Using a drone to put up a HAM radio dipole antenna

Instructional video for how to put up a HAM radio dipole antenna using a Mavic Pro DJI Drone with a servo motor to deliver a payload. We used this setup for Field Day contest.
Including a link for the servo motor:
finish-tackle....
Also, you can buy them on ebay for $60

[@SummitBidTech]

I love the idea of using a drone to place an antenna hoist line. Brilliant!

[@jamesnitzberg8405]

Thanks for the excellent video, and as great surprise, your last QSO was...with me!! Didn't expect that. My new QTH has some very tall trees I need to do a precision drop over, and like you, I don't think I can chance actually landing the drone with the string on it, so your method is excellent. 73, Jim WX3B

[@DukeDave1]

Thank-you for the video I appreciate you taking the time to show us how you did this. Thanks.

[@davep6977]

Excellent job. I finally had to hire a tree climber to get my pulley up. Only one suggestion. I did the "small pulley" thing. I found the knot/coupling had problem and one pulled apart, leaving me a useless pulley in the tree. They have light weight 5" pulley with a bigger frame on eBay. Very educational with that release assembly. And I didn't know a drone could pick up that weight. Thanks for the video. 73 W9DLP

[@johnwest7993]

Good idea. Thanks for the demo. I recall spending half an hour trying to toss a weight up over a tree by hand to hang a portable antenna. It was ridiculously difficult for an old guy like me. I've been thinking about buying a drone, or building one, that I will just send up to just under 400 feet carrying a crossband HT as a repeater, or have it pull up a lightweight end-fed antenna, and just hover at whatever height is appropriate for an 80 meter to 10 meter multi-band end-fed and whatever weight of RG-174 it can support, probably just 30 feet or so would suffice, and run my QRP rig on it, or add a small 40 Watt HF amp I have. I figure I can fly it for about 20 minutes at a time, work some stations, then bring it down, change the battery, and send it back up. I've been looking at motors to see what can handle the almost nonstop operation, but it's very hard to get meaningful data on them. Lots of info on cameras, (which I don't need.) But the idea of what would effectively be a 400 foot tower that will go up anywhere at all in just a minute or 2 seems like a dream come true for an old guy who doesn't move around so well. Software that automatically takes it to a spot in the air and just sits there even in a breeze is already available, so all I'll need to do is program the process and babysit the antenna as it goes up and down. Anyway, lots to think about. Again, thanks for the video.

[@hithere7382]

They make slingshots for those that lack a golden arm.

[@edgaulden2324]

John, use a slingshot. Do like Steven did. First use a light string with a weight. Shoot the weight up and the string will follow. Once up, next comes the rope, etc etc.

[@BosssyBear]

That's a very complicated solution. I tie a string with a weight under my Mavic Pro and connect a fishing line to the weight. Then fly over the tree (house/whatever) while pulling the fishing line out far enough that the drone can descend down to the ground. The weight keeps the fishing line down and away from the drone. Disconnect the fishing line and then use it to pull your dipole (or a slightly heavier string as needed) over your tree and you're done. Nothing "extra" needed. But it was fun building I bet.

[@humangenoproject7930]

It is a more complicated solution BECAUSE in my case, I needed a precision drop due to heavy tree canopies AND I had no option of landing due to marshland and high weeds. Normally taping fishing line to the drone is ok if you have open area and solid ground to land on. (Although there is a risk of tangling up on take off and landing)

[@scott8049]

Why not just tape fishing line and fly up and down?

[@calvinjonesyoutube]

This is awesome.

[@douglamb8894]

Great job, and awesome video. Thanks 73

[@ea4hwt]

Facing a tough choice: should I invest $2000 in a drone or opt for a fully loaded KX3 for my field operations? but its all about experimentation, well done ..73

[@kandkmotorsports]

Does the drone gain altitude a bunch when the weight is dropped, or does it stay put pretty well? Thanks for the video!!

[@DK5ONV]

Excellent Job 💯👍

[@JimHefferon]

Very cool

[@researchcapt]

excellent idea, thanks

[@williamwiese9963]

Slingshot works too

[@WX4CB]

I usually use my 5 inch freestyle quad, but you got a link to the drop kit ?

[@humangenoproject7930]

Yea, here you go: finish-tackle.com/product/mavic-pro-payload-release/ Also you can find them on ebay for $60. Just search "dji drone payload drop"

[@larrypugh9662]

You can find a variety of drop kits on Amazon

[@edgaulden2324]

DE K4LYJ - watched your video as I have been toying with using a drone to elevate my G5RV antenna! Thanks!

[@kleinbiker1]

Maybe I missed it, but why wouldn't you mount that whole contraption on the bottom of the drone so the line doesn't pass between the props?

[@bigbruno200]

Great job!!!

[@derektrounce937]

The mount is typically placed on the belly of the drone not the top, is there a reason you chose to mount it on top?

[@IronHam-AF4O]

I kind of thought the same, but guessing it was placed on top as to make landings safe and keep drone from falling over and potentially damage the blades.

[@ehayes5217]

very, very interesting & so efficient, so precise, CONGRATULATIONS!👏🎉 While obviously more complicated (vs. my technique of tossing a smaller-sized rock {underhanded} w/ light string/line attached, then heavier lines thru {or over} treetops), urs is certainly the BEST way to hang lines; I can typically hit the best area on a treetop (after several attempts) at around 50-60' in height; however, my best (at a friend's QTH), was prbly around 75' (a VERY long day☹️hi hi!); great job & tnx for posting, 73 de WA4ELW in TN 🇺🇸 dit dit 😃

[@derektrounce937]

I believe dji sells foot extentions for the drop kit. At least the they do for mavick.

[@humangenoproject7930]

Yea, as Ryan mentioned above, there is no way to land the drone with the servo motor below so the only way to mount it is on top from what I could find

[@larrypugh9662]

@@humangenoproject7930 catch it with your hand like a lot of experience drone pilots do when needed!!

[@GottagoJoe]

Great video!

[@wa4aos]

Nice video... I am building a drone soon but for now, i am using a tool which shoots a 22 blank which gets me up as high as 200' and less for a lighter charge on the blank. It works well but betting the cable to come down exactly where you want it is not easy. A drone with a camera looks much more accurate for the drop. Tnx es 73 de WA4AOS

[@billcameron]

I love the video wish we had big tree here in Yellowknife or surrounding area to do this would love to know the farthest contact made 73's from VE8AP

[@multilecful]

Awesome video thanks 😊

[@kai_jokela]

looks like your air drop system is supposed to be under the drone, not on top of your drone. I guess you chose to have on top, so drone can land on it's feets

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

Doesn't the steel cable react with your RF?

[@humangenoproject7930]

It does not. The antenna is hoisted on a rope which isolates from the thin steel cable.

[@ДавидРозенбаум-я6л]

if the antenna is made of two wires, then you can supply electricity to the drone.

[@TheMainsheet]

Ignoramus

[@legendfpv]

Not at all, in fact that is you. That's exactly how cellular providers and others do it to put up emergency towers. Indefinite runtime with the wired connection to the drone. @@TheMainsheet

[@eprohoda]

Human! Hi! yo umade insane ~catch you later~ 😉

[@empireoutdoors7298]

THATS AN AWFULL LOT OF UNNECESSARY SCREWING ARROUND..

[@egillis214]

$2000 drone to put a $15 antenna wire up

[@legendfpv]

Can use the $300 model.

[@larrypugh9662]

This is much too complicated so much easier to do it other ways using a drone we do it often whenever someone needs a string up a new antenna. Also, it’s “Mavic” not Maverick

[@radarwill]

I've put up many dipole ropes using my DJI Mini 2. You don't need all that crap. Scotch Tape a fishing line to the bottom with a 1oz lead weight. Get to where you want to be, hold the slack, and either yank the tape loose or accelerate away. Very cheap and easy!!

[@naetuir]

Nice video! Good to see someone local putting up information vids. :) N0ZSY.