Getting the most out of your FPV system

[ApachePilot]

I have just aquired another FPV system. This one is the 5.8gHz 200mW nano system like that sold from fpvhobby.com. My question, interest....is what can I do to insure I recieve the most (best) quality reception from this single cell setup? I am hoping to install it on a Blade mQx quadcopter for practicing on those less than ideal days.


Thanks in advance,

ApachePilot

[Vitamin J]

You need circularly polarized antennas for best performance with that setup. With a set of Blubeam antennas you will be able to fly 1-2km easily. Be very careful with the module, it is very fragile.

Check this out:
http://fpvlab.com/forums/showthread....Quad-Blade-mQX

[ApachePilot]

Alright,

I built and soldered up a temporary antenna until I can obtain the materials to make a CP type. I can't believe how clear the video is coming from this tiny cam on 3V. I am encountering one issue though and would like to obtain the input of the pro's here. Once in awhile my screen will blink black for a second or two. May I ask what causes this? There is no indication of anything wrong (losing signal) prior to this happening. Video is excellent one second and (poof!) gone the next for a second; only to return with amazing quality......and yes, I have been practicing inside my home. Nothing else runs on 5.8gHz. though we do have a 2.4gHz home network.


ApachePilot

[Vitamin J]

Sweet, glad you got it going! Ya these things work amazingly well for the size.

That black screen problem is puzzling. Can you recreate the problem by wiggling wires or anything? Other than that make it's just a little multipath interference.

[ApachePilot]

Wires and solder joints are all solid. Wires are as short as possible, yet there is enough slack to allow for slight movement and institute a clean layout. No, two electronic components are in contact with each other. All batteries are fully charged and connected squarly. Both the vTx antenna and the Rx antenna are in the same vertical orientation. I have seen no interference between my rc link and video link. Video is crystal clear with vibrant color.


ApachePilot

[IBCrazy]

I know your blank screen problem well. If it was like mine, it has to do with the sensitivity setting of the blank screen feature. Eventhough you never see it on screen, the video level shifts frequently. Once it gets below a certain level, the screen goes blank eventhough the picture was fine. The reason for this is (I think) most TV's these days are hard wired so the video level doesn't change.

-Alex

[MrFollies]

I have (I assume) the same vTx and I'm curious about swapping out the antenna. Actually the little 1 inch wire antenna broke off in transit the other day and then I dropped it in the grass while attempting to solder it at the field.
I replaced the antenna with just plain solder (thick stuff) to get me through the weekend. Now I'd like to put a more solid antenna on it.

I have a Circular Wireless 5.8 CP antenna or the cheap plastic ones that come with a lot of vTxs. Either way I need to put a SMC connector on it.

Here's the thing. The antenna that came with it was a single wire, but SMC connectors have the internal connector and also the outside (ground) connector.
Will it work if I just solder on the inner one or should I ground it to the vTx as well? I am guessing (by looking at the CW CP antenna), that I only need the inner one.

Also, I guess I should keep the total length as short as possible or doesnt it matter.

Hope this makes sense.

[Vitamin J]

It's really easy to put the SMA adapter on. Solder the center pin to the antenna pad and solder the outside of the adapter to the metal case on the vtx and the grounds. Radio Shack has the board mount SMA adapters.

[MrFollies]

Thanks Vitamin J... I thought that's how it should be done but I wasn't sure.

If I wanted to put a small wire between the SMA adapter and the vTx, could I? Or would that somehow affect the signal?

[ApachePilot]

Thanks everyone for posting. This is exactly what I was looking for when I first approached FPVLAB. I have other FPV setups, but this is my first (Micro) type. I am thankful to all of you for clearing up some of the possibilities when using this smaller stuff. Last question concerning SMA adapters, I may be wrong, but do these come in various sizes? Somewhere, I seen a connector like this that was very small, alot smaller then those I have been using on my 900mHz patch antenna and 2.4 stuff.


ApachePilot