Bunnygirl's : Disco Update and Long Range FPV

[bunnygirl80]

Hi guys,

We';ll I haven';t posted for a while and I thought I';d delight you with this lovely photo of betty in the buttercups. Before you ask, no, I haven';t given her a name yet! I just thought betty would sound good if she ever needed one!

Update... Okay, betty is now fully loaded with uhf and last night (before it got dark) she was in need of some exercise, so we decided to see how far she could go. We got about 1.2km before the picture in my binoculars broke up, rather abruptly I might add and betty ended up climbing so that i could see her and returning to home via rtl when i discovered she was lost! lol.

So, my questions today are...

1. Now that betty is venturing further away, I do worry about her getting lost or deciding to settle down in some long grass. So, do you guys have any recommendations on how I could find her if she decided to do this away from home. I don';t have osd at the moment and this might be a good option, but that will only work if betty can see me! i think! Idea';s appreciated!

2. Now that betty is getting further on uhf, my binoculars picture seems to be breaking up around the 1.2km range. I';ve got sipros on my binoculars and wondering if you guys could recommend the next logical upgrade so that betty can go further to see billys back garden! Again, ideas on a postcard.

Thanks guys,

Bunny xx

[firey1]

hey Stef been looking at mini GPS tracker units you can get

something like this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Spy-Vehicle-Real-time-Tracker-For-GSM-GPRS-GPS-System-Tracking-Device-TK102-/261180065861?pt=US_Tracking_Devices&hash=item3ccf8b8845&vxp=mtr

[firey1]

And for distance for the FPV
you may have to look at a ground station panel system for receiving better quality video

something like this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-8G-14db-Panel-Antenna-Directive-Antenna-for-FPV-AV-Audio-Video-sender-System-/261173811761?pt=US_Radio_Control_Control_Line&hash=item3ccf2c1a31

[bunnygirl80]

Hi Firey,

Thanks for that. The GPS locator looks neat! Any idea how much it weighs and how good the mobile phone software works? I wonder if it will work on anderoid?

Regarding the antenna, will that sort of thing work with fat sharks which is what i have? I spoke to Homer and he suggested a 600MW VTX instead of the standard 250MW that comes with the fatty';s.

Thxx.

[firey1]

the panel will work on any 5.8 ghz  cant remember what your running but you could find same for other freq im sure

yes you could change to a more powerful VTX but in saying that doubling the power relates to only 30-50% increase in range

here is the app link for andriod
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.austral.gpscartracker.trial

here is the manual for it (60g)
http://themyshop.com/download/manual/152.TK102%20User%20Manual.1.pdf

[Jumpy07]

Skews need to be vertical... yours looks horizontal ?

600mw VTX would be your first upgrade..  needs to be an ImmersionRC as freq different on Chinese TX';s and may not work.. http://www.firstpersonview.co.uk/transmitters/5.8ghz/immersionrc-5.8ghz-long-range-600mw-transmitter

600mw will get you 2.0km easy with Goggles.. to get more than this you will need a panel antenna... but panel antennas are very directional... so that';s why people use diversity receivers... with a panel and an Omni..

You can fit a panel to you goggles.. but you would need to keep you head facing the quad.. people use this one directly onto their goggles
http://www.firstpersonview.co.uk/antennas/5.8ghz/immersionrc-spironet-5.8ghz-patch-antenna

Diversity RX: http://www.firstpersonview.co.uk/video-switchers-diversity/immersionrc-duo5800-5.8ghz-receivers-with-diversity?cPath=31&

[mickyt]

Duo diversity receiver and panel anttena 600 mw vtx as Craig said i have a very small tracker i use for different things its small and very light and will run for 15 day should i ever feel the need to use it

[bunnygirl80]

Skews need to be vertical... yours looks horizontal ?

600mw VTX would be your first upgrade..  needs to be an ImmersionRC as freq different on Chinese TX';s and may not work.. http://www.firstpersonview.co.uk/transmitters/5.8ghz/immersionrc-5.8ghz-long-range-600mw-transmitter

600mw will get you 2.0km easy with Goggles.. to get more than this you will need a panel antenna... but panel antennas are very directional... so that';s why people use diversity receivers... with a panel and an Omni..

You can fit a panel to you goggles.. but you would need to keep you head facing the quad.. people use this one directly onto their goggles
http://www.firstpersonview.co.uk/antennas/5.8ghz/immersionrc-spironet-5.8ghz-patch-antenna

Diversity RX: http://www.firstpersonview.co.uk/video-switchers-diversity/immersionrc-duo5800-5.8ghz-receivers-with-diversity?cPath=31&

Hi Craig,

Thanks for that! Superb info! Yes, the Spiro normally points downwards in flight and i only have it horizontal for storage and looking pretty! ;o) lol. I';ve ordered the 600mw last night, so I';ll wait for that to arrive and see how it goes before I upgrade to the patch antenna and diversity receiver. All that said, I will soon be worrying about battery life and not control transmitter range or video transmitter range. I think that is a good place to be and I';ll be happy there! This can get sooo addictive eh.

I';m not sure if I want to go down the road of a diversity receiver as I love the mobility of the setup at the moment and I like walking to the sand dunes and pottering around flying over the terrain! The only downside now is that I lose signal when I go behind some of the dunes, so at some point I might find myself changing to a 2.4 system.

Thanks again,

xx

[bunnygirl80]

the panel will work on any 5.8 ghz  cant remember what your running but you could find same for other freq im sure

yes you could change to a more powerful VTX but in saying that doubling the power relates to only 30-50% increase in range

here is the app link for andriod
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.austral.gpscartracker.trial

here is the manual for it (60g)
http://themyshop.com/download/manual/152.TK102%20User%20Manual.1.pdf

Hi Mike,

I';ve just found it on ebay uk, so I think that might be a really good option to dangle from the quad. Do you think it will be okay with a 5.8Ghz VTX, and 433Mhz CTX. It has a SIM card so I guess it operates at 900 meg like the mobile networks?

Thxx

[firey1]

yeah should be fine stef as you say it operates in the 900  meg range so well outside your other radio gear

cheap safety feature for long distance fpv and over there you will have good cellphone coverage not like here lol

[Jumpy07]

Hi Craig,

Thanks for that! Superb info! Yes, the Spiro normally points downwards in flight and i only have it horizontal for storage and looking pretty! ;o) lol. I';ve ordered the 600mw last night, so I';ll wait for that to arrive and see how it goes before I upgrade to the patch antenna and diversity receiver. All that said, I will soon be worrying about battery life and not control transmitter range or video transmitter range. I think that is a good place to be and I';ll be happy there! This can get sooo addictive eh.

I';m not sure if I want to go down the road of a diversity receiver as I love the mobility of the setup at the moment and I like walking to the sand dunes and pottering around flying over the terrain! The only downside now is that I lose signal when I go behind some of the dunes, so at some point I might find myself changing to a 2.4 system.

Thanks again,

xx

The Rx in your goggles its the latest Airwave module.. its the same as the ones used in the Diversity RX..  and is super sensitive.. so with the 600mw Tx.... you should get 2.5km easy..more at altitude. 


Simplest way to get more range is stick a patch antenna on a tripod and connect to you goggles..  just means you can only fly in front of yourself though.. the patch antennas have a wide beam width.. 30 deg .. 

[bunnygirl80]

Hi Craig,

Thanks for the info. I';ll start off with the 600mw and then take it from there I think. Not sure how I feel about a patch antenna and having to turn my head all the time. Don';t want to end up with a crikey neck! lol. If you put the patch on a tripod, what do you do then? Run a cable from the patch to the aerial socket on the goggles?

Oh! I';ve found the thank you button and realised that I';ve not thanked anyone since I started on the forum. Now I feel really guilty and feel I should be going round giving everyone thank you';s!

Thanks again,

Stef

[Biffa]

The Rx in your goggles its the latest Airwave module.. its the same as the ones used in the Diversity RX..  and is super sensitive.. so with the 600mw Tx.... you should get 2.5km easy..more at altitude. 

Sorry to hijack, Craig, do you know if the RX can be bodged into other Fatshark goggles?

[Jumpy07]

Sorry to hijack, Craig, do you know if the RX can be bodged into other Fatshark goggles?

You can get the new Airware RX for Dominators.. it comes as standard in the AttitudeSD';s ... (http://www.firstpersonview.co.uk/video-goggles-screens/fatshark-dominator-5.8ghz-receiver-module)   

Failing that you can run an external RX.. either an UNO or Diversity. (http://www.firstpersonview.co.uk/receivers/immersionrc-uno5800-single--90dbm-receiver)

Please note the TBS RX module for the Dominators is not a sensitive as it is a different module that covers Chinese freq';s as well as Airwave freq.

[Biffa]

You can get the new Airware RX for Dominators.. it comes as standard in the AttitudeSD';s ... (http://www.firstpersonview.co.uk/video-goggles-screens/fatshark-dominator-5.8ghz-receiver-module)   

Failing that you can run an external RX.. either an UNO or Diversity. (http://www.firstpersonview.co.uk/receivers/immersionrc-uno5800-single--90dbm-receiver)

Please note the TBS RX module for the Dominators is not a sensitive as it is a different module that covers Chinese freq';s as well as Airwave freq.

Cheers,

I have the older FS Aviators and I am guessing the RX in them is about as sensitive as a potato. Not really looking for mega distances just better all round performance. I guess I will have to open up the goggles and have a look inside to see if it would fit. I know the SMA thingy on mine is on the side rather than top mounted.

[Gav]

I made an adaptor box to take my fat shark dominator newer type super sensitive rx module so I could use the rx module to connect to a monitor or DVR while  my faulty goggles were off for repair/ replacement. Its easy enough to make. On mine I didn';t use a big enough box to house the lipo  :';(

You could use it to connect to other goggles too.  Don';t use it anymore now as I';ve a new set of Dominators now, ;D.

[Biffa]

Just found this:

http://www.getfpv.com/fatshark-5-8ghz-upgraded-receiver-module-for-aviator-goggles.html