FPV Cloverleaf 5.8GHz. 2nd test 1.7km distance

Another flight with my Easystar / Cloverleaf combo. This time with a Cloverleaf antenna both as TX and RX. Again, I'm very happy with the results. I'm flying 1.7km far and 500 meters high with cheap 200mw 5.8GHz. videogear and a simple 2.4GHz. 6EX radio controller.
The picture is getting a bit fuzzy at +1km away but I think this is due to antenna placement. Sometimes you see the picture getting quite clear even at 1700 meters.
While the Cloverleaf as a RX was never designed for long distance flights but rather for multipath rejection, I find the results very satisfying. I plan on using a helical / cloverleaf diversity setup soon to make the image a bit more clear at greater distances. Also, I still need to install an LC filter or experiment with a ferrite ring to get rid of the horizontal distortionlines when using the throttle. The live footage through the Fatshark glasses was a bit better than this Youtube video because my Archos 605 records at a low bitrate.

My videogear doesn't record sound so I put some cheesy 80's music in the background to make the video less dull :-)

At the end of this video, I'm landing some distance away from my position in the grass behind my sister who was picking blackberries in the field.

My setup:

Multiplex Easystar (hangar.nl)
KX550 5v camera
BEVRC CEOSD
R-617 FS FASST RX 2.4GHz.
Futaba T6EXP FF-6 TX
IL2845-2100 engine
5.2x5.2 speedcam prop
Archos 605 recorder
Hobbywireless 5.8GHz 200mw TX/RX set
Cloverleaf 5.8GHz CP TX antenna + Cloverleaf 5.8GHz CP RX antenna.
Fatshark FPV goggles

Thanks to IBCrazy (Alex Greeve) for making the excellent cloverleaf antennas!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• FPV
• Easystar
• Cloverleaf
• 5.8GHz.
• 200mw
• TX
• RX
• 2.4GHz.
• Futaba
• FASST
• Antenna
• RC
• Plane
• Flying
• Wouterswoude
• KX550
• CEOSD
• Fatshark

[storre]

I'm trying to do a 3km trip with my skywalker in a very noise free rural environment about 1km high. I have 600mW 5.8GHz immersionRC Tx and receiver and I'm also using antenna tracker. I would like to put better antenna on plane. Would this cloverleaf antenna work with the patch antenna or would I need to make a cloverleaf on each end. Do you know where I can get instructions on how to build one?

[KingHaggis]

@storre A cloverleaf is circularly polarized. Both ends must be CP antennas ( cloverleaf, helix, SPW etc) CP antennas usually give a clean image with less multipathing than linear antennas. If you want to travel beyond 2km I think you'd better put a helix on the RX and a cloverleaf on the TX. Cloverleafs on both ends may reach 3km but I don't think the image will be very clean. A helix is a high gain directional CP antenna so you want one of those especially since you have a tracker.

[KingHaggis]

@storre The more turns on a helical, the farther you'll get but the narrower the beam. For 3km, a 5 turn helix should be plenty. And since you have an antenna tracker you can even consider buying or making a 12 turn helix! There are DIY helix tutorials on internet, also on youtube. I have no links but just google, look for IBcrazy tutorials and you'll find them. Good luck! I want a helix too this spring/summer but I have no tracker yet :-(

[storre]

@KingHaggis OK what about this. The best on the antenna tracker is 12 turn helix. I have 2 antenna inputs on the Rx. Would it be best to put a 12 turn helix and what else on the tracker. I don't have to move them both but I can and can use an extension if the two antennas are better with a little more separation. I'm making a cloverleaf for the Tx now. Thanks for the help!

[KingHaggis]

@storre I take it you have a diversity system then? In that case, I'm not sure what would be the best combination. Better ask that question on the FPV forums. I'm guessing with a good antenna tracker you don't even need a diversity system but maybe it's nice to have a 2nd RX antenna on backup in case your plane travels outside the helix's narrow beamwith. I think if 3km is your goal, you don't need more than a 5 turn helix. Should be a lot safer than a 12 turn because of the wider beam.

[KingHaggis]

@donjuanzx9 Um, I think you need to rub your eyes a bit. See what it says at 3.44? That's a 7, not a 1. I have another video in which I go 1.9km and my record with this setup is 2.2km but I have no video of that :-(

Anyways, I think the 5.8GHz. does a rather good job. I'm looking forward to flying with a helix antenna this summer.

[storre]

@KingHaggis Yes I do. The duo5800 I think it's called. ImmersionRC. I plan to put a 6 turn copper tube helix on one channel and trying to decide what best to put on the other channel. I can locate it up to a half meter a way and it doesn't need to move with the antenna tracker if that is preferable. It might be good to have some type of backup in case the tracker stops to track :)

[KingHaggis]

@donjuanzx9 I just hope the beamwith of a helix is big enough to fly comfortably. If I also need to buy an antennatracker things will get expensive. But if I do get a helical I promise I'll post some videos. It's still cold here in the Netherlands. I hate cold, I'll wait for spring to come :-)

[donjuanzx9]

@KingHaggis Your right ,my bad.

I get about 2km with my Cloverleaf antenna it will probly go farther with more altitude.

I hope you do a video of your helix setup, if you say it goes good, I'll get one also..

I also have 900mhz 800mw on my EPP FPV it goes really far on the stock antenna ,havn't found its limit yet hope I dont either.

[KingHaggis]

@gtvtrueno nice, I think you'll like it but I believe they changed the look and layout a bit for the newer versions of the CEOSD so maybe you won't get the exact same one as you see here in my video.

[gtvtrueno]

Just the way i like to fly my models :)

i just ordered the cyclops osd look forward to test them soon

thanks again for sharing