Rick,

Agreed. And it is beginning to look like there is a need to build and test such 
a thing to really learn it’s value. For instance, I never knew how useful an my 
nanoVNA would be until I bought one. Sure, I could do an SWR study the old way, 
but the new widget enables me to do a lot more, faster and easier. 

I just threw this question out this morning for discussion, and got my money’s 
worth from everyone. It was academic at that time, but now I am wondering all 
the more why there isn’t some video on YouTube showing some ham who has built 
such a device. It seems like this is something wanting to be made, at least for 
ham use.

Mark

> On Mar 10, 2021, at 2:59 PM, Gary Sitton via BVARC <[email protected] 
> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
> 
> Rick:
> 
>    I really agree especially since I've looked into the drone motor 
> controllers.
> They typically emit so much onboard and radiated hash that special by-pass
> precautions are taken with some of the onboard sensors, e.g. accelerometers
> for orientation sensing.  I disagree that modelling software is adequate for
> the typical antenna environment, e.g. antennas below a wavelength.  Also
> conformation of directional antenna's front-to-back and forward gain for
> optimization purposes would be nice if even perhaps extravagant.
> 
> 73, Gary K5AMH
> 
> PS: Most drone controllers use the STM ARM processors for which there
> is free open source drone software: https://betaflight.com/ 
> <https://betaflight.com/>
> 
> 
> On 3/10/2021 2:34 PM, Rick Hiller via BVARC wrote:
>> Comment:  Is an FSD applicable?
>> 
>> Although an FSD would provide a close-in Far Field pattern of an antenna 
>> antenna installation, which is very cool indeed.  Is it really necessary in 
>> the world of Ham Radio?
>> 
>> We already have antenna modeling software based on the NEC which is quite 
>> accurate, depending on the set up parameters provided, of course.   That 
>> model analysis provides us with a pattern and a fair amount of operational 
>> information.
>> 
>> But what do we (I) really want?  I want to know what and how my antenna is 
>> performing in the real world outside of my QTH.   Is it getting to Europe or 
>> VK?   When is the best time and frequency to get to Japan or South Africa?   
>> Questions like this are not to be answered by a FSD.
>> 
>> What we really need is a world wide system to detect our signals wherever 
>> they may occur.  So let's start thinking of that.  We just need a few hams 
>> on every continent to participate........Wait!  Not so fast.......there is 
>> already a system that does this.  WSPR   and it is available from a local 
>> amateur radio dealer -- SOTA Beams  
>> https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/wsprlite-classic 
>> <https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/wsprlite-classic>.     QST Dec 2018 even has a 
>> review of this system. 
>> https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/content/QSTREVIEW.pdf 
>> <https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/content/QSTREVIEW.pdf> 
>> 
>> Now look, I am not poo pooing the FSD concept , ideas, discussion, etc.   
>> Very cool indeed to get a group of folks excited and discussing antenna 
>> stuff.   Woo Hoo!  I'm all for it, being the antenna phreak that I am.   I'm 
>> just taking a step back and seeing if it is necessary, practical or even 
>> applicable for Hams.   Plus, maybe some don't know about WSPR.  
>> 
>> 73...Rick -- W5RH
>> 
>>    
>> 
>>  
>> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=icon>
>>  Virus-free. www.avast.com 
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>> On Wed, Mar 10, 2021 at 1:57 PM Jeffery MacMillian via BVARC 
>> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>> Here is a good paper on this very topic.....
>> 
>> https://www.narda-sts.com/en/selective-emf/srm-3006-field-strength-analyzer/eID/pd/pdce/9063/pdfr/9500/
>>  
>> <https://www.narda-sts.com/en/selective-emf/srm-3006-field-strength-analyzer/eID/pd/pdce/9063/pdfr/9500/>
>> 
>> have Fun,
>> Jeff
>> KC5TT
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Wed, Mar 10, 2021 at 1:31 PM Tom Watson via BVARC <[email protected] 
>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>> Brilliant!  
>> 
>> On Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 12:22 AM Mark Brantana via BVARC <[email protected] 
>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>> OK, what is an FSD? It is a Field Strength Drone. It’s an idea I am sure 
>> others have had, and I don’t expect to get around to designing or patenting 
>> such a thing. But inventions are often just the merging of new technologies, 
>> and this is not much different. I don’t see any YouTubes about this or any 
>> other reference, so here’s the idea:
>> 
>> With all the capabilities of little drones I wonder if anyone has designed 
>> one which can carry a field strength meter and fly a grid around an antenna 
>> to evaluate antenna performance. The guts of my little Radio Shack FSM would 
>> have weighed way less than an ounce.
>> 
>> Ideally, the field strength meter could communicate to the base through the 
>> drone transmitter, reducing weight. Software at the base could link the 
>> drone 3D location data with the FS reading. The drone would have to wait at 
>> test locations for the operator to transmit, and ideally would move to the 
>> next location. Finally, the software might be able to link with existing 
>> simulation software for comparison with theory and allow for simulation 
>> model improvement. This looks like it would take a small team to develop.
>> 
>> This sounds like it would have many uses besides antenna evaluation, like 
>> RFI evaluation.
>> 
>> What about it? Has anyone done this?
>> 
>> Mark
>> N5PRD
>> ________________________________________________
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>> 
>> -- 
>> Rick Hiller  
>> e-mail:     [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
>> Cell:        832-474-3713
>> Physical: 9031 Troulon Drive
>>                Houston, TX 77036
>> 
>> 
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> 
> -- 
> Gary Sitton, K5AMH 
> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> 
> SDR/DSP Consultant, 
> "Have FFTs, Will Travel." 
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