Every kit ships with an antenna set matched to its ports. This article covers what arrives, how to place it, what you may change, and why the site publishes no range figure.
What ships with the kit
Each antenna is etched near its base with the name of the port it belongs to. Match the etching to the panel marking. The antennas are selected and tuned for their ports; swapping them reduces detection performance.
| Etched label | Port | Serves | Kits |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRAGON SDR | Dragon SDR | DJI DroneID — the primary detection antenna, and the longest one supplied | All |
| WIFI REMOTE ID | WiFi Remote ID | Wi-Fi Remote ID, 2.4 and 5 GHz | All |
| BT REMOTE ID | BT Remote ID | Bluetooth 5 Long Range Remote ID | All |
| GPS puck | GPS | Unit position. Supplied and required on Drop-In; optional on Mobile | All |
| FPV 5.8 | FPV 5.8 Ghz | FPV video activity, 5 GHz | Elite only |
| FPV 900 | FPV 900Mhz | Control and telemetry links, 900 MHz | Elite only |
The three 2.4 / 5.8 GHz antennas are identical to look at and differ only by etching. Read the label before installing each one. The port marked TX is not used; leave it unconnected. Unlabeled SMA positions are unpopulated or reserved.
Connecting
Important Torque every SMA connector to 3–5 in-lb with an SMA torque wrench. Without one, hand-tighten firmly by the connector nut only — never by the antenna body, and never with pliers. Loose connectors are among the most common causes of missing detections; over-torqued connectors crack the SMA dielectric.
Connect every antenna before applying power. Operating an SDR receive port with no antenna is not recommended.
Placement
- Clear line of sight to the sky. Elevate as high as practical.
- Position antennas vertically.
- Separate antennas by at least one wavelength — about 12 cm at 2.4 GHz.
- Avoid metal surfaces directly behind an antenna.
- Weatherproof every outdoor connection.
Where antennas cannot mount directly on the panel — a Drop-In unit inside a metal cabinet, for example — move them to bulkhead mounts and connect with low-loss coax. For runs over about 1 meter use LMR-240 or equivalent; roughly 3 meters of RG-58 loses about 3 dB at 2.4 GHz. The Multi-Antenna Mount carries up to six antennas on a single pole; its assembly guide is on the support page.
Using your own antennas
All external RF ports are SMA female and accept any antenna or cable with an SMA male connector. You may substitute your own antennas — higher-gain omnidirectional, directional, or panel antennas for a fixed site, for example — and connect coax and inline devices of your choosing. This does not void the warranty as long as the kit itself is not modified and the unit is not electrically damaged. See Warranty coverage and how to make a claim.
Keep the band right: an antenna for the Dragon SDR port must cover 2.4 and 5.8 GHz; the 900 MHz port needs a 900 MHz antenna. Antenna upgrade options for fixed and semi-fixed deployments are available on request through the contact form.
Critical Never connect a transmitter to any port. Every port is receive-only, and transmit power into a receiver is electrical damage the warranty excludes.
Why no range figure is published
Detection distance depends on the antenna, its height and placement, line of sight, the RF environment, the aircraft type, and how its protocol behaves. The same kit gives different results on a rooftop, in a vehicle, and inside a cabinet. A single number would describe one of those and mislead about the others, so none is published. What is guaranteed is the behavior, not the distance: with the supplied antennas correctly installed, the unit detects the signal families it supports within whatever footprint the site allows. To extend that footprint, elevate the antennas, improve line of sight, use higher-gain or directional antennas along an approach, reduce nearby RF noise, or add nodes.
Related
- WarDragon User Guide, Section 3.1 — antennas and placement
- WarDragon Drop-In Installation Guide, Sections 2 and 5 — parts identification and antenna installation
- WarDragon User Guide, Section 10.4 — no detections and short range