Crash's Guide to FPV Radians

[Hucker]

I'm not a gopro guy. Too big, heavy, expensive and I don't care about video that much. I just use little keychain cameras and I tape them where I need them, every flight is different depending one what I'm looking at that day. I do have a go pro but I've only used for special opportunities.

[Bear Pants]

I'm not a gopro guy. Too big, heavy, expensive and I don't care about video that much. I just use little keychain cameras and I tape them where I need them, every flight is different depending one what I'm looking at that day. I do have a go pro but I've only used for special opportunities.

Yeah I'm big on capturing just about all the flying I do. I love practicing editing videos. Since I gotten a tricopter I been missing flying a plane. Had wings. Had a pusher. I want something different. Going to probably get a radian pro. Mount the go pro on the end of the wing and counter balance.

[justabigham]

I'm not a gopro guy. Too big, heavy, expensive and I don't care about video that much. I just use little keychain cameras and I tape them where I need them, every flight is different depending one what I'm looking at that day. I do have a go pro but I've only used for special opportunities.

I am pretty much the same on my Radian. I just have the flight camera and OSD with no plans on adding a quality video camera. I will save the GoPro2 for the Zephyr. Some day down the road I plan on replacing the Radian with a higher quality FPV sailplane also with FPV camera and OSD only. No HD video. I just want to FPV soar.....

[eosglider]

Crash,
So glad to find this thread. Thank you! It's very helpful. Specially all the tips on antenna placement. I will definitely make adjustments to mine.

I plan to maiden my lite FPV radian tomorrow. This is my setup:

Airborne
Airframe: Stock PNP Radian + 1300mah 3s LiPo for flight
RC Rx: 72mhz - Hitec Electron Rx (ch.23) with 1/2 wave antenna mod.
Camera: HK 1/3 CCD using 2.1mm lens from RMRC
Pan/Tilt: 2x HTX900's on HK large pan/tilt bracket. Pan HXT900 has 180deg mods.
Audio: Amplified mic wired into VTx (will sit inside the Radian)
VTx: HK 900Mhz 200mw VTx
VTx antenna: DIY IB Crazy Cloverleaf tuned for the freq. chosen.
Video Batt: 500mah 3s LiPo

On the Ground
RC Tx: Optic 6 TX with Synthesized Spectra module (set to ch.23)
VRx Antenna: DIY IB Crazy Skew Planar tuned for freq. chosen
VRx: HK 900mhz VRx. No SAW mod yet, but on the way soon.
Display: 7" portable TV (no blue screen issues when loss of video) + cardboard hood
Groundstation power: 12Ah SLA battery
Video Recorder: None
Tripod: Heavy Duty 13' light stand (to get VRx off the ground as high as possible. TV mounts to that at eye level too)

I already found out that in Miami, I'll probably be disappointed with the 900Mhz system, but I figure it's worth a shot at least at close range since I got everything ready.

Wish me luck!

[M'ck'y]

Here's my radian pro fully loaded with camera pan and flaps (8ch only/no tilt)

Completed Eagletree with RTH.

powered by stock motor with 3S3300mah

Flaps go up and down allowing me to get our of thermals when necessary.

Exuhf RX is mounted on outside by a balsa wood frame, flush with fuselage.



What else can I say, excellent for thermals, video here


View this video on Vimeo

[Hucker]

Looks good man. I love my RP, if the weather ever gets nice here I should see some of that climb rate too! At range have you noticed bad video on the turn home? I used to have that setup (vtx and uhf inline on fuse) and found if I flew straight home the video wouldn't be so nice but if I angled away a bit it got better. I think Crash alludes to this.

On your long flights on 3s3300 how much do you have left? I find I can go for 30-40 minutes and have lots left on a 3s2600...I made room for a 4000 which I haven't flown over 30 minutes yet but my improved ground station (chair!) should help that out. 4000 feels heavy.

[M'ck'y]

4000 is gonna be fine I reckon, the weight helps to get out of thermals and get some speed up. how much left at landing depends on how much I used to gain altitude and catch them thermals. I have not noticed any video or uhf range problem as I have not been any further than about 3kms with this setup and picture has always been perfect so far. This is quite an old photo of my radian. I have since laminated the entire tail section and it's really rigid now. I haven't flown it since the mod.

[Hucker]

Right now I'm using extreme tape, what are you doing for lam, 3mm stuff like they use on zeph's? Where is your CG? I put my servos in back and radio gear in the wings and it balances out nicely with a 2600 or a 3000 and a bit nose heavy with the 4000.

I'm pretty gentle on planes so I'm not sure I want to load up the tail with more weight. I would rather stiffen the wing up. More than once I've heard ohhs and ahhs when I climb out and it a bumpy patch or give an enthusiastic pull only to see the wing take a big bend.... Right now I only have some clear packing tape on the LE for durability on landings.

[M'ck'y]

Same I got tape in leading edges. I used thin clear laminate similar to what ritewing has its very rigid now. Tail heavy is good for thermals so u feel the lift. I'm not sure where cg is as I'm not finished putting the plane back together.