Hawkeye 5.8G 21dBi Patch

Hawkeye 5.8G 21dBi Patch is a directional panel antenna with linear polarization, an SMA connector, and 21dBi gain for the 5-6GHz band. It is designed for the receiving side during long-range flying. It mounts on a tripod, ground station, or antenna tracker and connects via cable to FPV goggles, a monitor, or a ground video transmission unit. In a video, the manufacturer demonstrates a 50km flight using its Hawkeye HD digital video transmission system.

The radiation beam has a width of 18.65°, so the signal drops by -3dB at a deviation of approximately ±9° from the axis. The narrow pattern is the trade-off for 21dBi gain: the higher the gain, the narrower the beam and the more precisely the antenna must be aimed at the model. Side lobes (“side lobes”) are 24dB weaker than the main beam. The antenna therefore receives little signal and interference outside its aiming direction. We do not recommend using it as the receiver's only antenna. The ideal setup is a diversity receiver combined with an omnidirectional antenna: the directional antenna provides range and signal penetration through trees and buildings, while the omnidirectional antenna covers the immediate surroundings, takeoffs, and landings. With fixed mounting, the antenna is better suited for flying in a straight line or around a known point; an antenna tracker makes sense for free flying.

Linear polarization works best when the antennas on both sides are oriented the same way. The manufacturer therefore recommends holding the panel vertically with a deviation of no more than ±5° and positioning the antennas on the drone or aircraft vertically as well. For systems with two receiver inputs, it recommends a pair of panels aimed in the same direction and at the same angle. Combining a circularly polarized antenna with a linearly polarized antenna results in a 3dB loss. The antenna is therefore mainly suitable for systems with linearly polarized antennas on the model. Some gain will be lost with RHCP/LHCP antennas on the drone. The 5-6GHz band centered at 5.5GHz covers standard 5.8GHz channels as well as the lower 5GHz range. VSWR ≤1.4 means that only a small part of the power is reflected back into the transmission line.

The radiator consists of a PCB with an array of patch elements fed by a corporate feed network. The board is attached to a black backing plate with plastic screws and covered by a transparent panel. The antenna measures 187x187x12mm and weighs 174g. It connects via a permanently attached 45cm coaxial cable terminated with an SMA connector. It does not have a sealed waterproof enclosure. The manufacturer recommends protecting it from water and not using it during thunderstorms.

Important notice: due to its dimensions and weight, we do not recommend mounting the antenna directly on FPV goggles.

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