Hello everyone, I'm flying with a simple camera drone(not a racer) and I'm trying to extend my 5.8ghz range, I am planning to attach 8dbi antennas in my drone,
but I want to mod my repeater I bought as well with a 9dbi antenna.

I have the TL-WR902AC, and I use repeater mode for the drone's signal, and it's working great and I get about 500-600 meters without any interference, But I want to achieve more.
https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networki...l-wr902ac/

I have a 9dbi omni-directional antenna by Alfa:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0039ORBLK/

And I want to attach it to the repeater.
I have found this online:
https://fccid.io/TE7WR902ACV3/Internal-P...v1-3526178

and it gave me a general idea of how the insides look like, 1 inner 5ghz antenna and 2 2.4ghz inner antennas which are irrelevant.

I have also found this:
https://www.instructables.com/id/TP-LINK...SMT-Connec

but I think it's a little bit different from my model, so I'm not sure how to proceed.

I'm a technical guy, but I have never done something like this, I can solder simple things, like wires on power supplies and things like that.

So I'm looking for help from you guys on how to proceed with it, hopefully I've provided enough information!

I am not sure if anyone here has done something to what you are asking. But just looking at the mod you linked, it just looks like he cut the internal antenna out and added the external one. Are you not able to do something similar. Can you see where the 5G antenna trace?

(30-May-2020, 06:59 PM)voodoo614 Wrote: I am not sure if anyone here has done something to what you are asking. But just looking at the mod you linked, it just looks like he cut the internal antenna out and added the external one. Are you not able to do something similar. Can you see where the 5G antenna trace?

That's the plan, I have ordered the parts he used in the mod, should arrive in a few days, I'm asking so I won't do stupid mistakes ^^
My current plan is to follow the mod and hope that it's basically the same.

Sorry for the delay.

I have the parts, but after opening it looks like this:



I need to connect to a positive and a negetive according to the guide i'm following, any idea how to proceed?

Looking at the board I believe you will need to de-solder and remove the 5GHz metal plate antenna, then solder the centre core wire of the coaxial cable to the Active Connection point in the centre where you de-soldered the metal plate antenna from. Then solder the braided shielding of the coaxial cable to the Ground Connection point. I haven't done this myself but that is my conclusion after having analysed the photos.

(01-Jun-2020, 05:57 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: Looking at the board I believe you will need to de-solder and remove the 5GHz metal plate antenna, then solder the centre core wire of the coaxial cable to the Active Connection point in the centre where you de-soldered the metal plate antenna from. Then solder the braided shielding of the coaxial cable to the Ground Connection point. I haven't done this myself but that is my conclusion after having analysed the photos.

I will attempt this and give back the results as soon as I can, thank you for the assistance

Wanted to give an update:
I have modded the device and added the U.fl to SMA, I wasn't aware about the existence of RP-SMA and so I basically fucked up because ALL of my antennas are RP-SMA antennas.

I ordered an adapter, and they brought me a completely different adapter, and so they replaced my adapter and I have received the correct adapter, but a loose defective one.
I am going to receive a replacement but it'll take a while because it's the weekend, I have also ordered U.FL to RP-SMA because I don't even trust the adapters anymore.

That's why I've had such a delay with the results. hopefully everything will turn out ok this time, well.. fourth is the charm?

(01-Jun-2020, 05:57 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: Looking at the board I believe you will need to de-solder and remove the 5GHz metal plate antenna, then solder the centre core wire of the coaxial cable to the Active Connection point in the centre where you de-soldered the metal plate antenna from. Then solder the braided shielding of the coaxial cable to the Ground Connection point. I haven't done this myself but that is my conclusion after having analysed the photos.

I got everything and soldered it together, but after range testing it, the results showed no difference at all with or without an omni antenna(9 dbi),
I have also checked directional 10dbi and 5dbi omni antenna, no difference so I guess something isn't right.

I have soldered it like this


And made a 'trail' from the ground point to the connector for it to reach.

Is there a way to test if it works? like with a multimeter?

(08-Jun-2020, 06:29 PM)SaHaRzZz Wrote: I have soldered it like this

You've got the connections the wrong way round. The active connection is the middle pin which is connected to the tabs on the back, and the ground connection is the ring connected to that tab on the side.

(08-Jun-2020, 06:36 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: You've got the connections the wrong way round. The active connection is the middle pin which is connected to the tabs on the back, and the ground connection is the ring connected to that tab on the side.

I actually went and soldered all my connectors one by one because I failed attempting to solder them accurately.

After my last attempt I was feeling defeated, after ripping the connector off(because it was filled with tin lead) I was left with only the pin soldered to the pcb, and so I decided to just say fuck it and connect the ufl to sma directly to it, and just solder the ground to the body of the connector.

After doing so I've covered it with hot glue and hoped it'll work..

It did, it actually did!
I have tested it indoors and outdoors, and there is actually a big difference with or without an antenna!

It probably sounds so simple to you, but I feel really good about it.

Thank you very much for you help! I couldn't have done it without you.

That's good to hear. Nice work  

When I first posted the connections to use, that is actually what I was suggesting you should do - just solder the coaxial cable directly to the connections on the board. Direct soldering is more reliable, but just not so convenient if you want to replace the antenna.

(08-Jun-2020, 09:30 PM)SaHaRzZz Wrote: I actually went and soldered all my connectors one by one because I failed attempting to solder them accurately.

After my last attempt I was feeling defeated, after ripping the connector off(because it was filled with tin lead) I was left with only the pin soldered to the pcb, and so I decided to just say fuck it and connect the ufl to sma directly to it, and just solder the ground to the body of the connector.

After doing so I've covered it with hot glue and hoped it'll work..

It did, it actually did!
I have tested it indoors and outdoors, and there is actually a big difference with or without an antenna!

It probably sounds so simple to you, but I feel really good about it.

Thank you very much for you help! I couldn't have done it without you.

Hi
I am in a similar situation. I know it has been a long time but, can you please share some pictures of your work and also the links or part name/no of the parts you have used if you can?