I keep trying to fly my spark to see how far of distance it can go. I can only seem to get it 1,500 feet before I lost the rc connection, signal lost, and then it does the RTH and comes back. I’m using an iPad, with a cable and adapter. As far I have read, I believe I have everything set right. Phone and iPhone on airplane more. I am flying it from my house, which is a heavily populated area, with power lines, cars, houses etc. what can I do different to make this happen?

pleade advice firmware version numbers for all devices

get a battery  amplified circular polarised antenna

Go somewhere in a high position yourself and fly the Spark in even higher Position away from you!
That way you should be able, in FCC, to reach the advertised 2km, out of sight.
You should get 1000m (3000ish feet) in unpopulated areas, without anything close to the 'LOS' (Sight from RC to AC ;-), and having the antennas upright and the  RCs back pointed to the Spark, easily.

lannes Posted at 2017-12-23 04:05
get a battery  amplified circular polarised antenna

Not for a 500m distance, come on!
US is FCC area. In CE areas a 'satellite dish' may be useful for this close distances.

lannes Posted at 2017-12-23 04:05
get a battery  amplified circular polarised antenna

Thanks, I didn’t realize I could buy a better antenna

S-e-ven Posted at 2017-12-23 04:40
Go somewhere in a high position yourself and fly the Spark in even higher Position away from you!
That way you should be able, in FCC, to reach the advertised 2km, out of sight.
You should get 1000m (3000ish feet) in unpopulated areas, without anything close to the 'LOS' (Sight from RC to AC ;-), and having the antennas upright and the  RCs back pointed to the Spark, easily.

Thanks, I understand if I’m in a open area I’ll get more, distance. But in the populated area, I should except more than 1500, due to interference? Wasn’t sure if there was something I could change in my setting, etc.

fansdce9b182 Posted at 2017-12-23 06:29
Thanks, I didn’t realize I could buy a better antenna

It might be overkill as the Spark will run out of battery before the signal range is reached

lannes Posted at 2017-12-23 06:36
It might be overkill as the Spark will run out of battery before the signal range is reached

Good point, I guess I’ve watched too many videos of people takes theirs over 1.2 miles with no problem, staying connected, etc. I also have a lake by my house I wanted to take some shots of. But I can just drive over lol.

How high do you normal fly ?
I think in the urban environment, the higher the AC is the less ground wi-fi interfence it will get.

How can you even see the drone that far away?

Fox Keegan Posted at 2017-12-23 23:09
How can you even see the drone that far away?

On the map in the left corner of the app display!

fansdce9b182 Posted at 2017-12-23 07:36
Good point, I guess I’ve watched too many videos of people takes theirs over 1.2 miles with no problem, staying connected, etc. I also have a lake by my house I wanted to take some shots of. But I can just drive over lol.

What you mostly need, is a straigt line of sight to the spark
And nothing direct in front of you, just under the LOS or aside of it
Everything can interfere with a wifi signal
As we all know from our homes and phones
When I got my drone, I tried to establish some baselines
I started on a open field and "played around", and checked on what the drone could do.
I had to change some of my ideas from before buying it, but every day expanding my tests, it got me to max. 2500m distance, once.
And helped a lot to understand, why other locations there is only 1500 or 1000 possible.
I think I found out, that a lot of green aside the LOS is risking a lot of trouble in longer distances.
But long story short : The closest possible position to your target flight area is the best insurance

Fox Keegan Posted at 2017-12-23 23:09
How can you even see the drone that far away?

by screen of your mobile