826 replies to this topic

[kevinv033]

Sounds like a good plan to me. Always start out simple. FPV can be a headache of you try to install all of the bells and whistles first without completely understanding the equipment and what piece serves what function. This simplicity will help your trouble shooting skills later on when the inevitable situation occurs that you are having video transmission issues.

[juz]

^^ +1. well said...

[johnnycat500]

After 2 weeks of waiting for my HK 5.8 starter fpv kit it is here. I am a complete newbie to fpv, so before I even put power to it, I would like it looked over.

1. as in the pic are the wires for the vtx to close to the rx or does that matter.

2. Do I set the channel for the predator vrx on the fatsharks or do I have to use the dip switches on the vtx. [ predators ]

3. I am using a 3s 2200 batt. The fatshark vtx and camera are powered off the balance plug of the batt ?

4. I have a ezosd that I will put on later. Will the osd be ok where I have them placed in the pic.

Thanks for your advice

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Edited by johnnycat500, 20 April 2012 - 01:13 AM.

[kevinv033]

I would get a hold of a Cloverleaf and Skew Planar Wheel CP antenna set. If you do decide to use the whips, you may want to make sure they will have clear LOS between them. Could you hang it for the bottom? I had much trouble with the 5.8 whips. If the lipo or frame got between the antennas, it would drop the signal. I had a hard time flying like that.

[johnnycat500]

Thanks for the suggestion kevin,I put it on the bottom. I tried it out a little in the driveway, but I need to get the diopter lens. It all fuzzy so I am not going to even try without the lens LOL Hope you find your tri today.

[thefokker]

Hey guys all these stories of lost fpv rigs is frightening to say the least. I feel for the guys searching right now,and hope others read there posts, and take some steps to prevent this to happening to them.

Alex aka Enthlapy, and I have been talking about this. Call us wimps or whatever, but we never go too far, and most importantly we almost never fly without a spotter. We have saved each other a few times. I lost vid link at the dunes, screamed out lost it. Alex grabbed tx flipped to attitude mode and flew for a few moments while my signal came back. I just crashed a few weeks ago from some decent altitude, and if it wasnt for alex having a good idea where it went into the woods, I may have not found it. I am getting a lost model alarm for sure. These stories that have happened scare the crap out of me. LemaLifes quad is gone no amount of searching will bring that 1 back. Kev is hopefully going to find his tri. Theres others, and there all heart wrenching to read.

[jbkappirossi]

i was looking around quite a bit lately. but seeing Lema his setup i'm having second doubts???
I'm also on a 2.4GHZ Controller as many others, i was planning on buying a VTX that runs on 1.3GHZ to.

What can you guys sequest for VRX bandwith wile using a 2.4GHZ rc controller?
and how far do bolth need to get boost for a comfortable range?

[Terrier]

If you're really worried about losing your quad on an FPV flight, get one of these:

http://fmtv.us/rf_beacon.html

You can find it with just a hand-held walkie-talkie.


There's an FPV-Community thread that has an instructional video here:

http://fpv-community...p?tid=81&page=8

There are prolly cheaper ones out there, but something along these lines oughta work pretty well.
Pretty cheap insurance for your rig... I figure I'll get one when I put together a full-sized FPV set-up.

Edited by Terrier, 22 April 2012 - 11:59 AM.

[kevinv033]

Hey guys all these stories of lost fpv rigs is frightening to say the least. I feel for the guys searching right now,and hope others read there posts, and take some steps to prevent this to happening to them. Alex aka Enthlapy, and I have been talking about this. Call us wimps or whatever, but we never go too far, and most importantly we almost never fly without a spotter. We have saved each other a few times. I lost vid link at the dunes, screamed out lost it. Alex grabbed tx flipped to attitude mode and flew for a few moments while my signal came back. I just crashed a few weeks ago from some decent altitude, and if it wasnt for alex having a good idea where it went into the woods, I may have not found it. I am getting a lost model alarm for sure. These stories that have happened scare the crap out of me. LemaLifes quad is gone no amount of searching will bring that 1 back. Kev is hopefully going to find his tri. Theres others, and there all heart wrenching to read.

Staying close and having a spotter is also a good thing. I don't normally fly with a spotter, but I tend to keep it close. I like to stay within 700-800 ft of my GS.

[juz]

I don't have the luxury of a spotter. Might be impossible (sometimes) to see my machine through the trees anyhow. I fly up to 1km, and have plans of flying further. I know the price that I might pay (losing my quadcopter), but as I go further I am providing tools to help in the search of a downed bird. Lost model finder, GS recording, OSD, flight plan and local knowledge.

[kevinv033]

I don't have the luxury of a spotter. Might be impossible (sometimes) to see my machine through the trees anyhow. I fly up to 1km, and have plans of flying further. I know the price that I might pay (losing my quadcopter), but as I go further I am providing tools to help in the search of a downed bird. Lost model finder, GS recording, OSD, flight plan and local knowledge.

I don't usually have a spotter either. I'm going to start using lost model alarms now too.

[David J]

I've just added 2 'lost plane' bleepers to an order for some new props... I know they have limitations (like they don't work if the battery falls off) but they're cheap, small and light, and could prove useful in the event of a fly-away.

The time my quad flew away I only found it after the low-voltage alarm started to sound - and I don't use them any more as I have battery telemetry. Maybe I need to get GPS telemetry...

[thefokker]

All I can say is you guys have a bigger set a swinging than I do , if you catch my drift lol. I get nervous by myself.

Im not saying your doing anything wrong. Just stating a safe way to fly fpv. A good rule of thumb if you have the luxury of a flyin buddy. Me, I am lucky to have at least a dozen flyin nuts close by that love flying on the weekends. Juz keep doin what your doin everyone loves your vids, and builds. You are probably the biggest inspiration to all fpv multi pilots. Myself included.

I don't have the luxury of a spotter. Might be impossible (sometimes) to see my machine through the trees anyhow. I fly up to 1km, and have plans of flying further. I know the price that I might pay (losing my quadcopter), but as I go further I am providing tools to help in the search of a downed bird. Lost model finder, GS recording, OSD, flight plan and local knowledge.

For sure, lost model beacon is on my to buy list. Again not trying to tell anyone they are doing anything wrong.
You my friend are also a great inspiration and help to all the fpv multi guys.

I don't usually have a spotter either. I'm going to start using lost model alarms now too.

[nathan8887]

So.... GPS telemetry recorded on your ground station and a hand held GPS to go searching..... & lost signal alarm.... & RF beacon... & strobe light!!
and another bucket of CA$H but I guess if it helps find your pride & joy just once it'd be worth it.
I assume the main problem with GPS telemetry is when you loose video feed and then crash?!?!

[Steverino]

I finally received my FPV equipment and tried it out for the first time this evening. The video that shows the equipment and my first flight is at .

Flying FPV was much harder than I expected. I kept having to look at the quad under the gogles because I felt very disoriented when I was only looking through the goggles. It's was hard for me to know exactly where the quad was in relation to the ground and everything else. You can only see directly in front and don't know what's right beside you or above or below you. I was afraid I would fly the quad too far away. It was hard for me to know if the quad was going fast or slow. I thought flying FPV was going to be easier than LOS, but I think I'm going to have to learn to fly all over again. I wasn't expecting for it to be this difficult. I guess after I practice some and get a feel for it, I'll be okay. The good news is I did not feel any motion sickness. That was my biggest worry. I see now I'll have to be very careful to get visual clues from everything I see in the goggles. If I can see the horizon, I'll be able to stay level. But it's tough to find a place where I can see the horizon in my area unless I fly above the trees. I'm using a HobbyKing FC and I'm sure it would be easier if I had a Copter Control or CC3D FC. I also think t would also be easier if I had an OSD that showed me a artificial horizon, altitude, air speed and a pointer to 'home' so I can find my way back if necessary. I think I'd feel a lot more comfortable flying FPV if I had that info on an OSD. I'm thinking about getting this one. In the meantime, I'd love to hear any suggestions the pros here can give a noob.

[Maineiack]

http://www.lostmodel....com/LMA-P.html

found this this morning,,,,

[actionplus]

I have this camera which I bought a year back. Planning to use it now. Finally!
I can seem to find the cable for it. Been trying to find out the actual connector for it too, but can't seem to find any info on it.
Does anyone know the pin outs/connector info for this unit?

Camera:
Intelligent Flight DIGITAL
Flight CCD Camera
Model No: IF-FLT01CDN
PAL

Thanks

[johnnycat500]

I want to hook up my ezosd. What does the sensor board do. In the manual you can hook it up without the sensor board. Is that the way to go? thanks.

[chatch15117]

if you are doing FPV i don't think there is any excuse not to get a UHF r/c system if you want 1280 or 2.4GHz video. even with a low pass filter my frsky lost range at 300 meters. i've had two failsafes(about .25 second loss) on my dragonlink and i've had about 250 flights on my quad.


72MHz PCM will get you by, but it's a lot better to get a $50 turnigy 9x and dragon link.

Edited by chatch15117, 12 May 2012 - 11:05 PM.

[johnnycat500]

My fpv is 5.8. Using spectrum 2.4 At this point just starting out, don't know very much about fpv hardware.