Optimizing every aspect of your FPV drone setup is key to achieving the best video quality and range. Understanding the SWR of your 5.8GHz antenna can help decide which frequency or channel you should use for optimal performance. Not everyone has the tools to measure SWR, so I have conducted extensive tests on the antennas I own to share their SWR plots with you.
Creating content like this requires time and resources, and I’ve invested several hundred dollars in purchasing some of these antennas for testing. I hope you find this information valuable, and if so, please consider supporting me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/oscarliang
SWR Plots Explained
What’s antenna SWR: https://oscarliang.com/best-fpv-antenna/#SWR. Curious about measuring antenna SWR? Check out my tutorial for a deep dive into the process:: https://oscarliang.com/litevna-measure-antenna-swr/.
The antennas in this post are listed alphabetically. The plot markers are as follows: Marker 2 is at 5.6GHz, Marker 3 is at 5.8GHz (the center of the graph), and Marker 4 is at 6.0GHz. Marker 1 highlights where the lowest SWR is found within the sweep range of 5.4GHz to 6.2GHz.
Tips for Enhancing Your FPV Video Link
- Selecting the Right Antenna: Consider antennas with consistently low SWR across the channels you frequently use.
- Channel Optimization: Use the SWR charts to identify which channels offer the best performance for your selected antenna.
- Matching Receiver Antennas: Ensure that antennas for the receiver have a matching resonance frequency for the best results.
DarwinFPV Darwin129 VTX Antenna
This antenna came with the Darwin129 7″ drone: https://oscarliang.com/darwin129/
DJI FPV Air Unit Antenna SMA Part 05
Product page: https://amzn.to/3Uc2mhq
DJI FPV Goggles V1 Antenna
Stock antennas from the DJI FPV Goggles V1: https://oscarliang.com/dji-fpv-system-setup/
Second antenna.
DJI O3 Air Unit Dual-band Antenna
The stock antenna in the DJI O3 Air Unit is dual-band, supporting both 5.8GHz and 2.4GHz, so graphs for both frequencies are provided. Measurements were taken for both connectors.
Antenna 1, connector 1.
Antenna 1, connector 2.
Antenna 2, connector 1.
Antenna 2, connector 2.
Fatshark Rubber Duck Dipole Antenna
Second antenna.
FlyfishRC Osprey 140mm
Product page:
Second antenna.
FlyfishRC Osprey 40mm
Product page:
FlyfishRC Osprey Dual-band 140mm
Designed to work for the 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz bands.
Product page:
Connector 1.
Connector 2.
FlyfishRC Osprey Dual-band 70mm
Designed to work for the 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz bands.
Product page:
Connector 1.
Connector 2.
Flywoo Atomic
Product page: https://oscarliang.com/product-wk1k
Flywoo O3 Lite Antenna
Antennas from the Flywoo Naked O3 Lite/Ultra kit: https://oscarliang.com/flywoo-naked-o3-lite-ultra-kit/
Second antenna.
Foxeer Lollipop 4 Stubby
Product page:
Second antenna.
Foxeer Lollipop 4
Product page:
Second antenna.
Foxeer Lollipop 4+ SMA
Product page:
Foxeer Lollipop 4+ UFL
Product page:
Foxeer Lollipop V1
Discontinued.
Foxeer Lollipop V2
Discontinued.
Foxeer Micro Lollipop
Product page:
Second antenna.
Frsky Rondo
Product page: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCbl49j
HGLRC Hammer
Product page: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dknx8al
iFlight Albatross
An antenna that’s featured in many iFlight BNF models, such as the Evoque and Nazgul.
Product page:
Second antenna.
ImmersionRC Rubber Duck Dipole Antenna
Maple Leaf Patch 8.5dBi
Product page: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDU7A25
Maple Leaf Lollipop 2dBi
Product page: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DERjADj
Menace Invader
Product page: https://oscarliang.com/product-b07k
Second antenna.
Menace PicoPatch
Product page:
Runcam Link Air Unit Antenna
The standard antenna provided with the Runcam Link Air Unit (Caddx Vista).
RushFPV Cherry 2 SMA
Product page:
Second antenna.
RushFPV Cherry 2 UFL
Product page: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DmaS67R
RushFPV Cherry V1 SMA
Product page:
Second antenna.
RushFPV Cherry V1 UFL
Discontinued.
Speedybee LHCP SMA
Product page:
Second antenna.
Speedybee RHCP SMA
Product page:
Second antenna.
Speedybee RHCP UFL
Product page:
TrueRC Singularity Long 120mm
Product Page:
TrueRC Singularity Regular 62mm
Product Page:
TrueRC Singularity Short 40mm
Product Page:
Second antenna.
TrueRC Singularity Stubby LHCP
Product Page:
TrueRC Singularity Stubby RHCP
Product Page:
Second antenna
TrueRC Sniper II
Product Page:
TrueRC X-Air MKII
Product Page:
TrueRC X-Air MKII DJI FPV
Product Page:
Connector on cable.
Connector on the body.
Walksnail Mini 1S Lite
Product page: https://oscarliang.com/product-s6ns
Walksnail VTX V2
Product page: https://oscarliang.com/product-vgtf
Second antenna.
Walksnail Redbird
Product page: https://oscarliang.com/product-n73v
Second antenna.
Walksnail Redbird V2
Product page:
Second antenna.
Conclusion
SWR plays a pivotal role in achieving reliable FPV video links. By understanding antenna SWR, pilots can make educated decisions, selecting the most suitable antennas and frequency/channel for their flights. I plan to continue testing more antennas and will regularly update this post. If you have any particular antenna you want me to test, let me know in the comment. Happy flying!
