timnilson: Lexan Ground-Station Build Log

[Holt25]

On a another note about ground stations, how do you feel about using two diversity receivers and an Oracle video receiver tying them together?? Is this just total overkill of antennas or am I really just giving myself more freedom to fly? Like if I bought an 11dbi linear diversity antenna on one receiver, and say I put a couple decibel omni-rubber duck on the top of one with a 8dbi spiral patch antenna to the other diversity, while having them both running to the Oracle for the best picture of the four antennas? I guess I should be taking everyone's advice and sticking with a simple ground station but I am very curious if I want to make it bigger and I have more experience.

[timnilson]

Should i start with a 500w or the 1000w video TX? And any camera you recommend? Do I need a ham radio license for the 1000W TX setups?

Yes, you need a Ham license for the frequencies you're going to be operating on -- no matter how strong your signal is. The most important part of your signal quality is the receiving end, not the transmission end. If you have a poor GS, it won't matter if you transmit on 500w or 1000w. I like the ReadyMadeRC 600 and 700 line cameras. I also like the DX201 Pixim camera.

[timnilson]

On a another note about ground stations, how do you feel about using two diversity receivers and an Oracle video receiver tying them together?? Is this just total overkill of antennas or am I really just giving myself more freedom to fly? Like if I bought an 11dbi linear diversity antenna on one receiver, and say I put a couple decibel omni-rubber duck on the top of one with a 8dbi spiral patch antenna to the other diversity, while having them both running to the Oracle for the best picture of the four antennas? I guess I should be taking everyone's advice and sticking with a simple ground station but I am very curious if I want to make it bigger and I have more experience.

ImmersionRC makes a "duo" receiver that has 2 RXs and it will pic the best signal for you. This way, you can do it all in one piece of hardware instead of 2 RXs and 1 Omni. I like reducing hardware components and wires.
http://fpvlab.com/forums/showthread....-in-30-minutes

[bobmaxiao]

where can i get the plan of ur lexan ground station? Would u mind sharing it to us? Many thanks!
-bob

[Rad Rich]

where can i get the plan of ur lexan ground station? Would u mind sharing it to us? Many thanks!
-bob

Hey Bob...

Imagine the weeks of work that Tim put into that... The rebuilding, recutting, re-fitting everything time and time again to get it just spot on, as Tim clearly has ORCD and is somewhat of a perfectionist, and the money it cost him in materials and hours of labour..

Now, add all that up, then pretend your Tim for a minute and read your question to yourself, as if your Tim...
That should answer your question....

You might soon be able to buy one though :-)

[lostheli]

Hey Bob...

Imagine the weeks of work that Tim put into that... The rebuilding, recutting, re-fitting everything time and time again to get it just spot on, as Tim clearly has ORCD and is somewhat of a perfectionist, and the money it cost him in materials and hours of labour..

Now, add all that up, then pretend your Tim for a minute and read your question to yourself, as if your Tim...
That should answer your question....

You might soon be able to buy one though :-)

You forgot one small aspect, that Bob would have to understand that as Tim, he would want to make money from his ideas. Not that there is anything wrong with that, just that there are some people who freely share such info and Bob wouldn't know unless he asked.

[bobmaxiao]

Haha, I thought Tim would have started selling the gs like months ago, but so far there is no trace of him selling it. That is y im asking, maybe tim is willing to share the thing, rather than selling it.
I know this kinda stuff is the result of days n nights of working, and i know it might be very valuable to Tim. But if i were him, I would like to share everything I know to other rc-players. Cuz i know it is hard to design something, others will also take a long time to come up with the perfect plan. Why not save the time for everybody else and help make other's life easier.
It is juz my opinion.

[timnilson]

Thank you guys for the continued intrest in this enclosure! There are a few reasons I have not shared the plans for this -- one reason is definitely that I do plan on selling an FPV enclosure kit in the future, but also that I learned a lot since I did this original design and will do things differently/better in the commercial version of this FPV Box. The original design required CNC milling with some tight tolerances, half depth cuts, tapped holes, etc... all this adds to the complexity and cost of making this. I unfortunately have not been able to work on this as I've spent the past 5 months working on one new product that I hope will have a major impact.

[Rad Rich]

ha ha ha ha, see, told you Tim had ORCD :-)

I know what you mean about how complicated it is though Tim, trying to re-create it and its an absolute nightmare. so am simply going to use a Tx case for now as a GS, just to at least get flying..

[bobmaxiao]

So tim, plz tell us when can u put this on the shelf? Im gonna be the first ones to buy this!