Losing signal is one of the most common and dangerous situations during a drone flight. It can lead to loss of control, a crash, or mission failure. Below are practical tips that will help reduce the risk of signal loss and maintain control of your drone, even in challenging conditions.

1. Set Up Failsafe Before Every Flight

Failsafe is the action your drone takes when the signal is lost. Always configure and test it before flying:

• Return to Home (RTH) — automatic return to the takeoff point;

• Hover / Land — hovering or controlled landing;

• Custom action — a predefined route or altitude.

👉 Tip: Test failsafe at a safe altitude by briefly moving out of range.

2. Watch Antenna Position and Orientation

Incorrect antenna placement is a common cause of signal loss.

• Keep antennas parallel to each other and avoid pointing the antenna tips directly at the drone.

• Do not block antennas with your body, metal objects, or the battery.

3. Choose the Right Frequency and Power

• Use less congested channels (scan the spectrum before flight).

• Increase transmitter power only when necessary — excessive power can cause overheating or interference.

4. Maintain Line of Sight

Radio signals struggle to pass through:

• buildings, trees, and terrain;

• metal structures and vehicles.

👉 If possible, raise your operating position or change location to maintain clear line of sight.

5. Use Repeaters and Backup Links

In complex environments, consider:

• signal repeaters (airborne or ground-based);

• dual-link systems — main and backup communication channels;

• LTE or mesh solutions (where permitted and available).

6. Monitor Power Levels

Low battery levels:

• reduce transmitter stability;

• increase the risk of sudden disconnects.

✔️ Check batteries on both the drone and the controller.
✔️ Enable alerts for critical battery levels.

7. Update Firmware — Wisely

Firmware updates often improve link stability, but:

• update well before critical missions;

• always perform a test flight after updating.

8. Practice Signal-Loss Scenarios

Regularly train for:

• sudden RSSI drops;

• manual return without video feed;

• switching to a backup link.

The better prepared the operator, the higher the chances of saving the drone.

Conclusion

It’s impossible to eliminate signal loss entirely, but proper configuration, preparation, and training greatly reduce the risks. Failsafe settings, antenna discipline, power management, and backup solutions form the foundation of safe and effective drone operations.