825 replies to this topic

[Enthlapy]

I’m hoping we can get a sticky with links/guides to help newcomers that want to try FPV. For those of you who FPV please chime in and share.

Here are some I have found to be useful and share with anyone that asks me about FPV.
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Links
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http://www.rcgroups....d.php?t=1355327

http://videoaerialsy...ide-to-success/

http://www.rcgroups....d.php?t=1567954

http://www.readymade..._page=page&id=9

http://team-blacksheep.com/articles

[url="http://rcexplorer.se...tion-explained/[/url]

[url="hhttp://rcexplorer.se...g-antenna-gain//url]

[url="http://rcexplorer.se...starting-guide/[/url]

http://dragonlinkstore.com/v2/node/22

USA only : http://www.antennasearch.com/

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Video's
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View on Vimeo










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Useful tools

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http://www.rcgroups....d.php?t=1402665

http://www.diy-buy.c...eter_p9248.html


http://fpvlab.com/fo...ourself-project

http://fpvlab.com/fo...r-DIY-SWR-Meter

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DIY Antennas!
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http://www.truerc.ne...reventtutor.pdf

http://www.truerc.ne...an tutorial.pdf

http://www.rcgroups....er.php?u=103113


http://rcexplorer.se...as/SPW/SPW.html

http://rcexplorer.se...nnas/CL/CL.html

http://rcexplorer.se.../hwwa/hwwa.html
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Mods
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http://rcexplorer.se...14/saw/saw.html

http://rcexplorer.se...o/180servo.html

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DIY OSD

http://www.rcgroups....d.php?t=1473207

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FPV Wiring Diagrams
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http://forums.openpi...iring-diagrams/



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[dankers]

I've pinned this as the question comes up a lot. Nice idea.

[Enthlapy]

There is an awesome video from about a year ago, where a guy modeled some antennas and did a great explanation how polarization works. However i cannot seem to find it. I think Pete will know what I'm talkin about .

[KellyR]

Great idea & great links! I also found this page, among others, on the DragonLabs site helpful.

http://dragonlinkstore.com/v2/node/22

[Enthlapy]

Great idea & great links! I also found this page, among others, on the DragonLabs site helpful.

http://dragonlinkstore.com/v2/node/22

Awsome, added it to the top! TY!

[mk1spitfire]

Antennas 101 - Polarization, Diversity & Gain Patterns

View on Vimeo

Edited by mk1spitfire, 07 March 2012 - 10:11 PM.

[Enthlapy]

Antennas 101 - Polarization, Diversity & Gain Patterns

View on Vimeo

THATS THE ONE!!!! TY SIR!

[timbocan]

Yes ; thats the one.
i watched it the other day . and thought it was very helpfull.
i then went looking for a Diversity-Patch antena. could find plenty of patch antena's , but not one with both in one.
i remember something about , haveing two patch, with one 90deg from the other. at the time i thought they ment for wider
flying coverage.
it's pouring down , so today i think i'll start at the top , and read - watch the links you have all added.
good stuff; you've out done your self agian.

[Enthlapy]

Yes ; thats the one.
i watched it the other day . and thought it was very helpfull.
i then went looking for a Diversity-Patch antena. could find plenty of patch antena's , but not one with both in one.
i remember something about , haveing two patch, with one 90deg from the other. at the time i thought they ment for wider
flying coverage.
it's pouring down , so today i think i'll start at the top , and read - watch the links you have all added.
good stuff; you've out done your self agian.

I think Ready Made Rc Has some but honeslty a real diversity with a Omni and a directional antenna is going to be your best and easiest choise. If you make your own antennas they it will be super cheap with the exception of the diversity. Ive used the Eagle Eye Ground station and has worked perfectly so far.


Becareful of any RSSI based diversity's, they can be fooled by static / being over powered by another freq. as in my case, however there are people who have used/made them with little to no issues.

[Enthlapy]

Hmmm, maybe we should move this to general? This can be used for just about any aircraft/vehicle.

[timbocan]

i have the Eagle Eye ground station on the way, some where out there in mail land.
i am hopeing to set up a grab bag like Juz. his looks to be doing a good job.
more research, no rest for the wicked.

[thefokker]

Antennas 101 is the best video for explaining how your video system works. I had a true Ah Ha moment after watching vid. Great post for anyone wanting to get into fpv.

Alex add this link to the top, I think it is a great read for anyone interested in FPV, and one of my favorites.
http://www.rcgroups....d.php?t=1567954


Here is the 10 things copied from the above post on rcg. #1 #2 #4 #5 are my faves

Lesson 1) Start simple. I initially did a ton of research and bought every component I thought I wanted. (OSD, Autopilot, TX, RX, goggles, diversity, antenna tracking, head-tracking, etc.). I spent countless hours trying to get it all working together before I even attempted my first flight. I figured my technical prowess made me somehow immune to the KISS rule and I'd be fine diving in head first. All I accomplished was making myself frustrated.

Eventually, I stripped the system down to the bare minimum (Camera, transmitter, receiver, and LCD screen) and just FLEW (with a spotter, of course). It was AWESOME! I landed the plane, took it home, and added the pan-tilt system, then flew again. Then I added the goggles, and flew again. I learned that each component made the experience completely new again, and even more complex. The downside? It takes a LOT of time. Like most of you, I have a day-job and a family, which means LIMITED time to work on this stuff.

Besides, had I managed to get myself flying with all the gizmos on day-1, I likely would have crashed due to "too many moving parts". Despite having a nearly unlimited budget, and lots of technical prowess in both electronics and radios, I was eventually forced to walk before I could run.

Accept the fact that it's going to take you a few weeks (or months) to get all the toys working, and focus on the small victories.

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Lesson 2) The little things matter. A LOT. I really thought the "little things" were for people trying to squeeze an extra half-mile out of their setup, or trying to make the picture just a little more clear. I was dead wrong. It turns out, the little things are the difference between amazing success and complete failure. When someone tells you that you ought to install a filter somewhere, or shield your wires, or move your GPS a little further from your transmitter, DO IT. I learned that these (seemingly) little things can have more of an impact then spending hundreds of dollars on newer / better gear. And in some cases, they're the ONLY solution.

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Lesson 3) A lot of this gear doesn't work with each other. Do a LOT of homework before you buy stuff to make sure it's all going to be compatible. (Example, I bought a pair of FoxTech goggles, only to learn that the built-in receiver wouldn't work with my ImmersionRC transmitter!). A little research before my purchase would have saved me a lot of headaches here. It simply did not occur to me that a 5.8ghz receiver might not be compatible with another 5.8ghz transmitter. Another example? None of the head-tracking systems will work with my JR-9503. Choose your gear carefully.

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Lesson 4) When deciding whether you should be using 5.8ghz, 2.4ghz, 1.2ghz, or 900mhz -- the answer REALLY IS "it depends". I just couldn't come to grips with the idea that there would be such dramatic difference between these. Here's the rub: There are pros and cons to each (you should do enough research to know EXACTLY what those pros and cons are). But in the end, it really depends on where you happen to be standing. A half-mile in any given direction might completely change your choice. So how do you pick? The truth it, you're probably going to end up trying them all.

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Lesson 5) We all dream of flying 15+ miles and zooming around the countryside, but it's not realistic until you've got years of experience. I know, I thought I was immune to this rule too. I figured if I spent enough money and bought top of the line everything, and all the different gear I needed, I'd have my plane flying 10+ miles within a week or two. "Surely", I thought, "the only reason MOST people aren't flying those distances is because of budget, or lack of RF knowledge". I got humbled REALLY quick. My first flight where I flew beyond the range of my spotter was an immense victory (it was probably my 10th flight). I'm still aiming for the 2-mile mark. Set your goals small, and know that big goals mean big-time experience.

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Lesson 6) This stuff is actually not that complex, but if you're not comfortable holding a soldering iron, it's probably not for you. Lots of wire cutting, splicing, soldering, and other such fun. At first, I wanted to avoid all that and try to get something that would "just work". After dozens of hours and countless dollars trying to do just that, I picked up a soldering iron a fit of frustration one day and realized it's MUCH easier to just build the things you need than it is to try and find / order everything.

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Lesson 7) A little understanding of RF theory goes a long way. Thank heavens I came into this with tons of ham radio experience, so I understood simple concepts like why you don't want to run a transmitter without an antenna, why the orientation of the antenna matters so much, or why 500mw on 5.8ghz is less effective than 200mw on 900mhz. Get your ham radio license and really understand what's in the test rather than just memorizing the Q&A.

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Lesson 8) The gear works, but it's not commercial grade by any standard. I was surprised to find that most of this stuff comes straight from China, it's poorly (if ever) documented, and it's really up to you to figure out how to make it all work together. While not the end of the world, it certainly was not what I was expecting to be getting myself into. The fact that the gear is not particularly robust makes it all the more important to spend the time to get it EXACTLY right, and test it, test it, and test it some more.

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Lesson 9) To whatever extent possible, try to be alone. I'm not saying you should fly without a spotter (you should have a spotter, especially when you're new). But I learned quickly that if I was with a group, there was a lot of pressure to perform. I learned that my time in the field was best spent when I could spend as much time as I needed on a particular problem, without feeling the pressure of having other folks watching or waiting. Find a wide open space where you can tweak, fly, repeat as much as you need.

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Lesson 10) The guys here in rcgroups are actually super nice and helpful as long as you approach them with the appropriate level of humility. I've been extremely impressed with the community here. Ask your question nicely, provide the relevant detail, and explain clearly the results you are trying to achieve. Then, re-read your post to make sure you don't sound like a whiny little ass before you submit. Be prepared to do a lot of reading (sometimes answers to questions come in the form of long threads). Be understanding if nobody wants to repeat what's already been discussed.

Edited by thefokker, 08 March 2012 - 03:08 PM.

[kevinv033]

Very nice.

A lot of the points to become successful seem to be covered here already!

I really can't stress number 1 in the above post enough. K.I.S.S. will get you success and confidence faster than thinking you can get all of these things working right away.

• Understand your gear and it's limitations before adding more pieces.
• Learn how to wire your gear properly.
• Keep your wiring as short as possibly.
• The only stupid questions are the ones that don't get asked...

[thefokker]

I agree #1 is great. I like to just slap stuff together and see if it works. I have a wife and kid so my time is at a premium. My apprentice 2 mile setup literally took me an hour to hot glue/tape the camera and vid tx. Its worked great and have never touched it since.

Personally #5 is a great point. I have heard many people say "I am going 5+ miles out", and I have never seen them go more than 1 mile if that. Its tough to work on something and fly it beyond visual sight. I have gone out 2 miles, but I had a tested and working RTH system to bring my baby back in case of video or rc link loss.

FPV is awesome its the most fun I have had, and a true dream come true! It takes patience(your gonna fail at some point, push through it), time(building and research), and $$$$$$$$$$!

[Enthlapy]

its been up there

[PT_Dreamer]

Noob question, what is the exact frequency used on 2.4 and 5.8GHz?

[Enthlapy]

2414, 2432, 2450, 2468 Immersion http://www.readymade...&products_id=55

2414, 2432, 2450, 2468, 2370, 2390, 2490, 2510. Fox Tech http://www.foxtechfp...-mic-p-177.html






5740, 5760, 5780, 5800, 5820, 5840, Immersion http://www.readymade...products_id=266

5705, 5665, 5885, 5925, 5685, 5645, 5905, 5945 Foxtech http://www.foxtechfp...txrx-p-246.html

[PT_Dreamer]

2414, 2432, 2450, 2468 Immersion http://www.readymade...&products_id=55

2414, 2432, 2450, 2468, 2370, 2390, 2490, 2510. Fox Tech http://www.foxtechfp...-mic-p-177.html






5740, 5760, 5780, 5800, 5820, 5840, Immersion http://www.readymade...products_id=266

5705, 5665, 5885, 5925, 5685, 5645, 5905, 5945 Foxtech http://www.foxtechfp...txrx-p-246.html

So when you guys build your antennas do you use the exact measures for a particular channel or just use the central frequency measures?

[Enthlapy]

I do yes, however I am also guilty of using a 910mhz antenna for 1280. (Think of live feeds)

[Gundamnitpete]

So when you guys build your antennas do you use the exact measures for a particular channel or just use the central frequency measures?

Depends in the antenna really. It's always beat to built for the freq you are using, but most of the DIY antennas are fairly wide and. For 5.8/2.4 cloverleafs there's about 200mhz or so where the antenna works beat. It's within range of all channels.

Also the 2.4ghz lawmate gear works on the same frequencies as foxtech.