Drone Detection
Standard commercially available drones
Standard FPV drones received controls signals from the drone operator, and the drone returns a video signal to the drone operator.
If there is terrain between you and the drone operator, you may hear the video signal, but not the control signal. For drone detection I recommend listening for the video signal.
The typical FPV drone that is commercially available in first world countries will typically have control signals on one of these bands:
868-870 MHz (Not typical in the US)
902-928 MHz
960-1020 MHz (Not typical in the US)
2.4-2.5 GHz
The typical video signals will be on the 5.8 GHz band:
5.8-5.9 GHz
5.6-5.8 GHz (Not typical in the US)
Alternative control signals
The "Supercam" drones have some alternate bands for their control signals:
865-870 MHz
880-885 MHz
960-965 MHz
965-970 MHz
990-995 MHz
995-1000 MHz
1000-1005 MHz
1005-1010 MHz
1015-1020 MHz
There have also been reports of alternative control signals on 422-476 MHz and 2.1-2.4 GHz.
Jamming
If you attempt to jam the video signal, your jamming signal may not reach the operator. Analog video signals are also typically more resistant to jamming. Attempting to jam the control signal may work better, but you may not know what frequencies the control signal is due to terrain blocking you from the transmitter. In addition, some control signals will "frequency hop" making it harder to jam with cheap equipment.
The TinySA Ultra is a signal generator, but in order for it to work as a jammer, but you will need an amplifier and you will only be able to jam a single frequency, which will not work against frequency hopping signals.
GPS jamming may help against automated drones not controlled by a human.
Video signals don't typically "frequency hop" so they are easier to jam, but there is a report of a Russian drone being capable of switching to one alternate frequency mid-flight.
Nonstandard drones
While most likely you will detect video signals from drones on the 5.8 GHz band, there are reasons a drone will not be transmitting video on 5.8 GHz.
Fiber Optic Drones
Some drones in Ukraine are now using fiber optic cable to carry the video signal. These have been used by both sides. I suspect this is a symmetrical war phenomena and not likely in a assymetrical war or civil unrest. It might happen, but it increases drone cost and only helps against high tech threats.
Due to the cost of optical fiber, the weaker side of a war is not as likely to use them. And due to cost of good jammers, the weaker side is not likely to use good jammers which removes some of the incentive for the stronger side to use optical fiber.
Satellite controlled drones
Some drones, such as military drones and some very expensive commercially available drones will use two way satellite connections, including Starlink. These are more likely to be long range observation drones, and possibly equipped with air to ground missiles.
GPS automated drones
Some GPS enabled drones can be programmed to fly a specific route and then return to the operator without relying on control signals, meaning possibly longer flight paths. GPS jamming can cause these drones to either trigger an auto-landing, or continue on current path until a clean signal can be re-established. More likely to be used for observation, but potentially can be used to target a building with explosives.
AI automated drones
AI video detection has been improving, and some people are making drones that are capable of flying based on sight instead of GPS.
K9 Defense Tech has been working to make this a possibility for civilians, not just for the military industrial complex.
Alternative video signal bands
Some of these are probably illegal in your country, but you should know they exist so you can look for them.
Some video signals from DJI drones can be seen on 2.4GHz or on 5.1-5.8GHz, depending on legality of country.
Here is a video transmitter that can be used from 3170-3470MHz.
Another video transmitter for 1080MHz-1360MHz
Here is a video transmitter that has 12 channels between 0.9-1.4 GHz.
HC1: 910 MHz
HC2: 980 MHz
HC3: 1010 MHz
HC4: 1040 MHz
HC5: 1080 MHz
HC6: 1120 MHz
HC7: 1160 MHz
HC8: 1200 MHz
HC9: 1240 MHz
HC10: 1280 MHz
HC11: 1320 MHz
HC12: 1360 MHz
And now one transmitter that has 8 channels between 0.9-1.2 GHz.
Conclusion
I recommend watching these bands, but watching too much bandwidth will reduce your ability to identify the frequency and type of different signals.
0.85-1.4 GHz
2.1-2.5 GHz
5.1-5.9 GHz
Video signals are usually wide signals that do not change frequencies. Control signals are likely the thinner signals that hop around frequencies inside a band. Keep in mind inside a city you will likely find Wi-Fi signals around 2.4 to 2.5 GHz, as well as various users on 900 MHz and 5.8 GHz bands. Wi-Fi signals are frequency hopping. You should build a baseline of the typical RF spectrum in your area so that when something different shows up, it'll stand out to you. Video will be the easiest to see.
Last updated
