If you are looking for antennas for your drone and don't know how to choose the best one for you, you've come to the right place! In this mini guide, we will explore how to choose a good set of antennas that will suit your flying style and budget. We will discover what an antenna is, its function, and the different types available on the market today.

Importance of FPV Antennas

The FPV antennas on your video receiver and video transmitter are essential elements that affect two aspects of your FPV system:

• Range : A properly configured antenna system has a significant effect on the range of the video signal. If the range is insufficient, the antennas are the first component to check.
• Clarity : When the signal bounces, it can cause interference (multipath) that is visible as static lines or video discoloration. A good antenna system reduces these errors, improving signal quality.

What is an FPV antenna and how does it work?

An antenna is a device that converts electrical energy into electromagnetic radiation, such as radio waves. There is no particular difference between a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna; the same antenna can be used for both functions. However, it is important to choose the antenna that is best suited to the specific use.

Frequency

FPV antennas are tuned to a specific frequency. The most common frequencies in FPV are 2.4GHz for the radio link and 5.8GHz for the video link. The frequency indicates how many oscillations occur in a second and is measured in Hertz (Hz).

Antenna directionality

The directionality of the antenna affects how the signal is transmitted:

• Omnidirectional : Radiates radio waves in all directions, like a light bulb. Omnidirectional antennas are symmetrical and spread the signal evenly.
• Directional : Focuses the signal in a specific direction, like a flashlight. Some designs, like patch antennas, have a slight directional bias, while others, like yagi antennas, are extremely focused.

Antenna polarization

The polarization of radio waves can be linear or circular . Circularly polarized antennas are divided into:

• LHCP (Left-Hand Circular Polarization) : Left-hand circular polarization
• RHCP (Right-Hand Circular Polarization) : Right-hand circular polarization

LHCP and RHCP antennas are not compatible with each other, so it is essential that the transmitter and receiver have the same type of polarization.

Types of connectors

Connectors allow you to temporarily connect an FPV antenna to a video transmitter or receiver. The most common connectors are:

• SMA and RP-SMA
• UFL : Very compact but less resistant
• MMCX : An intermediate solution between SMA and UFL, increasingly popular.

Basic Antenna Types

There are different types of FPV antennas. Here are the most common ones:

• Helical

  • Applications: Video Receivers
  • Type: Circular Directional
  • It offers high directionality and the gain can be increased by adding more coils.

• Patch

  • Applications: Radio transmitters and video receivers
  • Type: Linear or circular directional
  • A slightly directional antenna that resembles a flat plate.

• Circularly polarized omnidirectional

  • Applications: Video transmitters and receivers
  • Type: Omnidirectional circular
  • They offer optimal performance regardless of their relative orientation.

• Monopole / Dipole

  • Applications: Radio control transmitters and receivers
  • Type: Omnidirectional linear
  • Made of a single or double wire to improve the antenna gain.

Conclusion

There is no such thing as the perfect FPV antenna; the choice depends on the type of flying you intend to do. Each antenna is designed for a specific application, and having a different set of antennas will help you adapt to different flying situations.