Do I Want To Do FPV?

[MatCat]

I started without an OSD, frankly I found it fairly easy, I could easily identify everything on the ground and knew where I was, only time I ever got disoriented was in clouds, but I have some fairly obvious landmarks plus I studied google earth a LOT before flying where I do.

[GreenAce92]

$600.00! WTH

Seems expensive for a taste

$50.00 small lcd video viewing device

$26.00 12V camera

$45-50.00 Video Transmitter
$45-50.00 Video receiver

$20.00 1 3S 2200 mAh pack for cam + video transmitter ( over kill ).

$20.00 1 3S 2200 mAh pack for video receiver.

+ RTF rc Airplane

I guess if you had absolutely nothing, minimum to get into the air including cheap plane is $300.00


FPV lacks the thrill of danger, you're not in this vehicle so if that is a concern then certainly fpv isn't very enticing.

Sure thrill perhaps in the sense of loss or other people's lives in danger but really it is just an object not your own life.

Still, it gives you a birds eye view of the sky, and if for some reason you aren't elligible to fly for real be it physical or financial, well I suppose FPV is the next best thing.

If you like to do film, well FPV gives you a nice way to acquire some aerial cutaways at relatively low operating costs.

FPV is odd, it's exciting but not really, somehow seeing it through low resolution feed versus the real deal like piloting an airchair / ultralte, clearly not a comparison, but if you want to step up from rc toys then fpv is the next rung on the ladder.

After all, flying in circles gets old after a while.

[ggcrandall1]

$50.00 small lcd video viewing device
$26.00 12V camera
$45-50.00 Video Transmitter
$45-50.00 Video receiver.

Can you provide links to specific items?

Glen

[GreenAce92]

Yes I apologize if I came off as a nagging nancy, I guess I was just voicing my opinions.

Here are the links, I for one think $600.00 is ridiculous to try it out.

But my mistake if I have not read everything having been said.

Transmitter
http://www.readymaderc.com/store/ind...oducts_id=1018

Choices of 1.3ghz transmitters at varying frequency / power keep in mind of the US frequencies.

http://www.readymaderc.com/store/ind...oducts_id=1018

One of them is $35.00 !

Video receiver

http://www.readymaderc.com/store/ind...oducts_id=1015

Chocie of video receivers ( Vrx )

http://www.readymaderc.com/store/ind...cPath=11_34_44

Simple board camera

http://www.securitycamera2000.com/pr...ty-Camera.html

Choices of board cameras

http://www.securitycamera2000.com/ca...Board-Cameras/

Video viewing device

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001FW...6&sr=8-2-spell

Price went up a bit, an example of what you need to see video at bare minimum, something with A/V in.


Here are a few notes on the links above:

On the video transmitter / receivers it is important to match the exact frequency, sometimes you may pick up the channel being broadcasted by the video trabsmitter on an alternative "close" channel, harmonic frequency? Not entirely sure what this phenomena is called but while you will get an image, the signal will be very short range.

You need to perform a range check to make sure along with reading the specifications of the devices.

Also the components I listed you are not very powerful, certainly you wouldn't be breaking any distance records however I have been told that it is all in the receiver, so with a good set of antennas that you build yourself ( which I reccomend for the learning experience ) you can effectively double if not tripple your distance.

On the board camera you should be sure to pick up 12v powered cameras to match the 3 cell battery output unless you want to create a voltage regulator for the lower voltage input cameras which is just another option.

TV's need the AV in part

[GreenAce92]

Oh yeah if you need some inspiration of cheap fpv aircraft platforms with a do-it-yourself style
Check out my blog all about fpv on the cheap, I even cover some basics.

Oh p.s. it is not a means to con money just pire information, I do apologize for the design of the site, it is a free hoster after all but you may find some helpful information.

Most particularly I'd like to note the Dreadlock Sally which I guess you could compare to a Skywalker.

Built out of paint sticks and carries a full sized point and shoot digital canon camera at 7 oz!

Super stable, cost of construction about $5.00

http://foamflightrc.m.webs.com/site/...etwork=fw#0101