The ground station

Today is a good day. I got an idea a few weeks ago looking at ready made ground stations such as this!
  However, my shoe string budget does not cover the $180 needed to acquire the selected product.









I therefore thought of the idea to make one by my self using the FPV parts I recently purchased. It's not an 8 inch monitor, but a 7 inch and it's not as pretty as the ready made ground station. I first bought this aluminum "service case" from Clas Ohlsson, a common utility store in Sweden.

It's fairly cheap and cost only about $31.








I removed the lid tool hanger, I might do something else with it later but for now its gone. My father in law helped me with some intricate drilling to get it all to fit nicely. And this what it looked like. Notice the antenna in the upper left corner.

Here is the finished product with the 7 inch monitor and radio mounted. It can even fit the radio transmitter, batteries and other gadgets that are good to bring for a nice flight.

 

Merry Xmas!

Merry Xmas and so on..

Long time and no posts. I've actually not been up to anything in this project lately due to winter times and less hobby time.

However, Christmas has yielded some donations for my quad project. I've therefore decided to take it one step further. I've previously written about FPV and how I'd like to set it up. Until today, I've only been looking but the time has come to put down the order. These is the items I bought..

First of all, we need a suitable camera to record images. This is the 808 #16 key chain camera is similar to the other original 808 key chain camera I bought this summer apart from a 120 degree wide angle lens and video output capabilities. Having 120 degree instead of 76 degree lens helps a lot when trying to navigate using a small screen or goggles.

Next you need a way to transmit the images you've captured. I've decided to use a 1.2GHz transmitter instead of the regular 5.8GHz that most people use. The reason for using a lower frequency is to gain a longer wave length. For you who are not familiar with the result of this wave length difference, it basically will allow the radio waves to bypass larger objects. With a 5.8GHz radio you need pretty much nothing in between transmitter and receiver. However with 1.2GHz, trees and stuff may come in the way. Even larger objects probably allow the waves to reach its destination.

To display the result of the capture, I've gone with this 7 inch monitor. It requires 12V DC, which as to be solved in one way or another to make the experience mobile. Here I have a secret plan that some day may be turned into reality but will so far stay my secret :).

Next item is something I came across just by browsing banggood.com and is a composite video receiver for a computer. This will allow received images to be projected on my laptop screen instead of an external monitor. This is also a part of my secret plan.





Now for the bad news, what do I need to pay for these items?
FPV 1.2G 8CH 800mw Wireless AV Transmitter And Receiver $55.99
Easycap USB 2.0 Video TV DVD VHS Audio Capture Adapter $7.00
FPV 7 Inch TFT LCD Monitor HD 800x480 Screen With Audio $52.99
808 NO.16 V2 HD 120 Degree Mini Camera Module 7g $43.99

Total US$160

Shoestring FPV kit

Something I haven't written about yet is FPV on a shoestring budget. The main reason why I haven't is that I can't currently afford it. However, here is a suggestion that definitely goes on my wishlist for Christmas.

First item on the board is a camera. I've previously written about the key chain 808 DVR for less than $7 that does OK recording. But for FPV you need something else. Now there is a version 2 of the 808 key chain camera that can do just that. The kit also includes a USB to video out cable that can be attached to any video transmitter to enable FPV. The improved camera is fitted with a 120 degree wide angle lens instead of the crappy narrow angle lens on the cheaper 808. This camera goes for $39 at eletoponline365's eBay shop.



For transmitter, I'd choose something with a low frequency again as with the controller radio. That is to gain as long range as possible. I found this kit at Banggood featuring a 1.2GHz transmitter. Other FPV kits regularly feature 5.8GHz. The problem with 5.8GHz is that you need clear sight between the transmitter and receiver. With a 1.2GHz it can work with some obstacles. This transmitter and receiver kit goes for $56 at Banggood.





A OSD device is something some people prefer as it applies a virtual head up display on the FPV image. The OSD device is hooked between the camera and radio transmitter hijacking the image and applying OSD using data from the flight controller. An OSD usually applies information such as: virtual horizon, altitude, air speed, heading, direction and range to "home". Home as applied for RTL. This OSD goes for $27 at Banggood.

You probably need additional wiring to connect the kit together but these are the basic devices needed for FPV.

Summarizing purcuses:

• $39 - 808 #16 v2 key chain camera
• $56 - FPV radio
• $27 - OSD device

In total, $122.

Spare parts has arrived!

 

A spare HobbyKing X550 frame, which I'm going to do some DIY'ing to use to add another level/layer of stuff to my current frame. You'll see how it works out soonish.

Battery for the Turnigy transmitter and a li-po low voltage alarm. I must have misplaced my other alarm I ordered a while ago because I can't find it. This alarm does both show the level of charge and also sound an alarm when the charge drops below 3.3V. My ESC's are currently programmed to cut-off at 3V to not harm the battery. This will hopefully prevent any fatal crashes that could happen if the motors are cut in mid-air. Luckily, this hasn't happened yet. The only times I've encountered cut-offs are just after takeoff which resulted in a one meter free fall.

Lost or stolen package content?

So I received another package in the mail today. This was all about the radio. Now it was pretty obvious right away that something had happened to the package. Someone have obviously broken into the Turnigy radio transmitter package. It's been ripped open and somewhat closed up and most of it's content is missing as you can see here on the picture.

The other things I was all intact and according to the package manifest. From left to right; back lights for the non-lit LCD display on the transmitter, OrangeRX radio receiver for the quad side and radio transmitter module to fit on the Turnigy radio transmitter.

I've just filed a complain to Hobby King's customer service and I guess we'll take it from there. This is a bad setback that I didn't expect and I hope that it can be solved. The transmitter was not that pricy but still $49.