Knowledge Base
General Flight Questions

FPV — Antennas for FPV Drones

An FPV antenna is responsible for transmitting the live video signal from the drone's camera to the pilot's goggles or ground station monitor, enabling real-time flight visualization. The quality, performance, and configuration of the antenna system are critical factors that directly determine the video link's range, clarity, and overall reliability.

The primary characteristic to consider when selecting an antenna is its radiation pattern or directionality, which falls into two main categories:

  • Omnidirectional Antennas radiate the signal uniformly in all horizontal directions. They are ideal for general flying, providing consistent signal coverage around the pilot's location.

  • Directional Antennas concentrate the signal energy into a focused beam. They are typically used with diversity receivers and are often paired with an omnidirectional or another directional antenna to ensure complete signal coverage in all flight directions.

Antenna systems are also distinguished by their polarization, which refers to the orientation of the radio wave's electromagnetic field:
  • Linear Polarization (LP): The electromagnetic wave oscillates in a single, fixed plane (e.g., vertically or horizontally). This is the most common type, found in standard dipole antennas that are typically supplied with Video Transmitters (VTX) and Receivers (VRX), as well as in common Wi-Fi equipment.

Standard Dipole Antenna


Linear Polarization (LP) antennas are significantly more vulnerable to multipath interference compared to Circularly Polarized (CP) antennas. The effective range of an LP antenna is highly dependent on precise alignment between the transmitter and receiver a condition difficult to maintain on a drone, which rotates continuously on multiple axes.

LP antennas remain widely used due to their simple design: they are generally more compact, lightweight, cost-effective, and easier to manufacture. In principle, LP can be an excellent choice for long-range transmission because it concentrates all energy in a single plane. For optimal reception, both the transmitting and receiving antennas must use LP and be aligned to maximize signal overlap.

Circular Polarization (CP) transmits signals in both the horizontal and vertical planes with a 90-degree phase shift, creating a rotating, corkscrew-like radiation pattern. Common examples of CP antennas include:
  • Skew Planar Wheel
  • Cloverleaf
  • Helical (Spiral) antennas

Circular Polarization (CP) Antennas

A key point about circularly polarized antennas is that the radio waves "twist" as they propagate. There are only two possible directions of rotation:

• Right-Hand Circular Polarization (RHCP)
• Left-Hand Circular Polarization (LHCP)

If a signal is transmitted using one type of CP antenna, it must be received by an antenna with the same rotational direction. This means:

• Use an RHCP receiver antenna only if the transmitter also uses RHCP.
• Use an LHCP receiver antenna only if the transmitter also uses LHCP.

Failing to match the polarization will result in significant signal loss.

A Circularly Polarized (CP) antennas are widely regarded as the optimal choice for FPV drone systems due to the following key advantages:

  • The signal maintains consistent strength regardless of the drone's orientation relative to the pilot's receiving antenna. This eliminates the signal loss associated with the misalignment common in linearly polarized systems.

  • CP antennas are highly effective at suppressing multipath interference, a primary source of noise in analog video transmission. This interference occurs when signal reflections from surfaces (like buildings or the ground) reach the receiver slightly delayed, interfering with the primary signal. It typically manifests as visual artifacts such as color shifts, static, image tearing, or complete signal dropouts.


Monopole (Asymmetric) Antenna

Monopole Antenna


  • Type: Omnidirectional, linearly polarized.
  • Common Use: Common in radio control (RC) system transmitters and receivers, and in many compact radio devices.

A monopole antenna represents the simplest fundamental antenna design. It consists of a single, unshielded conductor (the radiating element) positioned perpendicular to a conductive ground plane. This type is prevalent in consumer radio receivers due to its low cost and straightforward construction.

However, monopole antennas generally exhibit lower radiation efficiency compared to dipole antennas. Their performance is highly dependent on the electrical length of the exposed conductor, which must be carefully dimensioned to resonate at the desired operating frequency.

Dipole Antenna

Dipole Antenna


  • Type: Omnidirectional, linearly polarized.
  • Use: Standard in radio control (RC) transmitters/receivers and video transmission equipment.

Dipole antennas are a fundamental and widely used design in radio and video communication systems. They are valued for their robust and lightweight construction, offering good durability in demanding applications.

The antenna consists of two identical conductive elements, typically arranged in a straight line and fed at the center. One element functions as the active radiator, while the other acts as a counterpoise or ground plane element.

Compared to a monopole antenna, a well-designed dipole generally provides higher gain and improved radiation efficiency. However, its performance can be affected by its physical orientation relative to the ground plane; vertical mounting near conductive surfaces may reduce its effective efficiency.


Cloverleaf Antenna

Cloverleaf & Skew Planar Wheel Antennas

  • Type: Omnidirectional, circularly polarized.
  • Use: Standard for video transmitters and receivers in FPV drone systems.

The Cloverleaf and Skew Planar Wheel (SPW) are among the most prevalent antenna designs in FPV. The Cloverleaf typically features three radiating elements ("leaves"), while the SPW has four.

Similar to dipoles, these antennas provide omnidirectional coverage. Their key advantage is circular polarization, which ensures consistent signal performance regardless of the drone's orientation. This design also significantly reduces susceptibility to multipath interference, allowing for stable video transmission near obstacles like walls or trees.

A noted drawback is their relative fragility, which is why they are commonly housed in protective casings. These enclosed versions are often referred to informally as "mushroom antennas" due to their distinctive shape.

Pagoda Antenna

Pagoda Antenna


  • Type: Omnidirectional, circularly polarized.
  • Use: Video transmitters and receivers for FPV systems.

The Pagoda antenna is a modern design introduced for FPV applications circa 2016. It provides omnidirectional coverage with circular polarization and is commonly employed as a transmitter antenna.

Its distinctive stacked, multi-layer structure, fabricated from standard PCB (Printed Circuit Board) materials, results in exceptional mechanical durability and resistance to damage.

The design is also highly replicable and cost-effective for manufacture, contributing to its popularity within the DIY community. A noted trade-off is that its radiation efficiency is typically marginally lower than comparable wire-based antennas, as the fiberglass PCB substrate can introduce slightly higher dielectric losses.


Spiral Antenna

Spiral Antenna

  • Type: Directional, circular polarization.
  • Use: Long-range video receivers.
A spiral antenna is a directional, circularly polarized antenna shaped like a coil or spring. The number of turns in the coil is the primary factor determining its gain.
  • Spiral antennas with one or two turns offer performance similar to a standard patch antenna.
  • Configurations with more than six turns can dramatically increase the antenna's range and directivity.

Patch Antenna

Patch Antenna


  • Type: Directional, linear or circular polarization.
  • Primary Use: RC transmitters and long-range video receivers.

A patch antenna is a directional design that can be configured for either linear or circular polarization. It is cost-effective to manufacture as it can be produced as a printed circuit on a board substrate.

However, patch antennas typically offer lower efficiency compared to air-core designs like spiral antennas. They also generally provide less directivity (a wider beamwidth) and cover a larger reception area than high-gain spiral antennas, making them suitable for broader coverage at medium range.

Cross Antenna

Cross Antenna


  • Type: Directional, circular polarization
  • Use: Video receivers

This antenna design positions its radiating elements with an air gap in front of a solid reflector. Unlike patch antennas that use a solid material, this air-core construction makes it more efficient and improves overall signal performance.




Choosing FPV Antennas for FPV Drones


The following antenna recommendations are suitable for both analog and digital FPV systems. The key requirement is to ensure the correct polarization (RHCP or LHCP) is used consistently between the transmitter and receiver. For DJI and Walksnail systems, LHCP is the recommended standard, as it is often specified by the manufacturer or included in the factory kit. Using mismatched polarization will result in significantly degraded signal performance.

Omnidirectional antennas (best value):


The Xilo AXII from GetFPV is a reliable and cost-effective omnidirectional FPV antenna. Its main advantage is versatility, as it is available with:

  • Different connectors: SMA, RP-SMA, MMCX, and UFL
  • Different coax cables: rigid or flexible coaxial cable
  • Polarizations: RHCP and LHCP

This range of options allows for easy selection of the correct antenna to match a specific setup and budget.

XILO AXII

Rush Cherry Antenna


The Rush Cherry is an excellent budget-friendly FPV antenna, serving as a reliable alternative to the Xilo AXII, especially for users outside the USA.
Key Features:

  • Available with multiple connector types and in both RHCP and LHCP polarizations to suit various system requirements.
  • Features a robust protective housing designed to withstand crashes and hard landings, ensuring greater longevity

This combination of flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and resilience makes the Rush Cherry a strong value-oriented choice for FPV pilots.

Rush Cherry

Foxeer Lollipop Antenna

The Foxeer Lollipop antenna may not offer the highest performance on the market, but it serves as a practical choice for budget-conscious pilots seeking to upgrade from basic stock dipole antennas.
Key Features:

  • Features a durable construction with a thick plastic casing that provides solid protection.
  • Offers an affordable and reliable solution for routine FPV flying and general use.

Lollipop (VTX)

Lollipop (VRX)

Omnidirectional Antennas (Top of the Line)

Unlike classic “cloverleaf” antennas, the TrueRC Matchstick features a compact, sealed plastic housing, offering high efficiency and long-term durability.

Key features:

  • Impressive efficiency: up to 99%
  • Excellent axial ratio: cross-polarization rejection up to –30 dB
  • Great for reducing multipath interference

TrueRC Matchstick

Lumenier AXII 2 (GetFPV)

The Lumenier AXII 2 is a compact, high-reliability FPV antenna. Its unique design provides consistent omnidirectional signal coverage, ensuring strong reception even when the drone is flying behind the pilot.

Key features:

  • Available with MMCX, UFL, and SMA connectors.
  • Offered in different stem lengths for installation flexibility.
  • A versatile choice compatible with most FPV setups.

Lumenier AXII 2

TrueRC Singularity Stubby

For pilots seeking high-quality FPV antennas that add minimal weight and bulk to goggles, the TrueRC Singularity Stubby is a top-tier option.

Key points:

  • Compact and lightweight—easily stored in a gear bag.
  • Omnidirectional—delivers optimal performance when flying within the central area of your operating zone.
  • Extended Range Tip – for flights regularly reaching the edges of your range, pairing it with a directional patch antenna is recommended for improved signal strength.

TrueRC Singularity

Directional Antennas

The Menace Pico Patch is a compact and budget-friendly directional antenna. It offers wide signal coverage and solid performance, making it an excellent option for FPV drones.

Menace Pico Patch

TrueRC X-Air MKII

The TrueRC X‑Air MKII is a high-gain directional antenna designed for long-range FPV. It provides 10 dB of gain with a 120° beamwidth, giving you both significant power and a wide coverage area.

TrueRC X-Air MKII

VAS Crosshair XTREME

The VAS Crosshair XTREME is a premium directional antenna with a slim profile that fits discreetly on modern FPV goggles. While its specified gain and beamwidth are comparable to the X‑Air MKII, its Crosshair design typically offers greater efficiency than standard patch antennas.

Key features:

  • Excellent axial ratio – minimizes multipath interference for a cleaner signal.
  • Sleek, low-profile form – designed for compact, streamlined goggles.

VAS Crosshair XTREME

Antenna Performance and Cost

Antenna performance is directly tied to the quality of materials and precision of construction, which is why higher-performance antennas command a premium price.

Top-tier antennas can cost two to three times more than entry-level models, yet may only extend range by 5–10%.

Ultimately, selecting the right antenna involves balancing your budget with your understanding of antenna characteristics and your specific performance needs.