I'd like to share realistic thoughts on how to keep a solid connection with the Solo. The following is from information that I learned and from my own RF experiences.
One thing we know is that with the current firmware (version 1.05) the Solo will only use only WiFi channels 6 or 11 for communications (this was confirmed via a 3DR email). This could change in the future, but it's what we have now. EDIT: Later firmware added the ability to use other WiFi channels in addition to only 6 and 11.
As you can see in the image, the Solo is currently on WiFi channel 6. You can also see that each WiFi channel overlaps others. So it's possible for WiFi devices to interfere with each other if there is a close by strong signal to the Solo channel, even if it's not exactly on the Solo's channel. With normal WiFi, the bandwidth will go down with crowding and interference. I'm sure this will affect the Solo to one degree or another.
I'd like to suggest that people use their smart phone and get a WiFi scanner app to check the WiFi environment before you fly. This is the one that I'm using, it's free for Android:
WiFi Analyzer by farproc
I'm not saying this is the only one, or the best one, but it's one that I've been using for a few years now.
If someone knows of a similar app for the Apple devices, please let us know.
If you like, you can also scan the WiFi channels after you turn on the controller, as this will let you know what channel the controller chose.
The first thing to check is to see if there are any strong WiFi signals on or near Channels 6 or 11. By strong, I'd say anything -70 dbm or stronger (on the dbm scale, a smaller number is a stronger signal, so -60dbm is 10 dbm stronger than a -70 dbm signal, a -50 dbm signal is a fairly strong signal). If there are strong signals on other channels, the further they are from channels 6 or 11, the better (actually, the further they are from the channel that the controller chose is the best). For example if your Solo is on channel 6, and there is a -60 dbm signal on channel 5, then you may expect to see interference. But if that -60 dbm signal was on channel 1, it may not bother you so much.
Keep in mind that this is not absolute! Remember that you are standing on the ground at one point and surveying the WiFi signals where you are located. As your Solo flies around, it will see other signals that you don't see on the ground. It will also see varying signal strengths from other signals as it's flying about. It can also see signal reflections that can cause problems too. As it gets further from you, it could see signals that can't be seen at all from where you are located. In short, It's a complicated WiFi jungle out there!
Perhaps we can get some data on the WiFi environments that we know will work, or what we know won't work. I think it's a bit vague for 3DR to only say "don't fly in a crowded WiFi environment", but I can understand why they only say this. The average person won't have a clue as to how to figure out what may or may not work, even after reading a document like this.
I'd like us to be successful with the stock antennas, and understanding the WiFi environment around us, and the possible channels that Solo will use will help us a lot.
Later on, we can document and experiment with other antennas and other things that may help.
If I think of other things, I'll either edit this post, or reply to it, as appropriate.
One thing we know is that with the current firmware (version 1.05) the Solo will only use only WiFi channels 6 or 11 for communications (this was confirmed via a 3DR email). This could change in the future, but it's what we have now. EDIT: Later firmware added the ability to use other WiFi channels in addition to only 6 and 11.
As you can see in the image, the Solo is currently on WiFi channel 6. You can also see that each WiFi channel overlaps others. So it's possible for WiFi devices to interfere with each other if there is a close by strong signal to the Solo channel, even if it's not exactly on the Solo's channel. With normal WiFi, the bandwidth will go down with crowding and interference. I'm sure this will affect the Solo to one degree or another.
I'd like to suggest that people use their smart phone and get a WiFi scanner app to check the WiFi environment before you fly. This is the one that I'm using, it's free for Android:
WiFi Analyzer by farproc
I'm not saying this is the only one, or the best one, but it's one that I've been using for a few years now.
If someone knows of a similar app for the Apple devices, please let us know.
If you like, you can also scan the WiFi channels after you turn on the controller, as this will let you know what channel the controller chose.
The first thing to check is to see if there are any strong WiFi signals on or near Channels 6 or 11. By strong, I'd say anything -70 dbm or stronger (on the dbm scale, a smaller number is a stronger signal, so -60dbm is 10 dbm stronger than a -70 dbm signal, a -50 dbm signal is a fairly strong signal). If there are strong signals on other channels, the further they are from channels 6 or 11, the better (actually, the further they are from the channel that the controller chose is the best). For example if your Solo is on channel 6, and there is a -60 dbm signal on channel 5, then you may expect to see interference. But if that -60 dbm signal was on channel 1, it may not bother you so much.
Keep in mind that this is not absolute! Remember that you are standing on the ground at one point and surveying the WiFi signals where you are located. As your Solo flies around, it will see other signals that you don't see on the ground. It will also see varying signal strengths from other signals as it's flying about. It can also see signal reflections that can cause problems too. As it gets further from you, it could see signals that can't be seen at all from where you are located. In short, It's a complicated WiFi jungle out there!
Perhaps we can get some data on the WiFi environments that we know will work, or what we know won't work. I think it's a bit vague for 3DR to only say "don't fly in a crowded WiFi environment", but I can understand why they only say this. The average person won't have a clue as to how to figure out what may or may not work, even after reading a document like this.
I'd like us to be successful with the stock antennas, and understanding the WiFi environment around us, and the possible channels that Solo will use will help us a lot.
Later on, we can document and experiment with other antennas and other things that may help.
If I think of other things, I'll either edit this post, or reply to it, as appropriate.
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