Powerbank output and signal strength (Xiaomi 2 repeater)

Guorium · Feb 27, 2019

I was doing a bit of test on my iphone with powerbank output and wifi strength. Observed wifi strength with the airport utility app wifi scanner. Got 2 insteresting findings.

1. Xiaomi signal strength is better on the led/reset side. Probably because of more exposure for the antennea given they are built-in on one side of the PCB. So make sure you point that side towards your tello. xiaomi isn’t too directional, signal still more or less broadcast in a circle.

2. 1A or 2A/5V powerbanks made no noticeable difference in terms of wifi strength. This makes sense since wifi power is usually in mW level where the repeater can draw the least 0.5A x 5V = 2.5W. The input power is just so much larger than the output power in wifi transmission even at the least input power level.

ytymf · Feb 27, 2019

The first finding is very interesting.

PapaTelllo · Feb 28, 2019

Guorium said:
I was doing a bit of test on my iphone with powerbank output and wifi strength. Observed wifi strength with the airport utility app wifi scanner. Got 2 insteresting findings.

1. Xiaomi signal strength is better on the led/reset side. Probably because of more exposure for the antennea given they are built-in on one side of the PCB. So make sure you point that side towards your tello. xiaomi isn’t too directional, signal still more or less broadcast in a circle.

2. 1A or 2A/5V powerbanks made no noticeable difference in terms of wifi strength. This makes sense since wifi power is usually in mW level where the repeater can draw the least 0.5A x 5V = 2.5W. The input power is just so much larger than the output power in wifi transmission even at the least input power level.

Good information...

boris · Feb 28, 2019

Guorium said:
I was doing a bit of test on my iphone with powerbank output and wifi strength. Observed wifi strength with the airport utility app wifi scanner. Got 2 insteresting findings.

1. Xiaomi signal strength is better on the led/reset side. Probably because of more exposure for the antennea given they are built-in on one side of the PCB. So make sure you point that side towards your tello. xiaomi isn’t too directional, signal still more or less broadcast in a circle.

2. 1A or 2A/5V powerbanks made no noticeable difference in terms of wifi strength. This makes sense since wifi power is usually in mW level where the repeater can draw the least 0.5A x 5V = 2.5W. The input power is just so much larger than the output power in wifi transmission even at the least input power level.

Very nice to know, because every bit of extra signal is nice.

Santiago · Feb 28, 2019

I've often wondered about this, which side may be better. Thanks for taking the time to test, and share your findings.

reallush · Mar 1, 2019

To my test, the Xiaomi extender doesn't help at all when you're flying in wifi polluted areas.

Guorium · Mar 1, 2019

reallush said:
To my test, the Xiaomi extender doesn't help at all when you're flying in wifi polluted areas.

How populated are we talking about? I tried flying next to my condo which has 10+ wifi signals from all over the place and xiaomi makes the range better. Without it I lose feed for video after like 20m. Make sure you connect to xiaomi signal not tello itself.

reallush · Mar 1, 2019

Guorium said:
How populated are we talking about? I tried flying next to my condo which has 10+ wifi signals from all over the place and xiaomi makes the range better. Without it I lose feed for video after like 20m. Make sure you connect to xiaomi signal not tello itself.

Thank you for your experience. I'm honestly not sure how many but at least 6-7 or more around the place I was flying,

do you think there is a difference between a regular modem or a professional wifi extenders regarding signal?

I'd love to try anything to get better signal and less frame drops.

PapaTelllo · Mar 1, 2019

reallush said:
Thank you for your experience. I'm honestly not sure how many but at least 6-7 or more around the place I was flying,

do you think there is a difference between a regular modem or a professional wifi extenders regarding signal?

I'd love to try anything to get better signal and less frame drops.

Best place to go is country side.. Away from interference... Another thing get a 'less loaded' mobile or a spare mobile.. Just install with tellofpv or the stock app and nothing else. ..

Guorium · Mar 1, 2019

reallush said:
Thank you for your experience. I'm honestly not sure how many but at least 6-7 or more around the place I was flying,

do you think there is a difference between a regular modem or a professional wifi extenders regarding signal?

I'd love to try anything to get better signal and less frame drops.

Put ur phone on plane mode with wifi only. Turn off scan nearby devices which uses Bluetooth even when it is turned off (android only). Make sure other phones near u are set to the same.

More transmission power is better to some degree. Wifi is bi-directional communication so at some stage you must resort to modding tello’s own antennea.

reallush · Mar 2, 2019

Guorium said:
Put ur phone on plane mode with wifi only. Turn off scan nearby devices which uses Bluetooth even when it is turned off (android only). Make sure other phones near u are set to the same.

More transmission power is better to some degree. Wifi is bi-directional communication so at some stage you must resort to modding tello’s own antennea.

Thank you for you advise.
That's the only way i fly regarding flight mode(dedicated phone for tello), i had a flight with repeater away from wifi areas yesterday. Went 30 meters with ease little too no frame drop. Guess the wifi interference was indeed too big as i was getting disconnections at the resort.

Modding the tello antenna would be interesting, might check that out later.

Edit: added yesterday's flight

Guorium · Mar 3, 2019

reallush said:
Thank you for you advise.
That's the only way i fly regarding flight mode(dedicated phone for tello), i had a flight with repeater away from wifi areas yesterday. Went 30 meters with ease little too no frame drop. Guess the wifi interference was indeed too big as i was getting disconnections at the resort.

Modding the tello antenna would be interesting, might check that out later.

Edit: added yesterday's flight

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Lovely edit. Thanks for sharing!