Newbie to X20 RSSI question

[tic]

So my range check seems good with the GR8 RX. I can get 100' away before a low RSSI warning but when I turn range check off, RSSI only rises to the mid 50's.. I walk another 200' and get low RSSI warnings again. RX was placed 3' off the ground on a plastic mailbox with rough antenna diversity observed. No obstacles for line of sight walking distance, residential neighborhood.. So indoors I try the range check and at approx 25' away RSSI was 50.. I turn off range check and RSSI only goes up to 70.. Is this normal? My brain keeps telling me that at 25' away in normal mode I should have much higher RSSI numbers. I realize it's not a linear scale for RSSI and distance but it sure seems like at 25' of distance RSSI should be in the 90's? I'm probably just paranoid. I have a model ready to fly but the weather won't permit it so all I can do is walk around the house, up and down the stairs listening to the vario and watching the RSSI.

 

[Nigel]

So my range check seems good with the GR8 RX. I can get 100' away before a low RSSI warning but when I turn range check off, RSSI only rises to the mid 50's.. I walk another 200' and get low RSSI warnings again. RX was placed 3' off the ground on a plastic mailbox with rough antenna diversity observed. No obstacles for line of sight walking distance, residential neighborhood.. So indoors I try the range check and at approx 25' away RSSI was 50.. I turn off range check and RSSI only goes up to 70.. Is this normal? My brain keeps telling me that at 25' away in normal mode I should have much higher RSSI numbers. I realize it's not a linear scale for RSSI and distance but it sure seems like at 25' of distance RSSI should be in the 90's? I'm probably just paranoid. I have a model ready to fly but the weather won't permit it so all I can do is walk around the house, up and down the stairs listening to the vario and watching the RSSI.

Something doesn't seem right. While testing radios we usually get to 100 - 150 feet before the RSSI reaches into or sometimes (rarely) below 50. Even after testing a few radios in different conditions that has remained strong. This is all in range check mode. I would email Chris at contact@alofthobbies.com and ask his opinion - he is the go to guy for this.

 

[mdbuilder]

So my range check seems good with the GR8 RX. I can get 100' away before a low RSSI warning but when I turn range check off, RSSI only rises to the mid 50's.. I walk another 200' and get low RSSI warnings again. RX was placed 3' off the ground on a plastic mailbox with rough antenna diversity observed. No obstacles for line of sight walking distance, residential neighborhood.. So indoors I try the range check and at approx 25' away RSSI was 50.. I turn off range check and RSSI only goes up to 70.. Is this normal? My brain keeps telling me that at 25' away in normal mode I should have much higher RSSI numbers. I realize it's not a linear scale for RSSI and distance but it sure seems like at 25' of distance RSSI should be in the 90's? I'm probably just paranoid. I have a model ready to fly but the weather won't permit it so all I can do is walk around the house, up and down the stairs listening to the vario and watching the RSSI.

I'll take my known flyable plane out for a similar range check today and let you know. On the rare occasion I've done range checks I do the walk away 30 paces bit, I've never done the second half. I've also not been scrutinizing the reading, more a stick waggle-yes it still works @100'. 25' with RSSI still in the 90's seems way to optimistic to me, it drops off quicker than that.

Stay tuned...

 

[mdbuilder]

My results are much better, model sitting on the ground (road in front of house), 100ish paces to first cutoff, taken out of range mode and walk another 100 paces. Turned around and came back. This is an RS8R stabilization rx in an Eflite Havoc edf.

 

[getsuyoubi]

My results are much better, model sitting on the ground (road in front of house), 100ish paces to first cutoff, taken out of range mode and walk another 100 paces. Turned around and came back. This is an RS8R stabilization rx in an Eflite Havoc edf.

Still seems odd that you only get about twice the distance in regular mode vs range mode. Shouldn't the difference (or ratio) of the two be much larger?

 

[mdbuilder]

I stopped walking still in the 50's, my dedication is limited @ 30f