Test Platform

[Derrick]

Here is a Traxxas Stampede that has been outfitted with a board camera and a pan tilt unit... I am using this rig to test out equipment before I put it into a plane. Nothing special but thought I would share.



Running with:
HK $16 board camera
HK Fiberglass pan/tilt (very impressed with it so far)
Spectrum DX8
Orange Rx (touted as not the best but it has worked great so far... lockouts don't matter to much for a ground vehicle though)
2x 2200mAh 3s LiPos in parallel
All else is subject to change as this is a test mule.

[elvenpure]

Sounds good.
What about the video tx/rx?
Elf.

[Derrick]

Sounds good.
What about the video tx/rx?
Elf.

Right now I have a 5.8gHz 200mW from Fox Tech.

Does anyone have any suggestions for gear placement. I am very disappointed with the range I am getting?

[ni8av8r]

Derrick, curious what kind of range you get on the ground?

[Derrick]

I am only getting about 500ft... The video is cutting out at anything past that. Pretty much the same in a RF dirty place as well as an RF clean environment. If I were to hazard a guess I would say that I need to get the antenna on my ground station as well as the antenna on my truck higher. But before i did anything I was looking for some information from the community on what has worked for them. I read through this post:http://fpvlab.com/forums/showthread....round-with-FPV

Raising the antennas seemed to be the concensus there... I have a helical antenna that should be here in the near future. I am hopeful that it will help a lot.

I have tested with dipole antennas range was on the order of 200-300 feet
CP omnis and I get a little further (perhaps up to 500ft) but more importantly the picture quality was much better.
Next I will test with the helical hopefully getting great video out to the limit of my RC link.

[Vitamin J]

The helical will help a ton. I've crashed about 500m away on flat ground and still had great picture even though my plane was upside-down with the antenna stuck in the grass.

[zoom99]

[QUOTE=Derrick;93489]Right now I have a 5.8gHz 200mW from Fox Tech.
QUOTE]

I don't know Derrick, 200 mW does not seem like much. Especially not much for 5.8 gig.

Colin

[IBCrazy]

On the ground 500 feet is really good, actually. The ground violates the Fresnel zone, so getting your antenna up higher helps. A directional antenna also helps. However, the best thing for ground FPV is Hugo's stacked fans

This test platform will teach you a lot about radio waves. Change antennas, frequencies and such and watch what happens. Even changing your VRX makes a difference.

-Alex

[whakahere]

[QUOTE=zoom99;93719]

Right now I have a 5.8gHz 200mW from Fox Tech.
QUOTE]

I don't know Derrick, 200 mW does not seem like much. Especially not much for 5.8 gig.

Colin

The receiver on this unit is very good so not as much mw transmitter is needed. Much better than airwaves (fatshark). that 200mw has been pushed to 18km ... I have flown it to 8km.

I agree with ibcrazy, get the antenna higher. If anything is too close to the antenna it detunes it a little. Stick your receiver on a wooden pole helps too. A 6 turn helical and you will be laughing.

[Derrick]

I agree with ibcrazy, get the antenna higher. If anything is too close to the antenna it detunes it a little. Stick your receiver on a wooden pole helps too. A 6 turn helical and you will be laughing.

PVC would be easier... Perhaps electrical conduit.

How about an 8-turn?
http://fpvlab.com/forums/showthread....ht=5.8+helical