Keep them coming.

[@rleewilson3556]

Thanks for making it simple for simple people like me!!!

[@SavagerobFPV]

A great video and information being explained Thanks

[@darrengarvie8832]

I'm glad I have kept my 40mhz FM radio 😁 for my road car I have no issues any more as on one runs them anymore 😁😁😁

[@snppla]

One thing I think should be talked about more is diversity receiver and transmit radios. Many spektrum transmitters have dual transmit antennas 90 degrees offset from each other in addition to having diversity and satellite receivers. Your setup would still have cross polarization in a nose dive.

[@vyoufinder]

I use the principle you're describing in that I use redundant receivers, each with two antennae at 90 degree angles, so 4 antenna at 360 degree angles in total. All horizontally mounted on my landing gear. I run my radio antenna horizontally also. This way, I am never cross polarized and always have near parallel antennae in the air and ground.

[@AEROERGO]

Bruce!, such a good video you make. good work, this is the kind of educational videos we need most. I wish one day have some FPV stuff to make some spanish versions of this comtent. (i will let u know before of course) haha.

[@gizfpv]

Feels like forever since we've seen the green bench

[@Kapharnaum92]

Would you make a follow-up video with how to best place the rx antenna on the quad? What about moxon tx antenna? Like I have with my betafpv elrs module.

[@craigcoghlan546]

Yes thanks mate , form making this easy for people like myself to understand .this maybe one of those little things that long term flyer's take for granted, or maybe though of as "common sense " Thank again

[@PeterOZ61]

Mate, excellent video like always. I was wanting to pick your brain if I may. Large scale T-228 Trojan RC aircraft, 111" span. Fiberglass construction, no CF. Power using 2 x Spektrum SAT type Rx that each have the long whisker type AE leads. RX1 is on bottom of the fuz just behind wing fitment point. I have the AE leads 90 degrees opposed in the horizonal plane, one points fore and aft, the other at right angle to it. RX2 is on side wall of fuz ~200mm from Rx1, it again has the AE leads 90 degrees opposed but I have it 45 degrees in the vertical compared to say fore aft horizonal line. JR 12X 2.4 DSMX with folding dipole AE, my intent would be to have the TX AE folding section in the horizonal plane to keep both TX & RX AEs in a horizontal polarised plane. I know you discuss using vertical polarisation for your drones so just wanted to get your input on my setup. TIA. cheers Peter

[@avman180]

Very interesting as always Bruce. With standard fixed wing receivers with two antennas, is this the same as in they will only be polarised in one orientation? I’ve always positioned the antennas at right angles to each other but not always got one going vertical. Sometimes there is no room in small planes and I’ve had to position them at 90 degrees to each other but both horizontal. Hope that makes sense.

[@lleston8927]

Excelent video!

[@draj3214]

great explanation!

[@grantrobertson1157]

My thoughts for Fixed wing antenna orientation (not FPV). If my logic is wrong please correct me. - [ ] The direction of the antennas in the aircraft are a bit academic as the plane can rotate and turn to any angle in reference to the transmitter. Best option is to set the two antennas at 90 deg to each other. Keep as far away as practical from motors, ESC’s, metal or carbon fibre framing, ie anything conductive. - [ ] The signal from the Tx is at its weakest directly along the axis of the antenna. So the antenna should not be pointed at the Rx. - [ ] The second worst orientation for the Tx antenna would be vertical. As the transmitted signal is represented as a doughnut with its axis centred on the antenna axis. This would give a good signal horizontally in front and out to both left and right. However at altitude the signal would become progressively weaker. - [ ] With the antenna at a 45 deg (2 o’clock ish) angle in a plane perpendicular to the line to the receiver, the signal to the Rx represented by the doughnut would be good to the left of the operator, slightly worse directly in front and poorer off to the right. - [ ] As most people would constantly turn their body to keep facing the aircraft. The best Tx transmitter orientation would be horizontal. This would constantly keep the best signal pointing to the Rx and altitude of the aircraft would not affect the signal strength. - [ ] This would then the two aircraft antennas to be installed in a horizontal plane.

[@2bfpv882]

great wat to explain it Bruce i learned sumthen thanks

[@marinehm]

Bruce: thank you so much for this video. Now I have to go and remount all my antennas on my quads! I’m using the tiny Tracer antenna on my arms like you described. How to mount them properly without being prop-chopped?

[@killer2point057]

I finally get it... Thank you

[@thesuntzu]

Great video!

[@yelectric1893]

Hmm very interesting. Nice examples.

[@henrysara7716]

Thank you great info.

[@robsycko]

Looks like we can use this to make shore our sunglasses are really polarized.

[@phantm24]

Great video

[@paulg5437]

Bruce, Really interesting. But a question: I fly mainly planes and I often have trouble finding a good spot for the receiver (keeping it away from motors, servos, ESC, et) so the antenna usually lies horizontally along the fuselage. It's even more of a challenge when the receiver has two antennas - here the manual states - place them at 90° to each other. Sometimes I have to poke the out of the frame at 90°. What advice do you have on this?

[@wearemany73]

Bruce you clever Sausage...😊 Edit: RC/FPV IS NOT A CRIME.

[@conesillyvalley7182]

Although everything you've said is correct about antenna polarization, one glaring error was when you said "if somebody is flying above water, and antennas hit a null-point, the drone would splash into the water" Most drones will "return home" if the RF link is lost - they can be programmed that way.

[@kendrickfpv4139]

Great, thank you!

[@Zollt76]

Love it .. more of this! :)

[@apexstudio324]

Hey Bruce, great vid! I'm curious if this polarization is the same with a Moxon antenna. Since some of the ELRS equipment manufacturers offer Moxon antennas for 2.4ghz ELRS, I wondered if you might cover radiation pattern, polarization, null points, and so on when using Moxon antennas vs. the T-style (dipole?) antennas. Is there any difference other than the higher gain/directional nature of Moxon? Thanks, and keep up the great informative videos!

[@arlemooldijk1595]

If you fly high and not far (horizontally) then placing the antenna vertically might give less reception than placing the antenna horizontally. Flying with quads or at more distance it makes sense to put the antenna vertically ofcourse.

[@dihler55]

If you run diversity recievers make sure the antennas are 90° from another and you basically cover all the nulls (which is what i do on my 5" where i have a mount for the antennas that hold them that way).

[@stevo43068]

Yes, the science of the hobby.

[@jimhyndman8223]

Thanks Bruce very informative as usual, question how would you orient the dual antennas on Frsky X8R and XM+ style of receivers on a fixed wing aircraft

[@benupde1979]

What about when you’re doing flips and barrel rolls? That polarization will always be changing. Banking for turns is a significant part of flying quadcopters, whether racing or freestyle. The only super consistent flight pattern are wings/planes and cinematic whoop style of flying.

[@loc4725]

On my planes the antenna is horizontally polarised _but_ thanks to diversity I have them at 90° so never encounter null point problems. As for flying to the side, the only times that happens (takeoff & landings) it's close enough for the null points not to matter. But for FPV I agree, vertical is the way to go.

[@SomeGuyInSandy]

Excellent, thanks :)

[@gregf1299]

I don't have knowledge of RC RF, but the subject of the moving transmitter/ receiver is interesting. First, I wondered why the antenna couldn't be gimbal-mounted, to preserve its orientation relative to the ground station. That might be mechanically difficult, so given the tiny form factors of accelerometers today, perhaps you could have 3 90-degree-mounted antennas whose signals are filtered for their preferred orientation? Sorry, if this is a basic question - I'll let the experts set me straight!

[@TL_RC]

Great video. How about antennas like Crossfire on a FPV wing that flies much higher and farther away. Is vertical null point facing upwards not good because we fly so much higher?

[@uzmeyer1752]

I had polarisation negatively affect me on my go to spot when i got into fpv. I flew los for a big part of my life so i always aimed my tx at my plane and everything was well with having the antenna turned to the side. When i got into fpv micros my go-to spot became the hill behind my parents house, wich had a nice park bench at the top to sit with a big tree to the left. Flying behind the tree would failsafe me 90% of the times, so i tried to avoid doing it, assuming the tree was just too much for the small antennas on my whoops, until one day i had my antenna turned vertical and suddenly the problem was gone. Was a bit embarassing realizing that since i did take a class about antennas at university

[@hateeternalmaver]

Thanks, Mr. Simpson! sincerely, mr. maver. ;)

[@mscir]

Good lesson. Polarized sunglasses blocked my phone screen, the first time it happened, before I figured it out, I thought my new phone had broken! lol. Any chance you'll draw lobes for us? And why don't they use an omnidirectional antenna on the drone or plane? Myself I'd want a directional xmit antenna and an omni on the rcvr, to get better range no matter what angle the craft was at. With your example of vertical antennas on both, don't you see the signal drop when the drone is directly over you?

[@originafreerangechicken]

Outstanding content! It’s really interesting considering that every crossfire BNF comes with the immortal-t installed horizontally. I’m assuming there’s less of a chance of lining up the null points if it’s straight out the back vs mounted on the arm at an angle?

[@a84758]

Great explanation! For my 5" freestyle quad, I am constantly changing my orientation, sometimes inverted, sideways, etc. Not sure what I should do about that, I can move the T style antenna on my TX16s with ELRS, but the quad is always moving and changing. However, for my fixed wing aircraft, I use a DX9, but the antenna is fixed. You can't move it. What should I do about that?

[@blackgi]

what about Elrs, ceramic tiny antenna? & thanks Bruce for the lesson.

[@geode8556]

What happened to diversity? Not as important anymore ore are vendors not including them anymore? Sir Bruce, love everything you do! Especially your explanations! Thank you!

[@johnmansley9534]

Great video. Does the same apply to the moxon style anntena, that they perform better in the vertical axis?