Anafi makes the 8 mile round trip

[Waldo Pepper]

Hello forum Parrot friends,

Recently purchased a used defective Anafi, auctually two days ago this Wednesday. Video feed works but Gimbal has issues (up/down movement not working), but price was good so I made the purchase dispite the Gimbal problem.

Added an antenna mod yesterday, non boosted. Just before sunset today, flew 4 miles out 4 miles back. 8 miles total, barely made it back with 2% battery left. Started with elevation of 46 feet going out to the end, then increased elevation little over 68 feet for the return.

Was surprised it went so far, it’ll probably go 5 miles with this setup if it had enough battery to get it back, but 4 miles appears to be the maximum for a safe return with current Battery.

Been flying Bebop 2 for about a year, these are boosted both Sky Controller 2 and BB2 drone. Maximum range is 2.1 With the bebop 2 with no inference, amazing drone Bebop 2 is awesome.

Aways wanted an Anafi since they were released, seen a great deal on eBay couldn’t pass it up. Anafi is an amazing drone, especially after adding a different antenna setup. Now, reception is amazing video feed terrific.

Thanks for looking,
Paul

 

[Jagerbomb52]

That was pretty amazing. Looks like it was over flat farm lands which would help. That was cutting it darn close to getting it back LOL

It would be interesting to see the WiFi signal graph.

 

[Waldo Pepper]

That was pretty amazing. Looks like it was over flat farm lands which would help. That was cutting it darn close to getting it back LOL

It would be interesting to see the WiFi signal graph.

Hello Augustine,

Yes, was over farm land very safe area to fly. Even if having to land short, I can always land on route back on a dirt road which I’ve done several times with other drones.

Next to this farm land is cattle land, have permission to fly here which is great to test drones.

I’ll try and copy the WiFi graph on next flight, not sure if I can do that but I’ll try.

All the best,
Paul

 

[Jagerbomb52]

You can use the Show_Anafi_Log_Program Located here. It has all the graphs you can ever want

Show Anafi Log Project

I have been working with someone who makes programs to read telemetry files and displays the output with errors if any are found. His specialty is with Yuneec drones but I thought I would pick his brain and see if he could make a similar program for our Anafi's. Here is a link to what he has so...

parrotpilots.com

All you need is your .JSON file from the App. Just save it someplace where you remember and load it in the program.

 

[IronSky1]

Nice mod 8 miles is amazing. Your location helps for sure. I am lucky if I get close to 500 yards were I am is RF city. My neighbor is a Hamm radio operator and use 3 ft dual sprial antenaes appers to work his is get 8k miles.

 

[Waldo Pepper]

Nice mod 8 miles is amazing. Your location helps for sure. I am lucky if I get close to 500 yards were I am is RF city. My neighbor is a Hamm radio operator and use 3 ft dual sprial antenaes appers to work his is get 8k miles.

Thanks Ironsky,

This particular area is great to fly Drones, very little interference. One mile south of here, on another property reception is terrible.

I encountered heavy WiFi interference today at another area I assumed would ge free of interference, was extremely bad lost video feed just before the second mile. Up to that it was breaking up, had to return before loosing connection.

Interference effects the Anafi, some places more than others. Sounds like your area is extremely terrible, my hats off to you flying under these conditions.

Thanks Ironsky!
Paul

 

[IronSky1]

I live on golf course which is resedential 200 yards from me is a 300 ft FCC controlled tower with a lot of different antenae on it . I bought a Hack RF and found there is a lot of activity coming of the mast I stay as far away as I can. The Anafi and my DJI Mavic 2 seemfar less affected by this then my Bebop 2 Thermal and DJI INspire 1 . I have had several bad crashes were the drone just took off and headed towardhe tower fortunately there is a line of trees before tower which stopped my drones. I never fly out of site and always have my finger on the stick to bring it down fast. If I move me takeoff points to the other side of house problems are greatly reduced.

 

[davinchi2000]

Parrot Anafi range test 7551m

 

[Rocky the FS]

Very cool! A cheap range booster and a hood all in one. 7551 meters must be a record.

 

[IronSky1]

Thats one hell of a reflector amazing work.

 

[Jet]

Hello forum Parrot friends,

Recently purchased a used defective Anafi, auctually two days ago this Wednesday. Video feed works but Gimbal has issues (up/down movement not working), but price was good so I made the purchase dispite the Gimbal problem.

Added an antenna mod yesterday, non boosted. Just before sunset today, flew 4 miles out 4 miles back. 8 miles total, barely made it back with 2% battery left. Started with elevation of 46 feet going out to the end, then increased elevation little over 68 feet for the return.

Was surprised it went so far, it’ll probably go 5 miles with this setup if it had enough battery to get it back, but 4 miles appears to be the maximum for a safe return with current Battery.

Been flying Bebop 2 for about a year, these are boosted both Sky Controller 2 and BB2 drone. Maximum range is 2.1 With the bebop 2 with no inference, amazing drone Bebop 2 is awesome.

Aways wanted an Anafi since they were released, seen a great deal on eBay couldn’t pass it up. Anafi is an amazing drone, especially after adding a different antenna setup. Now, reception is amazing video feed terrific.

Thanks for looking,
Paul

View attachment 1863


View attachment 1861View attachment 1862

Pretty cool...Thanks for sharing! I'd be interested not necessarily for flying 8 miles but for ensuring that FPV remains rock solid in WiFi congested areas...I'm assuming this mod would serve that purpose too?

Is this a pre-assembled kit that you purchased? Are there any instructions on how to do this mod (e.g., how you connect these antenna to the Skycontroller antenna? etc.).

What was the total cost of the mod? On a scale of 0 - 10 (10 being very difficult) how would you rate the difficulty of the mod?


Cheers

 

[Waldo Pepper]

Hello Jet,

I’ve since put together several types of antenna mods for the Anafi controller 3, some worked well others auctually reduced reception.

To be honest, stay with stock controller and find ways to reduce inference. Airplane mod on greatly helps in areas with inference, my stock controllers get 4 miles out and 4 miles back as crow flies under right conditions. However, been many a flight I’ve had to land within a mile short on those long 4 mile flights.

I’ve since returned to stock, less hassle and no extra weight.

Good luck, enjoy the amazing Anafi ?
Paul

QUOTE="Jet, post: 24732, member: 3006"]
Pretty cool...Thanks for sharing! I'd be interested not necessarily for flying 8 miles but for ensuring that FPV remains rock solid in WiFi congested areas...I'm assuming this mod would serve that purpose too?

Is this a pre-assembled kit that you purchased? Are there any instructions on how to do this mod (e.g., how you connect these antenna to the Skycontroller antenna? etc.).

What was the total cost of the mod? On a scale of 0 - 10 (10 being very difficult) how would you rate the difficulty of the mod?


Cheers
[/QUOTE]

 

[Waldo Pepper]

I feel it’s ok for those enjoying the long flights, I have permission to fly on thousands of acres miles and miles of terrain. So it’s ok to land short and drive up to the landed craft for recovery. It’s safe, and fun pushing the envelope with distance.

Paul

QUOTE="parrotanafifan, post: 24697, member: 3851"]
What's special? 7551m (over 4 1/2 miles) and it could not return to him due to battery limitations, Lot of trees near me, would never try this, let alone try to hunt it down on someone elses property. If he stopped it at 4942m
( touching 3 miles) when RTH kicked in he wouldn't have had to fetch it.. 4054m (2.4mi) is when RTH warning kicks on that's the time I would let or force RTH to clip it back.
[/QUOTE]

 

[Jet]

Hello Jet,

I’ve since put together several types of antenna mods for the Anafi controller 3, some worked well others auctually reduced reception.

To be honest, stay with stock controller and find ways to reduce inference. Airplane mod on greatly helps in areas with inference, my stock controllers get 4 miles out and 4 miles back as crow flies under right conditions. However, been many a flight I’ve had to land within a mile short on those long 4 mile flights.

I’ve since returned to stock, less hassle and no extra weight.

Good luck, enjoy the amazing Anafi ?
Paul

QUOTE="Jet, post: 24732, member: 3006"]
Pretty cool...Thanks for sharing! I'd be interested not necessarily for flying 8 miles but for ensuring that FPV remains rock solid in WiFi congested areas...I'm assuming this mod would serve that purpose too?

Is this a pre-assembled kit that you purchased? Are there any instructions on how to do this mod (e.g., how you connect these antenna to the Skycontroller antenna? etc.).

What was the total cost of the mod? On a scale of 0 - 10 (10 being very difficult) how would you rate the difficulty of the mod?


Cheers

[/QUOTE]
Paul, thanks. BTW I always fly in Airplane mode.
Cheers

 

[Waldo Pepper]

You’re welcome Jet,

The Anafi controller doesn’t really benefit all that much with a amplifier booster setup, were it may do well is a better antenna setup. I’ve tried so many different controller 3 arrangements, both with amplifier boosters and with different antennas no amplifiers. Sure, some setups had a slight increase of performance in areas with interference. But overall, boosted setups or larger antennas on Controller 3 were a hassle.

So, I went back with stock controller setups which are still giving impressive performance.

Same with my Mavic 2 Pro controller, put everything back to stock.

You’re good to go keeping everything stock.

Paul

Paul, thanks. BTW I always fly in Airplane mode.
Cheers
[/QUOTE]

 

[Jet]

You’re welcome Jet,

The Anafi controller doesn’t really benefit all that much with a amplifier booster setup, were it may do well is a better antenna setup. I’ve tried so many different controller 3 arrangements, both with amplifier boosters and with different antennas no amplifiers. Sure, some setups had a slight increase of performance in areas with interference. But overall, boosted setups or larger antennas on Controller 3 were a hassle.

So, I went back with stock controller setups which are still giving impressive performance.

Same with my Mavic 2 Pro controller, put everything back to stock.

You’re good to go keeping everything stock.

Paul


Paul, thanks. BTW I always fly in Airplane mode.
Cheers

[/QUOTE]
If I could waive a magic wand and improve just one thing about the Anafi it would be to improve the Controller to Anafi distance/connection strength/resistance to interference. Maybe something equivalent to DJI's Occusync...of course realizing that this could come with some drawbacks...battery life....and further design adjustments could be necessary to compensate...e.g., a larger battery? I often find myself limited by wifi interference issues in urban settings...and that's a bit annoying.

We should start a wish list thread for the Anafi v2 with the hope that Parrot would make note of the top improvement wishes.

Cheers