Beboop 1 Antenna upgrade

[Phil Ralph]

Not sure if anyone will be interested, but I'm reading up and looking into an antenna upgrade, to give a little more distance/connection. I might even do a how too....if anyone is interested?

I have already learned the following.... the smaller the dBi number, the wider the coverage but lesser the distance. The examples given are 2dBi gives 360 degrees, and 7dBi gives 30 degrees and almost double the distance (as the drone is always a directional, a 6dBi looks set I believe)



Have a second hand Bebop 1 and antenna's on order, and have watched how several others have done it (and will be doing a "easy installation" if possible)

Let me know if you want to see this?

 

[Phil Ralph]

To be honest guys (although no one wanted to know how to do it) this is quite an easy mod!

The difficult part is getting the correct main board connectors (these are MAF3) the smaller ones will fit put might well come out in flight!

• If you remove the base plate, which is four screws (and sits over the base sensor) you have access to the antenna connections on the main board at the front!
• Remove connections carefully with either long nose pliers or in my case strong long nose tweezers
• Drill holes for the antenna (as close to centre for C of G) in my case 6mm hole
• Attach antenna, and connections to main board

I have also removed the leg antenna and cables as these will just be extra weight

You may well be able to just cut the existing leads leaving the connections on the main board and make your own connection to the antenna's......but these parts are small!

 

[Phil Ralph]

OK, maiden was this morning, however........less than impressed. Range was the same or less than the actual antenna supplied on the legs.

I have flown a third today and again have gone further distance than both previous flights.....around 538m at 80m hight.......and very weak signal

Any suggestions most welcome!

 

[Phil Ralph]

Thanks for reply! Flying with sky controller, and iPad video….sorry should have said
The weight is hardly noticeable, and the video reception is a little poorer than previous……battery and flight time the same

 

[Assemblybhz]

To be honest guys (although no one wanted to know how to do it) this is quite an easy mod!

The difficult part is getting the correct main board connectors (these are MAF3) the smaller ones will fit put might well come out in flight!

• If you remove the base plate, which is four screws (and sits over the base sensor) you have access to the antenna connections on the main board at the front!
• Remove connections carefully with either long nose pliers or in my case strong long nose tweezers
• Drill holes for the antenna (as close to centre for C of G) in my case 6mm hole
• Attach antenna, and connections to main board

I have also removed the leg antenna and cables as these will just be extra weight

You may well be able to just cut the existing leads leaving the connections on the main board and make your own connection to the antenna's......but these parts are small!

Hello Phil,

You did everything almost correct, you just forgot one thing:
using linear polarisation you need also to Mach the polarisation linearity (way). The original parrot antennas are vertical and yours are almost horizontal. Try to fly again keeping your controller rotated 90 degrees (no joke) and you will achieve much longer distances. Another solution is change the position of the antennas pointing downwards, in this way you will achieve the maximum distance.
2.4g signals are better than 5.8g in terms of signal degradation in the atmosphere

sorry for the late reply, just saw your message now

Good luck

/Rafael