UHF RC Shootout: DragonLink Long Range System (part 1)

This is the DragonLink long range UHF RC system.
This video (part 1) looks as the general design, layout and quality of construction. The DragonLink transmitter loses points for less than ideal physical construction and the use of a module that shows less than perfect soldering and component placement. Overall, the transmitter hardware is satisfactory.
The RF side of the receiver is unknown (due to the gold cover) but it otherwise its construction is very good.
Pro's:
- receiver is compact
- receiver antenna removable
Con's:
- poor physical construction of transmitter
- RF module performance unknown until bench-tested
Check part 2 for the bench-tests which will determine how the system actually performs.

[@TheJclone]

Alot of us like the Dragon Link because of the the Owner Mike. Top marks for service and he is always there to help. In my book, i stick with DL. Also, his gear holds the record for range with UHF. Just youtube it.

[@blackmennewstyle]

Ruben Jauregui Amen to that :)

[@Hans_Ham]

ABMNS PRODUCTION to my knowledge "amen" is something christians say when they pray... if you need to pray something works well, that is not giving me a lot of confidence. I put my trust in science and the science of dragon link is not the best...

[@JohnFHendry]

Ruben Jauregui Yup... that's what a friends says. Heard the new RX is really good and there's no latency with the system and for me that makes or breaks any RC control the system especially for FPV.

[@eastcoast78]

+Elcapi56 Praise Jesus the savor lol Amen to that!! hehe

[@blackmennewstyle]

By the way, did i miss the part 2?

[@JohnSmith-cl5xo]

Here are the facts: I fly long range FPV Have done for many years surveying off shore wind farms in all different situations, sometimes up to 40km from land with large drones. Wings, shywalkers, skyhunters I have tired many different systems over the years, but i have to say I use the old dragon link v1 that I purchased from Mike Many years ago that gives me confidence and reliability it’s never faltered. I have tired may long range systems over the past but generally all good out to point, then glitching, failsafe and other factors, Drangonlink has always been the most solid. Bruce can put them all on the bench and test them (if he ever gets around to it !) but I have to ask has he ever flown low level out to 40-50km + Has he tested them all in a real life situation at range ???. I Doubt it. If you want the best just by the Dragonlink that will give you perfect service for years to come and spectacular backup from Mike who looks after his customers and has a passion for what we do. I’m not paid for this and I have no affiliation to Dragonlink. The best is the best its that simple!!

[@satgod]

Dragon link works flawlessly bought my first one 3 years ago and still using it. bought a second so I didn't have to swap from one radio to another No one beats Mikes customer service to date I don't know anyone that has paid for repairs or upgrades no mater how long they owned the hardware

[@ChristopherF_1971]

satgod bet you won’t say that now about his CS

[@kevinavis5080]

Tell it as it is ...... Good review.........

[@WarblesOnALot]

G'day.., Yay Team...! Well said mate, Keep on keeping on... ;-p Ciao !

[@heemlo649]

What happened to part 2?

[@chrispeacock3890]

i soon shall be getting my own dragon link many cos that rx looks freaking epic its gold whats not to like :D

[@garylowe8601]

Chris peacock I think it would be better to choose on the functionality, not the looks of the thing.😉

[@chrispeacock3890]

Gary Lowe hey mate i am not really grtting it cos of the looks only cos i jnow 4 people who have them and used them and never had a problem it is very good i think in the vid he put itt down just a bit to mach

[@captaintripps7354]

As a 40 years retiring RF engineer I have to agree with Bruce. The OEM RF module of the transmitter does open inconsistency issues for the life of the product as opposed to growing their own and controlling the parts quality. The installation of the OEM board was sloppy and I would have concerns of it failing in the field as opposed to it being directly part of the main PCB. I would like to know if V3 of the product line has changed any with that respect.

Not one damn ~engineer~ can heatsink the warm stuff on the damn aluminium box??? One huge, thick walled (at times finned!) extruded aluminium box and... air between the RF final stage and it... And is it, there, some proper grounding on the box? Like for shielding and reducing EMI?

[@drsstc]

9 months and no part two, why do you even say part one if you have no intention of doing part two?

[@ChristopherF_1971]

Mesafpver I’m pretty sure Bruce doesn’t want to get near this LR stuff. He’s had troubles before and I’m sure he’s aware that pushing LR can put heat onto himself.

[@blackmennewstyle]

Seriously, what's wrong with black? Black is so amazing like Dragon Link performances :)

[@hothothotmale]

Hi Bruce, I wonder if you should bench test the product first just in case viewers assume that opening the product may have possibly caused some damage, particularly when you show unsecured components on the board. Love your breakdowns and reviews. Keep up your awesome work. Thank you.

[@Dobemandan]

What was that crumpled up plastic wrap that flopped out onto the bench as the case was opened? Thanks Bruce great impartial reviews as always!!

[@Moonblade042194]

That tantalum next to the heat well makes me worried, in a few months/years that thing may just pop.

[@shmodiddly8560]

Dragon link is the best.i never had a single glitch with it.and using a 4 watt vid amp I have flown my 82 inch wing 85 miles and back with stock antanas, n I live in utah

[@ForbiddenOldman]

LoRa в корпусе за невероятные деньги ))

[@AgentCAL2001]

You know TBS just came out with a really extreme LRS, do that one next.

[@yxhankun]

is this a 433 Mhz transceiver?

[@gam67]

i have to say that i had ezuhf and now i'm happy with dlink. it is the most reliable uhf system i m using for now. sure sherrer is high end. but hey i only need a good "car" not a Ferrari. Never lost my plane btw.

[@ChristopherF_1971]

I’m pretty sure the man that developed this DL has sold out to do strictly government work only and not continue doing consumer products anymore. This will become the norm for long range systems

[@M-H433]

What a load of crap you idiot.....stuff me you have no ides.

[@runemauland9821]

What was the static noise at 2:24 ? just when you touched the cooling plate

[@runemauland9821]

Rune Mauland correction 2:22

[@kajzwinkels9795]

He probably just touched the microphone

[@MeanJoeGreen3]

Rune Mauland Kaj Zwinkels I don't think so, there's faint static every time he touches the components, even in his other videos. I looked in the comments to see if anybody else notices, at 2:22 it was very loud but other times he touches it it's very faint. I don't know what could be causing it

[@runemauland9821]

***** I don't have a headset at the moment, but to me it sounds like a discharge or a static interference at the moment he touches the cooling plate

[@xjet]

Rune Mauland It's my old wireless mic picking up the electrical noise that metal-to-metal contact can create.

[@vazza69]

Poor DL :/ I had the v1 for many years in that one seems to have been much better than the v2.

[@langle6003]

IT JUNK TO ME , OWN TWO V2 SYSTEM BOTH CRASH NO POWER NO MORE AND ONE AT DRAGONLINK WILL SERVE IT. HIS ANSWER IS THE WEB WILL FIX IT.

[@aldoyosbel1728397263]

Ezuhf 60$ vs dragón link 250$ = I to save 190$. Both do the samething

[@bwonline5725]

I'm about to purchase an LRS system and its hard like this one based on just looks. I can't believe how bad the transmitter module looks inside with the low quality 3rd party components. I was shocked to see 3 random screws holding things together and that heat sink looks terrible. Visually speaking I'm not impressed at all.

[@paulkazjack]

Hee hee 'lego version' .........:)

[@FPVSpace]

I think this is a terrible way to review electronics in my opinion. Not everyone builds boards which can be built 100% by pick and place soldering machines which look nice and neat and pretty. The ultimate goal is to build a solid UHF system, not satisfy some geeky fascination with pretty circuitry. Out of the systems you are reviewing, more people have gone further with DragonLink than the rest of them put together.

[@GreyhatInfiltrator]

That's what you get, when you buy Chinese made stuff. Poor quality!

[@garylowe8601]

Thegrey Aviator I think you should have said cheap Chinese stuff. China makes a lot of very good stuff also.

[@GreyhatInfiltrator]

Gary Lowe Ok!!

[@M-H433]

It's made in America you twit,I speak to Mike on a semi regular basis.

[@ChristopherF_1971]

Way overpriced