I have used RSSI to find my drones in the past... but using a variation of your method. I have the antenna horizontal and pointing in front of me. Then sweep to find the *lowest* RSSI reading which indicates that the model is in the null axis of the antenna (i.e. where it is pointed). After walking in that direction for some distance, I check again for the lowest RSSI reading at the new location and walk in the direction the antenna is pointing. I repeat until I get close enough to either see it or hear the beeper. I find this method gives a clear indication of where to walk than the high RSSI method.
All great tips.. many I used in the past. Just today I was running a chimera 4 with a d8 from radiomaster and I failsafe. I was out like 1.5km which is far for that receiver. Betaflight rth worked flawless I regained signal and just continued flying.
skynet Yes that is clearly help full to recover losted plane and DVR also with gps position can give an idea where to begin to shearch and when you get around 90 or 95 percent of RSSI signal you can also remove the antenna in lower power position and using it like an attenuator for reduce the rssi signal until you get the good direction with stronger signal that will help you... really interesting video thanks.
I remember that intro jingle from lasts year 12 days of Christmas! I have been in this hobby now for a little over a year and have been watching your channel since beginning! Love the great info! Happy Holidays!
Very nice. Completely forgot about this! Ive been using my furious true d but now will be using both. Simple FPV rules once safety check are done: Always dvr, never disarm(unless your upside down in the field or jammed between a rock and a hard place...🤣), never say last pack, and use your rssi 👍
I had to use this just yesterday. Not my first time...8( I also tape the batt strap to the battery to avoid ejection! Great reminder and help to all of us! THX!
Great video! Also, as many of us might be using TBS gear, I believe their RECOVERY function might be worth mentioning. Not all of their RXs support it, but some do. "(Nano) Diversity RX: Beacon-mode, receiver backup LiPo battery - operating time of approx. 2 days "
One thing people should be aware of about those GPS trackers that use a sim card, it's not going to work if the tracker itself cannot connect to a mobile network. So if your out in the country at some remote location, always bare that in mind - once a model in down amongst some brush or long grass, it may well not have a connection if the mobile signal is weak in that area. The GPS tracker will still know where it is itself, but if it can't communicate those details back to you that is not much help. Learnt this the hard way myself. The old RSSI trick can often save the day, another good one is using the FPV feed from the model when you get a bit closer - take of any omni-directional antennas you may have on your video receiver and fit a directional patch, or if your not far from the model, remove all the antennas from the video receiver, you will soon be able to tell which direction to walk in.
Using the radio as a directional finder, is really a great technique to find a lost model.. I learnt about that in my Aerial Observer course for locating activated PLBs, during a search and rescue operation. Of course that will only work if the battery is still attached and providing power... Alternatively, as you mentioned if the plane has a GPS unit, enabling the logging function on the radio will be a lot more easier to locate the model.
Yep, see my caveats and other options at the start of the video... If you love the model then add at least one of the other things to it before flying.. Happy flying!
Couple more ways. I use blheli esc even in my planes, the have a beacon function. Also there is a app called Triangulux for crapple. When the plane goes down, from where you are standing, note the exact direction (tree/bush/pole/etc), use the app to take a picture in that direction. The app draws a line on the map, walk the line, app shows you where you been, it works well, unless it kept flying.
As mentioned, Range Test mode works great at higher Db levels (75+) because at those levels the signal will not be blocked or reduced by your Body, you get a Bow-Tie pattern (in front and behind you) or there may be very little noticeable change at close proximity. Range Test allows you to zoom in more easily. And if you are looking on the Ground when your Model is high up a tree Range Test can indicate this better if you tilt your antenna up or down to perpendicular from the horizon also.
I love how my little T8SG Deviation based receiver keeps and displays the last GPS co-ords received even if the (iNav equipped) model has lost power - dead handy!
I've used this twice in the past to locate downed FPV models - once to find a small (130 size) quad in a big field of long grass, and more recently to find a very small fixed-wing model. Works really well when DVR footage is either unavailable or not of much use. Looking for the fixed-wing it did take me over an hour though to spot that the telemetry screen I had up was the one I view after a flight, which shows the LOWEST RSSI figure rather than the CURRENT one - doh!
I've just ordered a few of the Matek buzzers to fit to my wings that I am flying at the moment (all using Matek flight controllers and INAV) as I did spend 5 mins looking for the wing in the field as the grass was long! :D
Done this before and a similar thing take the antenna off your fpv rx when you get close and scan around it makes it extremely sensitive and directional and can get you within a few feet.
If you get close and can’t localize it or see it, as in the case of a small quad, put the radio in range test mode. It’s very low power makes is easier to narrow it down when you are close.
I recently had a crash with a fly away quad. I had GPS telemetry on my controller screen but it didn't help this time as the coordinates it sent back put it in the North sea! I had to go home and go over the DVR and come back the next day.
Great video, Lee...I remember your original one...have a question though...can you set up Open TX on the radio to give out a Db strength tone like a “wildlife tracking collar” if one loses an aircraft? Merry Christmas, from Doha....another one without my family.....just the way this flying career goes
I’ve done basically the same thing except with the DJI goggles and Mbps. I lost a quad in a huge field that had about 2 foot tall grass. I dropped the power to 25mW and walked in the direction that had the highest Mbps. I kept checking every few hundred feet and it took me right to it. I use a Taranis with Crossfire but maybe this can help someone who uses the DJI radio and can’t use the RSSI trick.
@@Painless360 Unless your Plane, Drone flies through someone's living room window and is hanging out the back of their 42" TV or smacks the windscreen of a Mercedes going down the Freeway etc. ~ :o)
I am new to crossfire receivers which i use now all of the time. There are 2 telemetry values 1rss and 2rss for rssi. I assume you can use the same technique in finding your model.
Sony...you buy a Taranis GPS, and plug it into the SPORT connector of your FrSky receiver. The GPS data is then passed back to the Taranis and displayed in a telemetry field. It's easy, but yes, Painless has some great videos showing all the details. But remember...don't turn off your radio after the crash, because the GPS data will be lost (but may be reacquired when you walk toward the model, assuming the flight battery still has a charge and wasn't disconnected during the crash).
About five years ago, a non-member came to our club field to say he'd lost his expensive quad, and had we seen it? Seemingly he was flying from a canal bank a few dozen yards away, and hadn't thought of joining us! Anyway, we asked what the last thing was on the camera, and he replied -"A Tree". There was a large area of swampy woodland just past our field that he'd been on the other side of. We tried to search through all the sludge and brambles, with no success. A couple of months later, he was back to tell us he'd found it - next to an apple tree in someone's back garden a couple of miles away! It had hit their window, bounced off, and parked in the garden as it's battery died.
What a shame, so many pilots would love to access the places that clubs can fly at but are not welcome. Keep those doors open and we can support and help the newer pilots coming into the hobby. Best wishes to you and all at the club!
I have used RSSI to find my drones in the past... but using a variation of your method. I have the antenna horizontal and pointing in front of me. Then sweep to find the *lowest* RSSI reading which indicates that the model is in the null axis of the antenna (i.e. where it is pointed). After walking in that direction for some distance, I check again for the lowest RSSI reading at the new location and walk in the direction the antenna is pointing. I repeat until I get close enough to either see it or hear the beeper. I find this method gives a clear indication of where to walk than the high RSSI method.
All great tips.. many I used in the past. Just today I was running a chimera 4 with a d8 from radiomaster and I failsafe. I was out like 1.5km which is far for that receiver. Betaflight rth worked flawless I regained signal and just continued flying.
skynet
Yes that is clearly help full to recover losted plane and DVR also with gps position can give an idea where to begin to shearch and when you get around 90 or 95 percent of RSSI signal you can also remove the antenna in lower power position and using it like an attenuator for reduce the rssi signal until you get the good direction with stronger signal that will help you... really interesting video thanks.
I remember that intro jingle from lasts year 12 days of Christmas! I have been in this hobby now for a little over a year and have been watching your channel since beginning! Love the great info! Happy Holidays!
Very nice. Completely forgot about this! Ive been using my furious true d but now will be using both.
Simple FPV rules once safety check are done: Always dvr, never disarm(unless your upside down in the field or jammed between a rock and a hard place...🤣), never say last pack, and use your rssi 👍
I had to use this just yesterday. Not my first time...8( I also tape the batt strap to the battery to avoid ejection!
Great reminder and help to all of us! THX!
Great video!
Also, as many of us might be using TBS gear, I believe their RECOVERY function might be worth mentioning. Not all of their RXs support it, but some do.
"(Nano) Diversity RX: Beacon-mode, receiver backup LiPo battery - operating
time of approx. 2 days
"
One thing people should be aware of about those GPS trackers that use a sim card, it's not going to work if the tracker itself cannot connect to a mobile network. So if your out in the country at some remote location, always bare that in mind - once a model in down amongst some brush or long grass, it may well not have a connection if the mobile signal is weak in that area. The GPS tracker will still know where it is itself, but if it can't communicate those details back to you that is not much help. Learnt this the hard way myself. The old RSSI trick can often save the day, another good one is using the FPV feed from the model when you get a bit closer - take of any omni-directional antennas you may have on your video receiver and fit a directional patch, or if your not far from the model, remove all the antennas from the video receiver, you will soon be able to tell which direction to walk in.
Using the radio as a directional finder, is really a great technique to find a lost model.. I learnt about that in my Aerial Observer course for locating activated PLBs, during a search and rescue operation.
Of course that will only work if the battery is still attached and providing power... Alternatively, as you mentioned if the plane has a GPS unit, enabling the logging function on the radio will be a lot more easier to locate the model.
Yep, see my caveats and other options at the start of the video... If you love the model then add at least one of the other things to it before flying.. Happy flying!
this works great..used it before and found the quad. The only time it doesn't work of course is if your battery ejects on impact...lol.
That's a fantastic tip, Lee! 😃
Thanks a lot!
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
Couple more ways. I use blheli esc even in my planes, the have a beacon function. Also there is a app called Triangulux for crapple. When the plane goes down, from where you are standing, note the exact direction (tree/bush/pole/etc), use the app to take a picture in that direction. The app draws a line on the map, walk the line, app shows you where you been, it works well, unless it kept flying.
As mentioned, Range Test mode works great at higher Db levels (75+) because at those levels the signal will not be blocked or reduced by your Body, you get a Bow-Tie pattern (in front and behind you) or there may be very little noticeable change at close proximity. Range Test allows you to zoom in more easily.
And if you are looking on the Ground when your Model is high up a tree Range Test can indicate this better if you tilt your antenna up or down to perpendicular from the horizon also.
I love how my little T8SG Deviation based receiver keeps and displays the last GPS co-ords received even if the (iNav equipped) model has lost power - dead handy!
Also a good reminder of to why a high gain (hence narrow beam width) antenna with a good F/B ratio is a useful tool to own, for many reasons.
I've used this twice in the past to locate downed FPV models - once to find a small (130 size) quad in a big field of long grass, and more recently to find a very small fixed-wing model. Works really well when DVR footage is either unavailable or not of much use. Looking for the fixed-wing it did take me over an hour though to spot that the telemetry screen I had up was the one I view after a flight, which shows the LOWEST RSSI figure rather than the CURRENT one - doh!
I've just ordered a few of the Matek buzzers to fit to my wings that I am flying at the moment (all using Matek flight controllers and INAV) as I did spend 5 mins looking for the wing in the field as the grass was long! :D
Done this before and a similar thing take the antenna off your fpv rx when you get close and scan around it makes it extremely sensitive and directional and can get you within a few feet.
If you get close and can’t localize it or see it, as in the case of a small quad, put the radio in range test mode. It’s very low power makes is easier to narrow it down when you are close.
I recently had a crash with a fly away quad. I had GPS telemetry on my controller screen but it didn't help this time as the coordinates it sent back put it in the North sea! I had to go home and go over the DVR and come back the next day.
Fantastic video, Lee!
Do you have solution or how to make telemetry out from the uart port of of tx16s+micro crossfire combo ?
Great video, Lee...I remember your original one...have a question though...can you set up Open TX on the radio to give out a Db strength tone like a “wildlife tracking collar” if one loses an aircraft? Merry Christmas, from Doha....another one without my family.....just the way this flying career goes
I’ve done basically the same thing except with the DJI goggles and Mbps. I lost a quad in a huge field that had about 2 foot tall grass. I dropped the power to 25mW and walked in the direction that had the highest Mbps. I kept checking every few hundred feet and it took me right to it. I use a Taranis with Crossfire but maybe this can help someone who uses the DJI radio and can’t use the RSSI trick.
Fantastic idea. Better lesson, pay for GPS locator for your models.
And write your phone number on it too. My flying buddy got a wing back from that only last week... It's free to do
@@Painless360 i just did that when a coworker found a camera drone in her backyard. Cheap and easy, if people are honest.
@@Painless360 Unless your Plane, Drone flies through someone's living room window and is hanging out the back of their 42" TV or smacks the windscreen of a Mercedes going down the Freeway etc. ~ :o)
I am new to crossfire receivers which i use now all of the time. There are 2 telemetry values 1rss and 2rss for rssi. I assume you can use the same technique in finding your model.
Yes you can. Try it out before you need it in anger! :D
Thanks for info 👍
Love your video, do you know how to setup gps telemetry to taranis?
Depends on what you mean by GPS telemetry. I have tons of videos on the Taranis, telemetry and LUA scripts.. Check them out..
@@Painless360 okey I will Check. Thanks
Sony...you buy a Taranis GPS, and plug it into the SPORT connector of your FrSky receiver. The GPS data is then passed back to the Taranis and displayed in a telemetry field. It's easy, but yes, Painless has some great videos showing all the details. But remember...don't turn off your radio after the crash, because the GPS data will be lost (but may be reacquired when you walk toward the model, assuming the flight battery still has a charge and wasn't disconnected during the crash).
@@Bill-NM thanks William for the Information
About five years ago, a non-member came to our club field to say he'd lost his expensive quad, and had we seen it? Seemingly he was flying from a canal bank a few dozen yards away, and hadn't thought of joining us! Anyway, we asked what the last thing was on the camera, and he replied -"A Tree". There was a large area of swampy woodland just past our field that he'd been on the other side of. We tried to search through all the sludge and brambles, with no success. A couple of months later, he was back to tell us he'd found it - next to an apple tree in someone's back garden a couple of miles away! It had hit their window, bounced off, and parked in the garden as it's battery died.
Lovely to hear of a club that would welcome multirotor plots. So many don't. Good on your club!
@@Painless360 - he never did join us!
What a shame, so many pilots would love to access the places that clubs can fly at but are not welcome. Keep those doors open and we can support and help the newer pilots coming into the hobby. Best wishes to you and all at the club!
@@Painless360 - We're always looking for new members - Most of us are pensioners, and the youngsters seem to prefer video-games, these days.
If you have Tx16 or similar, then can also use the yaappu mapping widget: github.com/yaapu/HorusMappingWidget - I recommend
Opposite sides of the field...Good old triangulation.