Tried using an old WiFi router as a backup VTX receiver, just got video interference on my FPV goggles from my own microwave

So I had this old Linksys router sitting around and figured I'd wire it into my ground station as a secondary receiver for race day backup. Plugged it in, got a solid picture for about 10 minutes, then everything went to static every time my roommate nuked a burrito. Didn't think microwaves could mess with 5.8GHz that bad at 30 feet. Learned my lesson: don't cheap out on dedicated video receivers, and maybe keep your race setup away from the kitchen. Has anyone else had appliances kill their video feed mid-flight?

2 comments

2 Comments

miller.jason5d ago

Microwaves are legit 2.4GHz mostly but they throw off crazy harmonics. Had a buddy lose his feed mid-gate once because someone microwaved popcorn in the pits. Old routers also bleed RF noise like crazy since they aren't shielded for video. Ditch that Linksys before it costs you a race.

campbell.robin3d ago

I moved my ground station to the other side of the house and wrapped the router in foil tape, which fixed most of the static.

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