Abstract: Technology for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication system is disclosed herein that allows an UAV communication system to transition between modulation modes. In various implementations, a wireless radio of the UAV communication system operates in a dynamic modulation mode such that the wireless radio dynamically adjusts the modulation rate of a signal within a range of possible modulation rates. The wireless radio transitions to a fixed modulation mode, based at least on a current modulation rate of the signal reaching a low end of the range of possible modulation rates. When in the fixed modulation mode, the wireless radio holds the modulation rate at the low end of the range of possible modulation rates. The wireless radio returns to the dynamic modulation mode based on the quality of the signal.