Spark Range problems

Houseofkemp · Jan 29, 2018

HI All

I have had the Spark for a few months now but have never actually tested the max. Seeing a lot of videos on youtube where people fly over 1km away, I went out and tested it today. Extremely disappointing that the drone wants to return to home after 150 m away and about 40m high. Loosing video signal even before that. No OTG cable and latest firmware. Not in beginners mode. Any suggestions?

idbl_fanatic · Jan 29, 2018

IOS yes, Android No

msinger · Jan 29, 2018

Houseofkemp said:
Any suggestions?

Here are some things to try:

Fly in a location where you know there will be no Wi-Fi interference
Make sure there are no other electronic devices near your Spark remote controller
Enable airplane mode on your mobile device and then re-enable Wi-Fi
Position your Spark remote controller antennas like this

Houseofkemp · Jan 30, 2018

idbl_fanatic said:
IOS yes, Android No

Not sure what you mean by this. I do have Samsung S8.

idbl_fanatic · Jan 30, 2018

Houseofkemp said:
Not sure what you mean by this. I do have Samsung S8.

I mean, that in IOS OTG is supported, in Android it is not

Kelvin Tee · Jan 30, 2018

Houseofkemp said:
HI All

I have had the Spark for a few months now but have never actually tested the max. Seeing a lot of videos on youtube where people fly over 1km away, I went out and tested it today. Extremely disappointing that the drone wants to return to home after 150 m away and about 40m high. Loosing video signal even before that. No OTG cable and latest firmware. Not in beginners mode. Any suggestions?

I am staying in Singapore where there are many high rise building and tons of interference from 2.4/5ghz. I DIY a parabolic reflector by using cardboard and aluminium tape. Range achieve is 250m with a good FPV, without the reflector i will have problem when i reached 100m in distance.

I have not actually tried to the extend the drone loss signal and RTH is activated as i wants to make sure i can see where the drone is from my FPV if there is a need to retrieve my drone if anything were to happen.

Those online parabolic reflector are small, i have bought one but waiting for it to arrive. The DIY one is much longer. I will compare both and update here again.

kentlim26 · Jan 31, 2018

Kelvin Tee said:
I am staying in Singapore where there are many high rise building and tons of interference from 2.4/5ghz. I DIY a parabolic reflector by using cardboard and aluminium tape. Range achieve is 250m with a good FPV, without the reflector i will have problem when i reached 100m in distance.

I have not actually tried to the extend the drone loss signal and RTH is activated as i wants to make sure i can see where the drone is from my FPV if there is a need to retrieve my drone if anything were to happen.

Those online parabolic reflector are small, i have bought one but waiting for it to arrive. The DIY one is much longer. I will compare both and update here again.

i also living in Singapore. i flew 1000meters using Sunnylife reflector. (i both two)1 i am selling away . i have diy a reflector too using aluminum . it works and could get 800meters.

Kelvin Tee · Jan 31, 2018

kentlim26 said:
i also living in Singapore. i flew 1000meters using Sunnylife reflector. (i both two)1 i am selling away . i have diy a reflector too using aluminum . it works and could get 800meters.

Interesting i shall try mine when i have receive it but i dun think my reflector are from sunnylife.

Thanks for the info

kentlim26 · Jan 31, 2018

hopefully we can meet up one day. can go marine bay, East side. i live at dakota cresent

Kelvin Tee · Jan 31, 2018

kentlim26 said:
i also living in Singapore. i flew 1000meters using Sunnylife reflector. (i both two)1 i am selling away . i have diy a reflector too using aluminum . it works and could get 800meters.

BTW the 1km distance you have achieve is in HDB area? Thanks

kentlim26 · Jan 31, 2018

kentlim26 · Jan 31, 2018

Kelvin Tee said:
BTW the 1km distance you have achieve is in HDB area? Thanks

Singapore is difficult to find a open space . so far i know is kallang around that area. every 500meters to less then 1000meters will have a building hdb or shop.

Kelvin Tee · Jan 31, 2018

Wah very nice. I think you have a lot of signal warning although the sides are low rise.

Sure we can meet at Marina bay as i would like to try out the range as well as to try out loss of signal with RTH.

Is the video fast forward? I dun think i can get that speed when i was flying in Bishan.

Kelvin Tee · Jan 31, 2018

kentlim26 said:
Singapore is difficult to find a open space . so far i know is kallang around that area. every 500meters to less then 1000meters will have a building hdb or shop.

The next place i would like to try is Tuas, can fly to Malaysia and U-turn there is definitely a very open space.