Radio Systems

Drone pilots will need to have a knowledge of radio systems in order to communicate and receive information.

They will also need to know about frequencies that their own drones use to transmit information (for example: drones will receive commands from a controller and/or cellular device, and will transmit data to said devices).

Drone C2 Link Bands: 2.4 gHz (gigahertz), 900 MHZ.

Binding: process of pairing a flight controller with a RPAS

First Person View bands for an RPAS (FPV) are 5.8 gHz.

C2 Link Failure: A loss link between the pilot and the drone. Can be caused by battery failure, radio signal loss, pilot error, antenna failure. Corrected by a return home program or flight termination (cutting power and forcing a crash).

Attentuniation: signal loss due to transmission power (distance issue and obstacles in the way of the signal)

RFI (radio frequency interference): interference from cell phones, other radios on a frequency, thunderstorms, or heavy electric machinery. Similar signals sent on same frequency in proximity results in signal corruption.