Wheel Antenna Mod - significant WiFi performance upgrade

[thecraighammond]

Hey all,
New here (and new to drones really) so I'm a bit lost going through this whole thread.
It looks like the wheel mast mod seems to be the best/quickest way to quickly improve the AR Drone's (2.0) wifi range?
If that's still the case, Garrock which of the two (?) on your site would be best to buy?
If i'm totally up the wrong street with this then apologies!

[garrock]

... Garrock which of the two (?) on your site would be best to buy?

I recommend choosing the "Special". Send in your Main Board and I'll take care of modifying it.

[thecraighammond]

Ok, thanks for that.
I might try and get it sent in the next week or so.
With just that mode on an AR Drone 2.0 (Power edition, if it makes a difference) what's the sort of range benefits you tend to see?
I'm weighing up between this or a full RC mod over the wifi but I like the idea of the FPV and such.

[garrock]

Its been 3 1/2 years since I created the AR Drone Wheel Antenna Kit.

And, the antenna kit amazingly keeps on selling world wide.

The AR Drone is STILL the lowest total cost of ownership solution to experience real FPV style flight.

Even tiny little islands in the South Pacific show up on my global pincushion map. It has been a personally rewarding experience helping people scattered around the planet achieve their goals.

What I learned:
I am not in the drone accessory business. I am in the fantasy fulfilment business. This may sound a bit corny but actually very true: It is based on a deep time dream in all of us to fly like a bird. As many of us know, when you are heading way down range, your mind is projected into the drone as your Avatar while your physical body remains behind.

[Dirtdroner]

Garrock, when are you going to come up with a redbird style repeater for the P4? I need to run one up the flag pole to get over my trees!

[garrock]

Garrock, when are you going to come up with a redbird style repeater for the P4? I need to run one up the flag pole to get over my trees!

The P4 uses DJI LightBridge 2.4ghz radio technology. So, I can't repeat it.

[Unionboggle]

Garrock,
are you still offering the wheel antenna kit and mod service?

[protivakid]

Garrock,
are you still offering the wheel antenna kit and mod service?

I am also interested in purchasing but emails to his website have gone unanswered. The last time he shows active here was late 2016. Worried something happened to Garrock

[protivakid]

So after waiting over a year for the OP to get back to me once his inventory was replenished I was able to use the documents on his site, source the parts, and complete the mod myself.

Bought this cheap board for the MMCX connector. Cut the board down and soldered onto my AR Drone 2.0's Main Board:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-PC-USB-Int ... 2749.l2649

If you mess up this guys sells replacement AR Drone 2.0 Main Boards:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-PARROT-AR- ... 2749.l2649

You then need a cable to go from the soldered on board to the outside of the drone:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/MMCX-male-righ ... 2749.l2649

From there you will need another smaller cable to go up to the Antenna Wheel:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RG316-MMCX-FEM ... 2749.l2649

A Zip tie with a mounting hole will be used to support the smaller cable on the outside:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/11-Mounting-Ho ... 2749.l2649

Finally you put the Antenna Wheel on the top:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-4-GHz-Wheel- ... 2749.l2649

Total cost was $52 and I saw some serious range improvements after. I attached the mod instructions in case the OP's site ever goes down.