Hi all, I started doing some reading on long range drones and I noticed that some companies produce "long range" drones using the DJI digital FPV system but I'm struggling with how these achieve long ranges above other digital drones apart from the fact they often have a longer antenna. Is the limitation not somewhat inherent in the design of the transmission both for control and video i.e. 5.8Ghz and 4km max FCC and so can you argue they're not long range just longer flight time. Are long range drones really all analog based? Seems to be more flexibility on frequency, use of ground stations etc.

analog outperforms digital transmissions faraway in terms of range.

longrange is just a word, doesnt tell when longrange starts, everyone can do his own interpretation.
i believe the majority of pilots name 5k as longrange distance. digital can do some range, but its the wrong technology for longrange with todays gear. a "longrange" named quad with digital gear might be in the category "endurance", but not truly longrange.

im not a longranger, but i wouldnt trust any manufacturer of drones for longrange - even with analog, a true longrange quad is build byself, true quality controll... not hust a sticker.
a buddy bought a rekon5 pnp, screws loosen... just luck to not loose the quad or get into issues.
rebuild it befor firstflight if a pnp to go for 5k+ would be my route

Yeah i kind of thought that, no real definition of what constitutes long range. But i just wondered if there was anything in particular incorporated into the digital long range drones that would actually help classify them as so. So digital is not the way to go for true long range. I know the DJI FPV drone claims 10Km, i guess it has the benefit of dual band but still unless you've got very deep pockets or absolute faith in DJI i doubt you'd want to test it out.

You won't get 10km in most "normal" environments. That is the extreme limit and anyone claiming to have reached those limits with the DJI FPV System will be flying high up in the mountains and/or out in the wilderness where there is little sign of human life.

I don't think I would trust the digital system for any kind long range flying anyway, certainly not on a quad. Only on a wing running a resilient flight control system such as Ardupilot that pretty much guarantees that your model will get itself back to you in the event of video loss.

I still get jitters when the digital image starts getting really blocky and stuttering because it just doesn't seem to behave in the same predictable way that an analogue signal does when you start losing signal, and I really wouldn't want that happening on a quad that was 3+ miles out. You would certainly need some nerves of steel.

I think analogue is still the "go to" system for anyone who is serious about long range flying, and it will likely be for a quite some time to come.

Thanks for the comments

(10-Jun-2021, 05:28 AM)fichek Wrote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo9L7Qd9_vw?t=0

Yep, as said, out in the middle of nowhere with a near to zero noise floor and no other human life anywhere nearby. Try doing the same near an urban environment

Like Snow mentions, longer distances with less noise floor are possible.

But even in urban/semi-urban environments distances in the 4 mile range are common place with HD.

4 miles out in my book is long range.  

Attaining 4 miles with an analog quad is something very few ever do, which is evident by the limited numbers on this forum who have achieved that range. 

If lots of range is what you want (over 100 miles with a wing/plane, 10+ miles with a quad), go analog for now.  But if you want to get out a decent distance and have great video in your goggles, go HD.

Yeah great I'll just head down to the local dessert, plenty of those around in the UK ? but yeah 4miles with HD is very long range in my view.