ORIGINAL: Jim Branaum
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I would very much like much more detail than someone. Who, when, where, and what were the test parameters. After all, we are potentially putting people at risk if it is as limited in range as I have been lead to believe. Care to share some of that information?
Hey Jim-
The vendor isn't claiming range comparable to existing (i.e., 72 MHz) radios. For one thing Tx power output is 10 dB down from what FCC allows in the service and it is being marketed for park flyers only; they have been very clear about this. No people are going to be put at risk, unless it is used in a manner for which it is not intended. Then, I suppose using the rationalization of The Emperor Brown in killing autonomous model aircraft again, AMA should ban the Spektrum radio because it
allows the operator to use it irresponsibly.
The report of getting 0.7 mi range was posted in another RCU forum, so I'm sure you can find it readily. You'll see that it was on the ground, under static conditions. Be aware that range will be affected by vehicle dynamics and the resulting rapid changes in antenna orientation. The effect on the received signal is manifest as phase jitter, essentially an added noise component, so (S+N)/N is reduced and consequently so is useful range.
Abel