Drone RF Communications
RF
Drones use multiple RF links for control, telemetry, and video. Understanding these communications is essential for security assessment.
Common Frequencies
| Band | Use | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 433 MHz | Telemetry, Long range RC | 10+ km |
| 915 MHz | Telemetry (US) | 5+ km |
| 2.4 GHz | RC control, WiFi | 1-5 km |
| 5.8 GHz | Video downlink, DJI | 1-3 km |
RF Analysis Setup
bash
# Required equipment:
# - SDR (RTL-SDR, HackRF, USRP)
# - Directional antenna (Yagi, patch)
# - Spectrum analyzer (optional)
# Scan for drone signals
# GNU Radio / gqrx for visualization
# RTL-SDR scanning
rtl_power -f 2400M:2500M:1M -g 50 -i 1 scan.csv
# Analyze 2.4 GHz band
gqrx
# Set frequency to 2.4 GHz
# Look for FHSS (frequency hopping) patterns
# Decode common protocols
# DJI uses OFDM - complex to decode
# WiFi-based drones - standard tools work
# MAVLink telemetry - can be decoded