Smartphone wifi vs tablet wifi.... (both 2.4g wifi)

[davidhk129]

I have a choice of flying a drone with either a smartphone ( Motorola Moto E4) or a tablet (Galaxy TabA).
Question:
Which one covers longer distance?
I know it depends on the devices in question. but in general which is better?

 

[wafflejock]

It shouldn't matter much, the cell has more radios typically and so will be more noisy also more likely your hand or body blocks the antenna in any case think keeping the device around or a bit above head level even would help with reception and transmission.

 

[wafflejock]

A 2.4GHz antenna will be roughly 28.8mm in either case only differences could be transmission power, filtering of the signal and extra interference it's dealing with but like you mentioned depends on device specifics and best way to know is to field test.

For 5.8GHz signal the antenna will be 12.9mm long

To tune an antenna for a given frequency you just take the frequency and divide the speed of light by that frequency*, there are some extra nuances but any antenna that is either that length or a half or quarter that length will resonate with electromagnetic waves or rf signals at that frequency.
c / f = wavelength

299792458 m/s ÷ 5800000000Hz x 1000 mm/m ÷ 4 (quarter length dipole) = 12.9mm

 

[gregb49]

I use a TabA with my JJR/C X11 (Bugs 4) and a One Plus 5 smart 'phone, but both at 5.8GHz. I haven't noticed any difference in range but the Tab A is easier to view as it has a bigger screen, of course.

However, mine uses 'droid 4.4.2. and is not easy to update as this TabA was a bargain Nook replacement. This is important because 'droid 4.4.2 will not run the app that I need for a 243gm Bugs 7W. Also the 'phone does sit nicely in a holder made for the purpose, while the TabA doesn't, of course.

Don't most new drones require 5.8GHz wifi?

 

[davidhk129]

Don't most new drones require 5.8GHz wifi?

No. Nowadays, literally all newer "Toy drones" are 5g Wifi.
You might be thinking of the "Hobby drones".
My Tab A runs 7.1.1 Android.
Yes. I like the larger screen in a tablet. That is the reason of my question.

 

[gregb49]

No. Nowadays, literally all newer "Toy drones" are 5g Wifi.
You might be thinking of the "Hobby drones".
My Tab A runs 7.1.1 Android.
Yes. I like the larger screen in a tablet. That is the reason of my question.

I should have been more specific. Don't most new drones require 802.11ac that means operating in the 5g WiFi band?

 

[davidhk129]

I should have been more specific. Don't most new drones require 802.11ac that means operating in the 5g WiFi band?

Yes. You are right. That applies to almost all new "toy drones".
I am shut out from them because my phone cannot support 5g wifi.

 

[gregb49]

Yes. You are right. That applies to almost all new "toy drones".
I am shut out from them because my phone cannot support 5g wifi.

It might be worth trying your Tab A. The spec for my Tab A does not include 802.11ac but strangely enough, it does work fine with my older 5g wifi drone. My One Plus One 'phone, does include 802.11ac in its specs but does NOT connect to my 5g WiFi drone. (My One Plus 5 does though). Weird or what.

 

[davidhk129]

It might be worth trying your Tab A. The spec for my Tab A does not include 802.11ac but strangely enough, it does work fine with my older 5g wifi drone. My One Plus One 'phone, does include 802.11ac in its specs but does NOT connect to my 5g WiFi drone. (My One Plus 5 does though). Weird or what.

I had gone through Settings trying to find out if my Tab A supports 802.11.ac. There is no info anywhere about that.
A few years ago, I googled about that and was told Tab A in Canada does not have 5g wifi.

 

[gregb49]

I had gone through Settings trying to find out if my Tab A supports 802.11.ac. There is no info anywhere about that.
A few years ago, I googled about that and was told Tab A in Canada does not have 5g wifi.

To labour the point, it might just be worth trying to see if it picks up the 5g wifi signal as mine does, and works with the older apps, although there is no mention of it supporting 80211.ac.

 

[davidhk129]

Ha ha. You must be joking.
Want me to buy a 5g wifi drone and see if my Tab A connects to it?

 

[gregb49]

Ha ha. You must be joking.
Want me to buy a 5g wifi drone and see if my Tab A connects to it?

Ah. Houston we have a problem!
(That'll teach me to make assumptions)
.. but now you mention it ......