HDZero SharkByte Long Range Testing with DIY Quad Helical Antenna! UFL to SMA Adapter Modification

We continue our series with another DIY Antenna and another Record Range Test! In my previous tests I found that the stock SharkByte patches weren't capturing signal after a certain distance and decided it best to have 4 uniform antennas... then this Quad 7-Turn Helical antenna was born!

In this video we test the antenna using 25mW, 200mW and 500mW to see how far we can fly at each VTX output power level. I fly until the image begins to break, or my battery is running low, so these impressive range results are actually conservative.

Here are all the links mentioned in the video if you wish to learn more and making DIY long range gear for cheap!
Helical Antenna DIY:    • Easy DIY 5.8ghz Helical Antenna for FPV Dr...  
Link to the Helical Antenna 3d file I used: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:367500

Li-Ion Battery DIY:    • DIY Long-Range FPV Battery, using Li-Ion b...  

STL File for the HDZero/SharkByte VRX UFL to SMA Modification: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:516...

Check out HD Zero Site for more info: https://www.hd-zero.com/?AffCode=DC55...

UFL to SMA: onelinkmore RF Connector Pigtail Cable SMA Female Bulkhead to U.fl/ipx Extension Cable 1.13 Cable 5cm Pack of 2

Stay Tuned for my new 7" iFlight Chimera7 HDZero Long-Range Build!!!

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to ask. cheers!

Video Summary:
0:00 Intro
0:25 VRX DIY Modification
1:29 25mW Range Test
1:40 Testing Intro
1:57 Helical Thoughts
2:17 200mW Range Test
3:05 TBS Crossfire Issue
3:52 200mW Result
4:28 Bad Landing
4:50 Testing Overview
5:40 500mW Range Test
6:30 Battery OSD Info
6:50 DIY Li-Ion Battery
7:35 Summit Approach
8:25 Range Goal Success!
8:45 Make it Home?!
9:15 Battery Countdown
9:45 Crash & Rescue
10:08 Closing Thoughts

Equipment Overview:
6" Drone Setup Details (Changed from 5" to 6" props as I'm focused more on long-range)
Frame: Some old cheap ZMR250 thing…
Flight Controller: Matek F405-CTR
VTX: Divimath HDZero SharkByte (Backup Analog: Matek Mini 800mw , TBS Unify Pro HV)
GPS Module: TBS GPS Module
Motors: XING-E 2306 2450KV
ESC: Aikon AK32 35A 2-4S BlHeli32
Propellers: HQ Ethix S5 5x4x3
FPV Camera: HDZero Micro; Analog we’re Foxeer Toothless and Caddx Ratel
Radio Receiver: TBS Crossfire Nano RX
Receiver Antenna: TBS Crossfire Immortal T V2 Antenna
VTX Antenna: Current - TrueRC OCP, Previously - SpiroNET Omni – 5.8GHz CP Antenna /
ViFly Finder 2 Buzzer, highly recommend

For Long Range Missions - I also use/I'm working on a lightweight drone with a Naked GoPro which has an AUW under 250g. Amazing!

5" Drone Test Setup Details
Frame: Some random thing…
Flight Controller: Holybro Kakute f4
VTX: Divimath HDZero SharkByte (Backup Analog: Matek Mini 800mw , TBS Unify Pro HV)
GPS Module: TBS GPS Module
Motors: XING-E 2306 2450KV
ESC: Aikon AK32 35A 2-4S BlHeli32
Propellers: HQ Ethix S5 5x4x3
FPV Camera: RunCam Nano SharkByte (Analog: Foxeer Toothless which is also very nice, but also really like the Caddx Ratel)


Googles/Antennas
Fatshark HDO with Rapidfire Receiver
Hd Zero Shark Byte VRX
Foxeer Micro Lollipop 3 CP
SpiroNET 5.8GHz 13dB Patch
DIY 5 Turn Helical Antenna, Amazing!
DIY 7 Turn Helical Antenna, Even Better!

Controller/Transmitter
FRSKY Taranis X9D Plus with TBS Crossfire Micro TX V2

Cameras, Footage, and Software
GoPro Hero 8 Black, shot in 2.7k and 4k
Various iPhones
Final Cut Pro X (FCPX) editing software

If you have any questions or comments about my setup please leave a comment.

Note: All equipment and flight plans were in accordance with current local laws. Special thanks to my spotters who hiked hard terrain with me in order to achieve this flight footage.

Keywords: FPV, drone, VTX, Transmitter, RX, Antenna, Fatshark, DJI, Freestyle, Race, Mountain, Forest, Norway, Norge, quad, kwad, taranis, frsky, matek, Foxeer, 21700, 16850, li-ion, tbs, team black sheep, immersion RC, x-ing, xing, motor, brushless, ethix, GoPro, GPS, iFlight, Matek, failsafe, range, test, cinewhoop, cinematic, FCPX, CP, Circular Polarized, Patch, 13dbi, dbi, helical, DIY, build, solder, carbon fiber, diatone, dal props, bheli, esc, runcam, crash, RTH, long range, flow, RCgroups, intofpv, RCIndia, how to, first person view, Hero, ND Filters, Dalprops
Lithium Ion, Divimath, HDZero, SharkByte, digital system; #Sharkbyte #HDZero #longrange