Clearboost 5.8ghz booster

[Altsickeness]

Hi guys. Has anyone tried this:

http://www.getfpv.com/clearboost-enhanced-5-8ghz-video-reception.html

I've been messing around trying to get more range and better video in wooded areas.

Let me know what you think of it or if anyone has any knowledge on how well it works.

 

[Quest]

Haven't tried it, it is an amplifier which goes to the saying garbage in garbage out, you can amplify 1000 times and if your amping a poor quality signal you will get a poor quality amplified signal that most likely will be worse then the unamplified one, at least this has been my experience with OTA Tv signals.

 

[Mike H.]

5.8g is not good at penetrating objects...It might give you longer range without many obstacles in the way but if you want signal behind alot of obstacles you need to go with the 1.2g/1.3g fpv systems....you can fly around buildings and into different rooms of your house or whatever and not lose much signal.

 

[Altsickeness]

My idea is to fl

5.8g is not good at penetrating objects...It might give you longer range without many obstacles in the way but if you want signal behind alot of obstacles you need to go with the 1.2g/1.3g fpv systems....you can fly around buildings and into different rooms of your house or whatever and not lose much signal.

That's what I've been learning and hearing from others. I'm kind of on a mission, maybe a dead end mission, to see how good I can get with 5.8ghz. So far I have upgraded to : http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/..._FPV_Goggle_V2_w_5_inch_LCD_Monitor_Kit_.html
With this:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/..._Transmitter_and_40CH_Diversity_Receiver.html

I've seen slight increases with this along with: http://www.amazon.com/Anbee®-5-8Ghz-Circular-Polarized-Antenna/dp/B00LGM2U0E?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00

and another bump with this: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/..._7_Turn_5_8GHz_Helical_Antenna_RHCP_SMA_.html

Also tried a patch that was crappy. I might be getting 100 yards/91 meters in the wooded area that I'm flying. The section I want to fly is about 400 yard. Orginally I wanted about 1000 yards, but I've needed to reevaluate my expectations.

The question I'm wondering is if I can get even more penetration with the Clearboost before I go through all the trouble of switching over to 1.2ghz (not even sure that is legal in the US) and I also was reading about 900mhz. I'm staying away for 2.4ghz because I've flying on that frequency.

Does anyone have an idea which system is the best for forest trail flying? I feel like there would be a lot of people doing what I'm trying to do. I've seen youtube videos of guys flying some awesome trails, but they never seem to let on what they are using or how they are doing it.

 

[Mike H.]

The booster will make the signal stronger and maybe do better in some circumstances but if you are flying in and out deep forest with huge tree trunks and branches and cant see the quad it may not be all that great...Maybe cutting in and out at best.

The booster will certainly improve your range and more so without alot of obstacles surrounding it.

 

[Altsickeness]

Haven't tried it, it is an amplifier which goes to the saying garbage in garbage out, you can amplify 1000 times and if your amping a poor quality signal you will get a poor quality amplified signal that most likely will be worse then the unamplified one, at least this has been my experience with OTA Tv signals.

That makes sense. I've looked at vtx options and milli watts. It just seems like I would suck power and take up space. I've seen boosters for the tx side but that stuff doesn't make sense on my little space limited 250. So I had the (Im sure not original) idea of boosting the receiver side. I found Clearboost. Not sure if its bs, snake oil for 5.8ghz newbies or if its the real deal. I couldn't find much for reviews other then an unboxing video on youtube. the company has a demonstration video, but of course that's going to appear legit because they want to sell it.

 

[Mike H.]

The 5.8 booster works the same as the 2.4g TX boosters..it increases signal strength...The tx booster can increase it enough actually that you can take over someone else's 2.4 radio...Its sort of frowned upon to use when flying around others but you can get 3 miles or more depending on the booster..Its just not reliable and when it cuts out consider your quad gone....The best long range is UHF systems but not cheap at all.

 

[Altsickeness]

The booster will make the signal stronger and maybe do better in some circumstances but if you are flying in and out deep forest with huge tree trunks and branches and cant see the quad it may not be all that great...Maybe cutting in and out at best.

The booster will certainly improve your range and more so without alot of obstacles surrounding it.

Also makes sense. I'm not sure if Im just stubborn and motivated or stubborn and stupid. I'm nearing the point that I'm considering cutting my losses and switching frequencies. The question is whether this one more this will be an improvement or just a waste of money because I reached my possible limit with 5.8 ghz. I've been reading a lot about the distances guys are getting with 5.8 and I'm amazed. My newbie logic is that if a guy can get those distances, then surely my short distance, high penetration is possible. I probably need a radio frequency education to better understand radio waves and radiation so I can educate myself and remove my stubbornness.

 

[Mike H.]

Also makes sense. I'm not sure if Im just stubborn and motivated or stubborn and stupid. I'm nearing the point that I'm considering cutting my losses and switching frequencies. The question is whether this one more this will be an improvement or just a waste of money because I reached my possible limit with 5.8 ghz. I've been reading a lot about the distances guys are getting with 5.8 and I'm amazed. My newbie logic is that if a guy can get those distances, then surely my short distance, high penetration is possible. I probably need a radio frequency education to better understand radio waves and radiation so I can educate myself and remove my stubbornness.

If you're flying high with 5.8g there isnt very many trees and buildings to avoid and the signal can be clear for a much longer distance with the booster..However im not sure in and out of trees for a long distance will work out so well...Whatever you experiment with, i hope it works out for you in any case.

 

[Altsickeness]

The 5.8 booster works the same as the 2.4g TX boosters..it increases signal strength...The tx booster can increase it enough actually that you can take over someone else's 2.4 radio...Its sort of frowned upon to use when flying around others but you can get 3 miles or more depending on the booster..Its just not reliable and when it cuts out consider your quad gone....The best long range is UHF systems but not cheap at all.

Do I need a ham radio license for UHF? Is that all custom built stuff? I've seen mention of UHF from time to time, but I have not found anywhere yet that it's commercially available. I have no idea the price, but it sounds excessive for what I'm trying to do.
I dislike the idea that something isn't possible, but I might have to consider that before my wife divorces me for FPV addiction.

 

[Mike H.]

Im not sure of the laws with UHF..i think even the 2.4g tx boosters arent really legal to be honest with you..haha...Not sure about the legality of the fpv range stuff.

 

[Altsickeness]

If you're flying high with 5.8g there isnt very many trees and buildings to avoid and the signal can be clear for a much longer distance with the booster..However im not sure in and out of trees for a long distance will work out so well...Whatever you experiment with, i hope it works out for you in any case.

I also read (maybe in this forum) a guy talking about relay stations.... I would guess they would be spread out along the course.
1) I have no idea yet how that would work and it will take a bunch of research.
2) with all the time research, shopping, money, remote power needs and all the time it would take to set up when I want to fly, it would probably be way overkill and too expensive so I should just switch to a different frequency and put my money in that direction.

 

[Mike H.]

Yea...i can smell that divorce already..haha...I searched some uhf equipment and it was pretty expensive...saw some in the 3 to $500.00 range as well..Its not cheap...Im sure it can get even more expensive with the fpv end of it.

 

[Altsickeness]

Im not sure of the laws with UHF..i think even the 2.4g tx boosters arent really legal to be honest with you..haha...Not sure about the legality of the fpv range stuff.

That's hard to pin down. I think I read 2 watts or 35-70dbi or something as well as specifics on which channel and frequency range for 900mhz, 1.2-1.3ghz, 2.4ghz and 5.8ghz. I think that's whats available to people in the US and if you want to go over you need a Ham license. Its confusing because different countries have different rules and its hard to tell which country people are referring to.

 

[Mike H.]

Yea...the tx signal boosters are 2 watts but that ls enough for over 2 or 3 miles of range...Thats pretty significant range there...Not sure on distance of the 1.2g fpv set ups.

 

[Altsickeness]

Yea...i can smell that divorce already..haha...I searched some uhf equipment and it was pretty expensive...saw some in the 3 to $500.00 range as well..Its not cheap...Im sure it can get even more expensive with the fpv end of it.

I can stomach the 3oo-500 range. Hell, I've probably blown that on 5.8ghz experimenting. just have to wait awhile and save up. Wife saw the credit card bill and said, "quit blowing all that money on 'drone stuff'!"

 

[Altsickeness]

Yea...the tx signal boosters are 2 watts but that ls enough for over 2 or 3 miles of range...Thats pretty significant range there...Not sure on distance of the 1.2g fpv set ups.

Yes it is and my peabrain wonders why its not easy to fly 10 feet off the ground for 400 yards on forest trails.

 

[Mike H.]

I can get 300m on the Syma x8c TX..modded with a better tx antenna is said to give around 1300 to 1500 ft...1/4 mile is far enough for me..hahaha.

 

[Altsickeness]

I can get 300m on the Syma x8c TX..modded with a better tx antenna is said to give around 1300 to 1500 ft...1/4 mile is far enough for me..hahaha.

That's impressive enough and safe. I've read about plane guys getting extreme distances. Antenna trackers , boosters, gps and all that. They probably already lost their wives because of the money they spend. Id be nervous as hell getting out that far plus embarrassed and worried if and where it would come down if I lost control or had malfunctions.

 

[Mike H.]

Yea, i wouldnt want to do that extreme of range flying..you dont know if where it goes down if you caused damage to someone or property..I dont want to show up to retrieve my quad or plane with cops and and a ambulance around..hahaha.

Im about to head out for work..Have a good day.