Choosing a Verolink System
Start with a few key questions about your platform and mission profile.
The correct link choice depends on required range, aircraft size, payload and operating environment. Answering the questions below will usually narrow the choice to one or two Verolink models:
- What maximum range do you need (60 / 100 / 150 / 200 / 300 km)?
- Which platform: small VTOL, mid-size VTOL, fixed-wing, large fixed-wing, ground robot?
- Is video the main payload, or primarily telemetry and command data?
- What RF environment: rural, coastal, mountainous, urban or mixed?
- What limits apply on frequency and power output in your country or project?
As a simple starting point:
- P33: small platforms, missions up to ~60 km.
- P37: general industrial VTOL/fixed-wing, up to ~100 km.
- P40: longer corridors and coastal routes, up to ~150 km.
- P43: large UAV platforms, up to ~200 km.
- P46: extreme-range and strategic missions, up to ~300 km.
- T900: telemetry and command links up to ~200 km with modest data rate.
Send a brief description of your platform and mission to sales@verolink.com and Verolink can double-check whether your initial choice is reasonable.
Basic Link Budget Concept
Link budget is about understanding how much signal is left at the receiver after all gains and losses.
A simple link budget considers transmitter power, antenna gain on both sides, free-space path loss, cable/connector losses and receiver sensitivity. On top of that, a fade margin is added to cover multi-path, weather and other random effects.
- Higher power or higher-gain antennas improve link margin.
- Longer distances and higher frequencies increase path loss.
- Bad antenna placement or cabling can destroy otherwise good link budgets.
Even high-power systems perform poorly if antennas are shadowed by the airframe, mounted too low, or misaligned with the ground station. Conversely, careful antenna placement and tracking antennas can dramatically improve performance without changing the radio itself.
When you contact Verolink, include details like:
- Where antennas will be mounted on the aircraft and on the ground.
- Typical flight altitudes and distances.
- Planned antenna types (omni, sector, dish, tracking, etc.).
- Any known interference sources (cell towers, radar, etc.).
With that information, Verolink can provide practical suggestions on antenna gain, tracking options and suitable Verolink models for your use case.
Need Further Help?
If you would like a quick sanity check on your planned link setup, send a one-page overview to Verolink.
Email sales@verolink.com with a short description of your aircraft, mission distances, payload, link type (video + data or telemetry only) and regulatory constraints. Verolink can help you confirm whether a given P-series or T-series model is appropriate and suggest antenna options.
