title_body: DIY wireless mesh network to extend drone's operational range I have stumbled upon this question regarding technology providing longest range for rc controls and would like to ask a related one. Theoretically it should be possible to build a wireless mesh network that can route the signal from the drone to the operator and back thus extending the operational range of the drone while relying on the same frequency(/power per unit).
  
  
  is there an open-source project that implements such a mesh network in conjunction with an open-source flight control?
  is it theoretically possible to build the nodes of such a mesh network using Arduino and power them with not too big solar panels?
  would it be possible to transmit real time video through such a solar-powered mesh network?
  how would such a network, of let's say 5 nodes, extend the operational range of currently available drones?
upvoted_answer: You can do this with a configuration known as a 'repeater'; there are a number of examples of people using this to convert their favourite controller's RC system to that of a specific aircraft, but you could do the same with a single mode:
  
  
  FrSky to Dragonlink Repeater
  2.4ghz to EZUHF repeater
  
  
  I'm not aware of an open-source implementation or Arduino examples but the above links show you may be able to use off-the-shelf parts; this is likely to depend on how open your radio hardware is.
  
  Range-wise, the aircraft and controller need to be in range of the repeater but not of each other - so you could theoretically add half as much again but in practice you want a healthy overlap. You could add more than one node but the aircraft still has to stay in range of the last one, as the drone (and each node) can only pair with one other transciever. In theory this same setup should be possible for video too - chain a receiver into a transmitter. It is worth remembering that some VTXs can get very hot if you don't have airflow from the drone, so you may need to add a fan.
  
  With regards power-consumption, the transmitter will be limited (legally, at least) to tens of milliwatts and the microcontrollers won't take too much - it should be possible to power such a system from a smallish solar panel, but you will need to compare the panel output to a measured system draw; then add a margin for safety and a small battery to smooth out demand.