DISCUSSION : Video Goggles 101

[rawlmark]

Sentry, is there any particular reason you chose the Aviator Edition rather than the Base Edition Fatsharks?

[SENTRY]

Yes - there is a reason.

VERSATILTY

For instance - the P51 we just put together - you're not gonna get more than 10 minutes - and it's not a plane that is ready for long range. So I can just grab the goggles and go to the field (as long as the plane is setup on Airwave vTx). This is perfect when you need a quick FPV fix - no ground-station - no tripod - just grab the plane, goggles, tx and go.

Alternatively... if it's an FPV meet, or if I'm taking a plane that has a long(er) on-station time or can go long range I can plug the goggles in direct to the ground station and by-pass integrated vRx. Then I can see video from whatever frequency the GS is setup on bc @ that point and they perform just like regular goggles.

Yes it sucks setting up a plane on Airwave (bc it has to accept wifi interference) - but that's still a load of fun in a hurry to just toss up a rig, get my fix and then go home. To always need the ground-station / tripod(s) etc would make me mad - LOL.

[rawlmark]

Perfect answer. Can you power them from the GS also?

[SENTRY]

Perfect answer. Can you power them from the GS also?

Yes - as long as the goggles get proper power they don't care where it comes from. :)

[Derek_S]

Also with the integrated rx you can use it as a repeater setup; I do that with my Foxtech Goggles. I use 1.28 in the air, and my GS output goes to a 2.4ghz 15mw TX that my goggles receive. So I have no wires tying me to the GS. This is realllly nice, especially for hand launching. And, with LRS, it is nice to keep the LRS Tx farther away fro the GS Rx's, so I can stand 10-20' away from the systems.

[rawlmark]

Sentry, that's exactly what I want to start with. I've gathered a bunch of parts for my GS and will build that out for longer flights, but i'm with you, I've got a great field behind my office I want to be able to just throw a plain at and go...

Derek_S, that's a great idea. I think I'll use it :cool: Is there any delay in transmission to the goggles?

[rawlmark]

How far will 10mW on 2.4GHz go? My plan would be to get the FatShark Aviators with the 10mW Receiver to start with in the plane, and then move that to the GS once it's built.

[SENTRY]

I never thought about the repeater-station idea Derek. That's great if you're running a LRS and need a little separation from your GS to keep everything happy and don't want a 30 foot cord. :) I've seen people fly on the smaller vTx - but in the end if you ever burn one out and need a spare to put on a plane you'd want a little more than 10mw ( depending on the noise floor and how far you want to fly).

[Derek_S]

I am not sure how for a 10mw can be expected to go, but it should easily get you the 10-20 feet you like for a repeater. There is no percievable delay to me while flying, it travels pretty much the speed of light I guess.

I am actually converting my repeater to 5.8 as soon as the vtx gets here from china so I can still use it and fly with 2.4 users.

[airbagit13]

Just make sure to buy the 2.4ghz FS and not the 5.8ghz like I bought. Of course after I made my purchase I found out that 5.8ghz signal degrades quicker then any other frequency out there. Its like one second I have video and one second I dont, no in between. I will probably never use the built in RX again.

[PnoT]

I've been debating which set of goggles to get a for a while and those are FS 2.4, 5.8, or AIO from Fox.

My needs are split and is really what's causing me to have such a hard time. I originally started off with a DX8 and now have a Futaba 9CAP as well because of some of the limitations with the DX8 currently. The DX8 will work with a LRS or HT (if i hold the trainer port button down the whole time) but not both as it will not accept ppm in/out at the same time like the Futabas will. Tim, from RMRC, had thought of a way to get the DX8 to do both but the AIO goggles wont' do ppm reprocess mode. He mentioned going from the trainer port to the goggles and on the return line from the goggles go straight to the LRS. In order for that to work the goggles need to support the reprocess mode which overwrites 2 of the channels.

The bottom line on the DX8 is to stick with an LRS and no HT and hope for some new goggles that support what I need.

The Futaba... heck anything goes on that puppy but I still hate the fact I need a separate Tx.

I can't make up my mind on whether to buy the AIO and use the Futaba and LRS or get a cheaper pair of the FS and wait for a new version to come out. I also would probably just use either of the goggles for a repeater and was thinking about going with the 5.8 if i did go FS. I'd hate to go 2.4 on the FS and someone turn on their radio next to me and blow out my video :p

I have also heard the AIO have, or seem to have, better optics. Can someone confirm =)

[SENTRY]

I think the optics can be TECHNICALLY compared with numbers... but the reality is that viewing experience is kinda "personal" (this apple pie tastes better than that one - lol). I have viewed the AIOs and I own the FS 2.4s. I like the picture better in my goggles, but I like the integrated head-tracker in the AIOs. But I also like the price of the FS over the AIOs...

[Mark Hitchman]

I liked the idea of the 5.8Ghz fatsharks, retransmitting the video signal that is received by your Yagi or whatever on 900, 1200 or 2400, then you can fly 20km away and walk around wherever you want knowing you good antenna are receiving the distant signal not the antenna on your head. Have not got any yet though.

Mark

[airbagit13]

Mark it sounds like a good idea but once you put on the FS goggles the whole world is black, all you can see is the screen. Walking around would be very difficult and risky. It would be easy to trip over your GS or just plain trip and fall on the floor. With my headplay goggles it was a different story because you could see the world around you while wearing the goggles but with the Fatsharks that is not the case.

I do like your idea of sending my 900mhz GS signal wireless so I will definitely have to look into that.

[NDw]

I have the fs base ands if I was buying again(and had the money) I'd go with the ones with the 2.4ghz built in. I fly about 50% los as somtimes I just can't be bothered dragging the rx around and setting it up.

[airbagit13]

Yup +1 for 2.4ghz FS. I may try to trade someone my 5.8ghz for some 2.8ghz ones.

[msev]

How do the Fatsharks and Headplays compare in terms of "feeling of big screen size"..I already know that the HP have greater resolution than FS...How about the cheapo 320*240 ones (in terms of screen size feeling :) )

[airbagit13]

Fatsharks have the widest FOV of any Goggle on the market. I have had both HP and Fatsharks and the screen is much larger on the Sharks.

[rcmike]

I am using the Foxtech goggles and using the 2.4 TX from a trimersion headset to repeat the signal from my GS to the goggles. The video quality is great and the head tracker works really well. I only found one minor problem with my goggles. The volume doesn't work on the audio output. It is full volume all the time. I asked about it on the thread on RCGroups but never really got an answer. Even with that though, I am very happy with them.

[jimmaplesong]

The volume doesn't work on the audio output. It is full volume all the time. I asked about it on the thread on RCGroups but never really got an answer. Even with that though, I am very happy with them.

The Fatshark goggles' volume is also up all the way all the time.... but they come with earbuds that have a volume control inline in the earbud's cord. Maybe the Foxtech took the same apporach...

[Derek_S]

I have Aios. I like the picture better than Fatsharks. Maybe it is a matter of what you get use to. For me FS sit too close to my face, almost right on it, and the wide FOV distorts the picture at the edges, and distorts color as well. With Sentry's goggles I have to close one eye to see through them well, which is very weird. They are just ot close for my to focus well. The wider FOV is at a price, of course. Other than that they seem good.

I like the silicon of the AIO, as it pulls them away from my face and strain seems less on my eyes. Also I would imagine this helps with fogging in hot months?
The head tracker works well, and it has a dual band rx in it for both 2.4 and 5.8 reception. This is really sweet, and I also use a repeater to send my 1280mhz signal to my goggles via 5.8ghz.

Disadvantages are that they are not compatible with immersion/airwaves (they are lawmate channel compatible though) and they have no diopter adjustment. Also if you use the external battery plug (they can also be powered form the Tx trainer port) it is more cumbersome and not as well placed as the FS one. Also currently no faom sheilding is available which many people prefer, only silicon. Also the antenna for them is RP-SMA, which is unusual for us, so maybe considered a disadvantage.

[airbagit13]

Ive noticed a little problem with my Fatsharks recently.

I fly in Miami with the sun usually blazing directly on me and I noticed that when the fatsharks get really really hot they start to loose picture. I am not sure if it is my fatsharks or if it is the TX on my plane getting hot.

[Derek_S]

Wear some kind of big hat to keep the sun off of them?
http://www.completelybonkers.co.uk/images/49310xl.jpg

[airbagit13]

Hey where did you find that picture of me? Lol, yeah I am going to start wearing one of those dorky fishing hats to shade them from the sun.

[SENTRY]

Ive noticed a little problem with my Fatsharks recently.

I fly in Miami with the sun usually blazing directly on me and I noticed that when the fatsharks get really really hot they start to loose picture. I am not sure if it is my fatsharks or if it is the TX on my plane getting hot.

Greg (Goldcraft) says the same thing. I keep mine in the "Crown Royal" bag unless I'm using it. But after reading about this I would def put a towel over my head if in direct sunlight. I'm sure that there is a model number for the screens in there - or maybe Greg (from Fatshark) can help you get new ones?

[airbagit13]

New screens for what?

Yeah it was a problem, I was actually lucky to get my plane back. I was about a mile out when I started loosing picture, by the time I landed my whole screen was black except a little pinhole of picture in the middle. 1 more minute and I would have never found my way home.

[SENTRY]

^^ I was referring to the guy with the burnt pixels - my bad. LOL. The heat issue was told to me by Goldcraft - so I keep mine covered until I use them.

[Derek_S]

Maybe just get something white to put on it? Like painting it white would be awesome, but alternatively some white fabric. I do often wear a hat when I fly and I sometimes try to put the bill over the goggles, but for me more than for them., I wish all goggles were white with black insides so they bounce outside light, and absorb inside light.

[rcmike]

The Fatshark goggles' volume is also up all the way all the time.... but they come with earbuds that have a volume control inline in the earbud's cord. Maybe the Foxtech took the same apporach...

Well, there is a volume control on the goggles and when I push it I can see the volume bar go up and down. Not really a big deal. I just need to find some headphones with a volume control.

[FPV FLYER]

One thing with video goggles, don't let the sun hit the lens, or it WILL burn the screens permanently (kinda like burning ants with a magnifier lol). Keep them stored away when not in use.

[arch001]

Also with the integrated rx you can use it as a repeater setup; I do that with my Foxtech Goggles. I use 1.28 in the air, and my GS output goes to a 2.4ghz 15mw TX that my goggles receive. So I have no wires tying me to the GS. This is realllly nice, especially for hand launching. And, with LRS, it is nice to keep the LRS Tx farther away fro the GS Rx's, so I can stand 10-20' away from the systems.

Brilliant idea! Never even thought of that. I always wondered why the 5.8 fatsharks even existed and now I know. I'm going to have to spend even more money now..

[airbagit13]

I will be doing that as well. I have the 5.8 fatsharks but my GS is on 1280. I am going to use the 5.8 100mw TX I have to repeat it to my fatsharks. Smart smart smart. Finally a reason to use the internal RX in my Fatsharks. lol

It is sure going to be nice to launch my plane then walk under a tree into the shade and fly from there. No more sun beating down on me.

[jimmaplesong]

It is brilliant. I'm impressed. But I'm a little too conservative as far as minimizing the points of failure to try it myself...

[SENTRY]

Kool thing about FS is that you have manual diversity as well - LOL.

So - let's say I fly out on a patch - I'm a mile out and am out of the beam - switch the goggles to the 1st position - you are now on the integrated rx (which you can connect to an omni, patch, mini-yagi - etc.). It's not automatic diversity - but it's still diversity.

[arch001]

Pictures of the next fatsharks are out and they have stickers.. wtf

11091110

They where posted by fatshark on the other forum. Normally I wouldn't link to it but I figure if we don't want stickers on our next fatsharks maybe we should let them know. ;)

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1441530

[PnoT]

I believe those are the new FS with HT but I wonder what specs they'll have to go with the new feature?

[SENTRY]

Gonna be hard for me to give up my aviators. :)

[BELADOG]

I pee on my tee shirt then wrap the goggles with it. It keeps them nice and cool, and when you get thirsty you can just wring a little out for a refreshing rinse!

YEAH!

[SENTRY]

^ I think they make meds for people like you -LOL

[arch001]

I pee on my tee shirt then wrap the goggles with it. It keeps them nice and cool, and when you get thirsty you can just wring a little out for a refreshing rinse!

YEAH!

Hahaha, whenever in doubt I also think to myself, what would Bear Grylls do. Stay cool my friend.

[arch001]

Fatshark seem to have changed their minds about the stickers after many disapproving posts by the fpv-community.

117411751176

Here are the specs posted by FS:

Specs:
Optics: glass
FOV: 30 degress
Display: VGA LCD with polarized high intensity backlight
Diopter adjustment: inserts (accessory)
IPD adjustment: none
Eye relief: 1.5cm
Ports: PS/2 (bottom, head tracker), Vin, AVin/out, earphone, HT, RX
Head tracker (modular): 2 axis gyro w/compass sensor and accelerometer
Receiver (modular): Airwaves 2.4Ghz, 5.8Ghz.
Voltage input: 2S/3S (6 -13V).
Voltage supply: battery, base station, Futaba radio
MSRP: under $300 for basic goggle, under $400 fully loaded with HT and RX module (expect higher prices in EU due to VAT).

The idea behind this headset was to provide flexible platform that can be configured to meet any FPV setup. The headset has side panels that can be removed to install the optional head tracker or Airwaves RF modules.

The display utilizes the standard Kopin VGA LCDs but are paired with glass optics and new polarized high intensity backlights to deliver an optically superior image with huge eye relief. The optical engine is essentially an inverted Trimersion type module with improved backlights. If you've seen a Trimersion module, imagine that image but 50% brighter and 30% better contrast and colors.

The goggles have a new shape with lots of nose space. The eye cups are soft and contour to your eye socket for complete light blocking while leaving more of your face exposed for cooling.

I think the biggest question most people will have is about the FOV and why I went to a smaller FOV on it. Mostly it was about delivering a clear display for OSD users and videophiles. The Dominator is not intended to replace the other headset (and in fact I'll be announcing shortly an integrated wireless head tracker version of the orginal RCV922 in another thread).

As I have done a lot of simultaneous flight testing of the Teleporter (46 FOV) and Dominator (30 FOV) I can best summarize the comparison as follows:
You put on the Dominator and you think "wow, what a beautiful image" fly for 2 minutes and forget about it. Then you put on the RCV922 and you think "wow, what a big image", fly for 2 minutes and forget about it. Its as if you need one to appreciate the other
-Fat Shark

[Nakelp86]

Hi guys,not sure if this is the right thread but here is a little thing about Headplay goggles.
Rob (Headplay mask guy) mentioned something about low battery alarm.
I am thinking of some kind of visual (blinking dot/light in the goggles screen) low battery alarm set to go off let say about 10 min before goggles go blank.
Sure we could use audible one but usually the go off if the voltage is way down and battery is about to die. It doesnt leave much time to fly plane safely back.
If you you have some other alarms on your ground station and they go off it maybe confusing to what to do next. So if there was some dedicated visual warning on the goggle screen it would make a lot of sense.
Any of you guys electronic gurus would take look at it?

[SENTRY]

My Fatsharks have the built-in battery alarm - it sounds like it could easily be done though.

[BELADOG]

Well, I certainly cant speak for everybody else here but Personally I hear any alarm and Im landing ASAP. But, That said, The El Cheapo $3 model lipo alarms often come with Audible as well as light indication. The ones I use for my monitor battery has three lights that will each light from green to red as the cell voltage drops, Then at three red, it beeps. Certainly cheaper (time wise) to part out one of these rather than build one up from scratch.
Seems a really easy hardwire if you wanted to 'in-line it', and even easier to disable the audible alarm if you so desired.
You could remote one of the LED's in the mask just out of peripheral.