Xbee Range with/Without antenna

Projects Networking, Protocols, and Devices
1

Hie everyone i am planning on building a long "explorer" robot controlled by Xbee. The bot will be driving offroad scanning its surroundings, getting sensor readings e.t.c or just using it as an inspection robot to inspect pipes e.t.c

My issue is range. I would love internet control but the problem with that is controlling the robot via joystick over the net. The only projects i have found lack the ability to add more functions. that i would like e.g robot arm control or probing camera control.

I guess my question is that is there a big difference in range for an Xbee with/without antenna? Is the range with the antenna 1600m with antenna or without? and is an Xbee 900 better than the 2.4ghz in wall penetration?

my chosen one is this:

any suggestions for another type of wireless control through walls or a better solution to get it internet controlled will be nice! Thanks!

EDIT:
EDIT: if i bought this one with the wire antenna will i get the same range than the aforementioned one?

cheaper alternative?

2

Have you seen flutter ?

3

I guess my question is that is there a big difference in range for an Xbee with/without antenna?

Of course there is. The antenna isn't there to hang your hat on.

4

Give me a stick long enough and a pivot and I shall move the world.

Archimedes

http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=188976.msg1580756#msg1580756

900Mhz's is better than the 2400Mhz's by 267%
433Mhz's is better than the 2400Mhz's by 554%

if in urban environments;-

  • Every 12 dBm receiver sensitivity gain will be double the distance.
  • Every 12 dBi antenna gain will be double the distance.
  • Every 12 dBm Transmitter power gain will be double the distance.

in line of sight environments;-

  • Every 6 dBm receiver sensitivity gain will be double the distance.
  • Every 6 dBi antenna gain will be double the distance.
  • Every 6 dBm Transmitter power gain will be double the distance.

Just Give Me Antenna and I'll Show You the World!

5

900 MHz versus 2.4 GHz Official answer from digi.com

From this example, it is shown that operating at 900 MHz exhibits a significantly longer range than is possible at 2.4 GHz.

a little computation reveals that r=11848 meters, or a little over 7 miles.