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FrSky receiver for boats.
- Thread starter Bevan
- Start date
thenated0g
Very Strong User
Im no expert, but i cant say i have ever come across anything specific about problems with this issue and boats. In my couple boats i have i have used 2.4. Im also no radio engineer but i would think water bounces signals pretty far vs our usual airplane stuff (ground/trees interferes with it).
If i was concerned about range i would go with a Tandem (TD) unit if your transmitter supports it or the 900mhz.
If i was concerned about range i would go with a Tandem (TD) unit if your transmitter supports it or the 900mhz.
thenated0g
Very Strong User
edit to above: dont put it by metal/carbon
Konrad
Very Strong User
Nope, we put them In balloons and seal the outputs (leads and antennas) with electrically safe silicone.
thenated0g
Very Strong User
Yeah i guess i was thinking of FPV where you are flying well above the water. Boats are right on the water so the fresnel zone is always impacted.
Bevan
New User
That was a great video. Now I understand why the dual frequencies of 2.4 and 900 are used since both frequencies will go in and out of the Fresnel zones, at different points.
between the two, there will always be an optimal signal to choose from.
But, to my specific use of RC sailing within a 200’ range, yesterday, along with about 10 other sailers all running Spectrum (wa wa waa) it’s just not a thing.
thenated0g
Very Strong User
900mhz has less bandwidth and less channels than 2.4 but can go much farther distance.
I have seen issues with 2.4 ghz particularly when folks bury the receiver and antenna deep within a hull. That said, raising the antenna as high as possible within a hull resolves most issues with diminished reception and range. There is also the option, particularly with X8R receivers and similar ones, to swap the antennas for longer, tip loaded, versions and run them to a high point well above water level. Run it up the mast, so to speak. I am doing exactly that on my current build because the receivers are several inches below the waterline, yet the antennas are now 12 inches ABOVE the waterline. FrSky offers many options in this regard. just ask Aloft.
Bevan
New User
I’ve since looked at all the boats the Sac MYC use. 20+
All spectrum.
The course they race is never more than 100 feet away. that said, there was one boat with Raideo issues, and when I spoke about antenna placement, nobody had an opinion about it. These guys are 20 year veterans and came from FM days, where the antenna was, ran up the back stay, back in the day.
I’m placing my receiver under the deck now. Infront, to the side or just behind the hatch. Thanks.
stereodreieck_rc
New User
You should be worried if your boat is 100 meters or more away (in choppy seas) or when the antenna placement is bad. You are totally safe if you avoid both. Maybe a range test (before the event) would be a great idea.
Cheers
Nik
I am using Taranis X9E's, Horus X12S's and The Tandem XE. I am using X8R receivers in all of them. The receivers are all buried fairly deep in the hulls of my hulls. The solution to reception issues, is to swap the factory antenna for a Taranis antenna extension. It lows me to place the loaded antenna tip well above the waterline. While I do not worry about waterproofing my receivers, the extension make it quite easy to do while at the same time providing good line of sight reception.
There are lots of examples of installations in boats at San Francisco Model Yacht Club if you are in the area. Santa Barbaras are regularly raced in the adjacent lake. I like the idea of putting as much of the electronics just under the deck to keep it dry if (when) the hull leaks. That goes against the idea of keeping heavy components low for best CG. Waterproof as much as you can. Radio frequencies are all over the map but newer systems are usually seen on 2.4 GHz. Boat control is not generally an issue that comes up.
