Hey everyone,
I’ve been playing around with ways to increase the range of my DJI RC controller. I swapped out the original antenna for an Alfa APA-M25, and honestly, the results were great—almost a 90% range boost.
Now I’m wondering if I could take it even further by adding an amplifier (like the one in the picture I found). Would that actually help, or am I wasting my time?
Would love to hear from anyone who’s tried something similar!
Just curious—does it boost the signal going both ways? Like, does it help with the signal coming back from the drone too?
Are you dealing with a lot of interference, or are you flying in a place where line-of-sight rules aren’t really enforced?
Lior said:
Are you dealing with a lot of interference, or are you flying in a place where line-of-sight rules aren’t really enforced?
I’m filming a flyover of a mountain in the Yukon. There’s a lot of dense tree coverage, and it’s tough to find a clear spot close enough without being surrounded by foliage.
You’ll eventually hit a point where your remote can still control the drone, but your battery won’t last long enough for it to make it back.
Robin said:
You’ll eventually hit a point where your remote can still control the drone, but your battery won’t last long enough for it to make it back.
Yup, that’s already the case. DJI’s max range tests don’t account for the return trip. The drone will easily outrun its battery if you’re not careful.
@Addison
Exactly. So if you’re just going for max distance, it doesn’t matter how far your signal reaches if the drone can’t make it home. But if you’re just looking to strengthen the signal in tricky spots, that’s a different story.
You might still control the drone, but your video feed could cut out. Some add-on antennas do help with signal reception, but you have to keep them pointed right at the drone.
Also — don’t forget, legally you need to maintain visual line of sight.
It might help. I’ve messed with high-powered Alfa WiFi gear (1–2 watt range) for long-distance setups, and while they pulled in more networks, the signal quality wasn’t amazing. Bandwidth took a hit too. And antennas? They usually don’t do much unless conditions are just right.
So yeah, surprised that the Alfa APA-M25 worked so well for you!
