Anyone who says the Alfa paddle antennas don't make a difference are clueless and do not know what they're talking about. People use them wrong, or have unrealistic expectations. It is physically impossible for them to "not work". They are directional panels. You have to have them turned downward at the 45ish degree notch. The side that has the "alfa" text is the radiating side of the antennas. So that side must be facing out. You have to be pointing at the solo, within about 10-15 degree cone. If you do that, you will get dramatically better range than with the stock omni whip antennas.
As for HOW MUCH, that is entirely dependent on conditions, and that applies to ANY antenna you try to use. In the middle of a desert or prairie that has no WiFi congestion, you get maximum performance. In an urban or suburban environment with lots of WiFi congestion, performance will reduce. With obstructions like trees, buildings, or terrain, performance will reduce drastically or be non-existent. This again applies regardless of what antenna you put on it.
So when some buffoon puts the Alfa antennas on backwards, faces away from the solo, and tries to fly in his suburban neighborhood, of course "it doesn't work".
