Range Testing

The other simple task that we can do on the ground is to range test the transmitter.  You can do this by yourself, but it will help if you have a friend or neighbor to help you out.  This is a no propeller test - so REMOVE the propellers before continuing, otherwise you might destroy your quad and injure your assistant!

Range testing is a simple procedure - find yourself a good clear area where you have a long line of sight.  Do a normal start-up procedure, first powering up the transmitter, then powering up the craft, and arming the transmitter/receiver.

Stand a few feet away and increase the throttle - the motors should start spinning.  Now turn them off.  Now continue turning the motors on and off while walking away.  As long as you can turn them on and off you are in range.  You'll want to make sure that you can get at least 100 feet or more away, and it can be difficult to  see if the motors are still responding at this distance, which is why you'll want to enlist the help of a friend to give you a thumbs up if it is responding.

I walked about 300-400 feet, alternating the motors on and off and still had good response on the motors before I lost my line of sight.  At 400 feet the quadcopter looks tiny, so I can't see doing much recreational flying with it much farther away than that for the time being.

If you lose your signal before you are able to get a hundred feet away you should check to make sure that your antenna wire isn't wrapped around any other wires.  If it's not, make sure that the batteries in your transmitter are fresh.  Assuming that's not the problem you'll need to "bind" your transmitter.

To do this, plug in the binding cable (last slot on the receiver), power up the quad with the transmitter off.  Next you'll press and hold the "bind/range test" button the back of the transmitter, and while still holding it turn the transmitter on.  The light on the receiver should stop flashing.  Let go of the button, and unplug the bind ring.  To save the binding you'll need to then unplug the battery from the quad and then turn off the transmitter.  Now your receiver and transmitter are bound.

Repeat the test and see how far you can get - hopefully you'll get full range this time.