Choosing an FPV Video System - with range testing

[MrMagickent]

finally, the video that explains all the stuff i want to know. thnx

little question, can i use the dx6i for rc car? or there is a better one for that?

[schraut5]

@MrMagickent Glad this helps! You can use the Dx6i for a race car, but I know that Spektrum makes other radios that are designed for RC cars

[TheJellyman98]

hey dude loving the vid , im just starting with fpv and ive made myself the yc14 plane for the fpv , im wanting to purchase the system which worked the best for you! roughly how much would it cost and could you put down the link to the best system which you used ? cheers mate im subscribing!

[schraut5]

@TheJellyman98 Thanks! I am currently flying with the 5.8ghz 200 mW FPV system from FoxTech FPV with circularly polarized antennas - which are the best by far. Check out their website1

[TheJellyman98]

@schraut5 cheers , Ive jjust been looking around and because im in the uk 5.8 is illegal!:( what about 2.4ghz with the dx6i be okay?

[schraut5]

@TheJellyman98 Apparently you shouldn't overlap FPV and RC frequencies. So, I would recommend 1.2/1.3 ghz if you can't get 5.8 gear

[TheJellyman98]

@schraut5 Right okay dude and would you say that they are good quality frequencys? what kind of range are we talking about? cheers

[schraut5]

@TheJellyman98 If you are sticking with 2.4 ghz radio gear, I would go with 1.3 ghz. It has good range and it pretty easy to use. Just keep in mind that your range will be limited to less than a mile with your 2.4 ghz Rc controller

[TheJellyman98]

@schraut5

Okay cheers for your help mate !

[RStephenLegge]

Good review, clear and concise, and the conclusions are based on real testing. thanks

[schraut5]

@RStephenLegge Thanks! I hope this video has helped in some sort of way

[pietronetutube]

Hi, did you see any differences when you use different channels?

Thx!

[schraut5]

@pietronetutube Honestly, I haven't played around with different channels too much. I have been so happy with the results that I have been getting, that I haven't wanted to change anything. But I am sure that if I played around, I would find the ideal channel for me. Thanks for posting!

[skylinevspec000]

Nice quiet day, probably a good thing. I expect people would think you are a terrorist or somthing

great video really informative

[schraut5]

@skylinevspec000 Haha! Yeah, I tried to not be too sketchy with antennas and a remote control and monitor walking around downtown Chicago

[boarder904]

do you know the range of your spektrum ar 6210 ?

[schraut5]

@boarder904 I have heard that its around 1 mile. I have taken my system to 3/4 of a mile with perfect control!

[callmemistert1]

hey mate i was thinking of getting into fpv but didnt want to pay a lot of money on a fpv system can u tell mell what you think about this system eg:

range ect..

its a (Mini 5.8G FPV Video TX RX 500mW+11db antenna +720 PAL Camera for rc airplane)

ps i tried to paste a link on the comment so type in into ebay ^^^^^^^^^^^

thanks

[schraut5]

@callmemistert1 I have been very happy with my 5.8 FPV video system. Just took a look at that system on ebay and it looks great, I am sure that it would work well. BUT, I recently made a pair of circularly polarized antennas and it really improved my range and video quality. For that price on ebay - that would be perfect to start with - great price, great tx/rx and great camera and that patch antenna would be great to start with

[callmemistert1]

@schraut5 thank for the help

[boomanfabo31]

ok thanks

[boomanfabo31]

Thanks for responding, now i do have two questions where should i mount my 8dbi patch antenna high or low to the ground? (to get the best range that is) and, Do you turn the fpv system on before the rc system or the other way around? I have heard if you turn on your fpv system before the rc it ruins the fpv system but do not know. Thanks

[schraut5]

@boomanfabo31 Low to the ground for patch antennas. I don't think that it matters what order you turn them on - never mattered for me!

[boomanfabo31]

@schraut5 Do you think I can fly my rc plane in cold weather? such as 16 to 35 degrees F.

[schraut5]

@boomanfabo31 Absolutely. I fly my planes in Chicago, all winter long. The coldest temp I have flown in was about 5 degrees F, with no problems! Just make sure that the glue and velcro on your plane don't become brittle at that temp!

[boomanfabo31]

nice, I have a spectrum 4xe system. What do you think the range on this is. Does the range increase if you get a more expensive transmitter such as yours a dx7? And I am looking for a 1.2ghz fpv system to start with. Nice video

[schraut5]

@boomanfabo31 Thanks! Unfortunately I am not sure of the transmission power difference between the DX4 and DX7, if there even is a difference. Good luck with your system, let me know if you have any questions

[indrajeet]

@boomanfabo31 Hi there, range is dependant on several factors, including output power and having line of site between the trasnmitter and receiver. Antenna tracking als helps. If you want long range then I think your going in the right direction, lower frequencies travel better over long distances.

[boomanfabo31]

@indrajeet Thank you for your response! I do have a question. I would be using a 1.2ghz 1000mW transmitter, 1.2ghz reciever. and 8dBi patch antenna, So what do you think would be the total range with the antennas set up properly? I would mount the patch close to the ground too. 

[indrajeet]

@boomanfabo31 As I mentioned before, line of site is key to maximising range and ofcourse making sure there is no intereference. With the setup you have mentioned I would estimate that your maximum range (line of site) around 7000 meters. There are website that mention 1.2Ghz 1500mW tranmitters working with ranges up to 15km!!! But this is with patch antennas, antenna tracking and of course line of site. Make sure your patch antenna is facing towards your plane at all times.

[boomanfabo31]

@indrajeet Great thanks for the information and help. Happy Holidays!

[indrajeet]

@boomanfabo31 Happy holidays and happy flying!!!

[indrajeet]

@boomanfabo31 Happy New Year!! How is your project coming along?

[boomanfabo31]

@indrajeet Pretty Good I have it all setup on my plane but I have been having problems. First the video transmitter I got came damaged and the yellow wire connecting into it was out. So me unknowing this would ruin my video transmitter, powered it up. Now I just received a good transmitter but my video receiver is ruined, or at least I think it is because I used to get fuzz with the broken Video tx but one day i got blackness and no fuzz. but I get black with the new video tx video Rx = broke?

[indrajeet]

@boomanfabo31 The yellow wire is the composite video input. If it was damaged then that would explain why your signal was fuzzy. I don't believe that a problem with the transmitter will cause the RX to be damaged since only a radio signal is being sent to the RX.

[boomanfabo31]

@indrajeet Yes but can you explain to me why I get black even with the new video TX.......Do I need to somehow bind the new video TX to the receiver?

[boomanfabo31]

@indrajeet Is there any way of me fixing the video RX? And when I had the broken video TX and powered it up, did this ruin my patch antenna too? the patch antenna is attached to the receiver.

Once again your response is very appreciated! Happy new year as well !!

[indrajeet]

@boomanfabo31 I don't that a faulty TX can damage your receiver or patch antenna since only a radio singal is being transmitter to the RX. I'm quite sure your patch antenna is fine. Any problem is most likely with your TX, make sure the input cables to your TX (power, video input e.t.c) are not loose and have a good connection. Also does your transmitter and receiver have multiple channels? If so, make sure both are set to the same channel.

[boomanfabo31]

@indrajeet I asked the company where I got the system If the broken video tx could ruin the video Rx he responded, "Wow, yes it can definitely damage the receiver if you sent power through the video line." So is this correct?? Your response are appreciated

[boomanfabo31]

@boomanfabo31 And i secured the wires with epoxy

[indrajeet]

@boomanfabo31 no - he is speakinh nonsense and obvioulsy has little knowledge of electronics and radio tranmission. Tell me, if your satellite tv service provider has technical difficulty, or lets say for arguments sake that their transmission station were to blow up!! would your sattelite receiver at home blow up too!! - NO ofcourse is the answer, if I call you with my cellular phone and then attach a grenade to it, will yours blow up too!!!

[indrajeet]

@boomanfabo31 Remember, your TX AND RX and NO electrical connection, your TX simply sends an analogue radio signal to your RX. I think what the guy at the comoany menat to say to you is that if your wire your TX wrong - send power down the video (yellow connector) line then your TX will most likely be damaged, but it wont damage your RX.

[boomanfabo31]

@indrajeet interesting I have everything set up right and on the same channel but I still get blackness. I do not know what is wrong. Looks like I will have to buy a new video rx. But however the fuzz went away when the red cable came out of the video TX so this might be the problem but do not know.

[indrajeet]

@boomanfabo31 You should show a video about it, would help greatly.

[indrajeet]

@boomanfabo31 One more thing I would like to mention, transmitters with high power output generate allot of heat - up 60 degrees celcius, make sure you mount your transmitter in the path of an airflow or on the outside of the plane for maximum cooling. On the transmitter side use a 3dbi antenna.

[Malle743]

Yes yes Yes i have bought me the foxtach 5,8 ghz system :-D :-D

[schraut5]

@Malle743 Great! I have had some great luck with this system. But I have heard that it is even better with circularly polarized antennas. Going to be making myself a pair of them soon

[Malle743]

@schraut5 yes i know but at first i fly with a normal antenna and then comes the tuning :-D

[AntoniodaPisa]

bel lavoro grazie delle info.

nice job thanks for the info

[schraut5]

@AntoniodaPisa Grazie per la visione! Ci sono molti altri video in arrivo!

[Ollie101100]

very helpful vid! how much rc range can you get from your dx7 and which spektrum reciever do you use?

[schraut5]

@Ollie101100 I do not know the absolute range, although I have heard it can reach 1 mile. I have take it to about 3/4 mile with no problems. I am using the AR6210, which has a satellite receiver

[Thercfan123]

Great Video, but do you used a 5 dbi omni-directional or a 5 dbi directional antenna on the receiver of the 5.8ghz 200mw system? Thanks for answer.

[giostarwars]

Nice vid dude helped me out alot and i live in Chicago 2

[schraut5]

@giostarwars Glad that it helped! I fly out at Northerly Island Park, let me know if you want to meet up sometime!

[victour20010]

Great informative video, thanks!

[schraut5]

@victour20010 Thanks for posting! I appreciate the support. Let me know if there are any other videos that you are interested in seeing

[DHubert777]

did you get a filter for the 900mHz system? BEVRC suggests to get one...

[schraut5]

@DHubert777 I didn't. But here in the city limits, where I exclusively fly, there is just a ton of interference on 900 mhz.

[WalneySkyland]

Your 5.8Ghztrx may well only work best in that location with that specific rf background noise... take your kit elsewhere and the background noise may well effect the 5.8 systemfar worse than the 900MHz one.

[schraut5]

@WalneySkyland Totally. But I do fly within city limits, so I figured that I would at least get some of the same interference. Thanks for watching!

[WalneySkyland]

@schraut5 Sorry I didn't that, in that case like you said it was a no brainer. Thanks for the video it was very well thought out and entertaining to watch.

[MegaRallycar]

Hey you from chicago too. Im close to navy peir. I want to get into fpv but i want to use and rc car.

[schraut5]

@MegaRallycar Cool! I am about a mile from navy pier. People FPV from cars too!

[MegaRallycar]

@schraut5 Sweetness. Ya so do is all that in the video what you need to get FPVing

[ShayAxelod22]

is that a DX7 or a DX7s?

[schraut5]

@ShayAxelod22 dx7se

[schraut5]

@ShayAxelod22 dx7se

[schraut5]

@ShayAxelod22 DX7se

[rcflyinguy2]

can you give me a link to those antennas? 3 dbi and the 5 dbi

i can find it for my life hahah!

[schraut5]

@rcflyinguy2 The 3 dbi antenna came with the video system from FoxTechFPV and the 5 dbi is also from them. I am sending you a message right now with the link

[rcflyinguy2]

@schraut5 thanks you so much!

great vidoes!

[Bazdavies1]

Nice one mate--Good to know that the 5.8GHz system seems to work ok. In NZ we are limited to this frequency.

cheers.

[schraut5]

@Bazdavies1 It works great! I have not had any problems with the frequency at all. And I have heard that it is even better with circularly polarized antennas!

[jodde73]

Hey it's 2011, get a cloverleaf and a skew planar wheel, vee or patch.

Static range tests are pretty useless.

[schraut5]

@jodde73 Haha! True! This test has served me well for park flying with very little interference. Regardless, it is key to start somewhere and test out the system in some way before putting it on an aircraft. Just being safe. That being said, my CL and SPW are in the mail

[jodde73]

@schraut5 Sweet! I'm having a hard time soldering them and will probably end up buying some proper made by IBCrazy. My friend's got them for his 5.8 system and they are magic. No multipathing near objects.

Not the same range like vee/patch but no hassle with tracker. Don't forget your rc tx range...

Happy flyin / J , Sweden

[schraut5]

@jodde73 Cool! Someone from RCGroups, from Switzerland, is making me my CL/SPW set and tuning it to my exact frequency. I also have a dragon link system that I have installed and excited to use. Sweden?! Cool! I am half Swedish

[TheJclone]

Got the new 5&6dbi ant. And the CH on my tx are upside down. So it's all good. Thanks for the videos.

[schraut5]

@TheJclone Great! Let me know how your flights go. It has been very windy here in Chicago and I haven't been able to fly for a while now. More videos are on the way as soon as I get out there!

[TheJclone]

Rx and tx same channel? I'm a noob. I can change ch and still see a image. Like ch 2 on tx and 6 on rx. So ch 6 tx with ch 6 rx.

[schraut5]

@TheJclone Definitely. They need to be on the same channel.

[TheJclone]

@schraut5 ok. ty. i think mine is busted? Not clear at all. bummer.

[schraut5]

@TheJclone Im not sure. Did you add a lens to your fpv camera? that needs to be installed correctly or it will be blurry. If the connection is bad, make sure that your connectors to your antennas are all ok

[RcTranMD]

can you mke a video explaning what all the terms mean like dbi and mw

[schraut5]

@RcTranMD I could do that! For now, dbi stands for decibel isotropic. It's a logarithmic unit that is used to indicate the relative power of an antenna and "is a key performance figure which combines the antenna's directivity and electrical efficiency". Since it is a log unit, a 3 dbi antenna is 10x more powerful than a 2 dbi antenna. A 4 dbi antenna is 100x more powerful than a 2dbi antenna and so on.

[schraut5]

@RcTranMD mw = milliwatt. Which means how powerful the output signal is from the video transmitter. The higher the milliwatt output, the stronger signal and thus better video signal and further distances are achievable. BUT, the antennas that are used are WAY more important. They can drastically increase range. The world record round trip flight by nastycop420 is over 20 miles out and he is using a 2.4 ghz 500 mw system

[burghoorn]

Thanks, this answers my previous question. Very clear. Looking forward to your next vids!

[rcflyinguy2]

so i have a dx6i, could i still use the fox tech 5.8G ?

[schraut5]

@rcflyinguy2 Yes! Definitely! A 2.4 ghz RC radio system matches well with a 5.8 FPV video system. I would recommend using a Spektrum receiver with a satellite receiver.

[rcflyinguy2]

@schraut5 thanks you so much for the help! you videos are GREAT!! if it wasnt for these fpv videos, i would have no idea what to do! thank you

[schraut5]

@rcflyinguy2 No problem. Thanks for the support!

[RcPlanesAreAwsome]

Just wondering what DBI stands for. Kinda stupid question but an answer would be appreciated. Thanks, Daniel

[schraut5]

@RcPlanesAreAwsome decibel isotropic. It's a logarithmic unit that is used to indicate the relative power of an antenna and "is a key performance figure which combines the antenna's directivity and electrical efficiency". Since it is a log unit, a 3 dbi antenna is 10x more powerful than a 2 dbi antenna. A 4 dbi antenna is 100x more powerful than a 2dbi antenna and so on.

[edobeirne]

Thanks for that breakdown on the systems. I will definitely take that into consideration when choosing a frequency band.  If you have any future analysis on whether the 900mHz issue was an interference or signal strength problem. And that it was worse despite a more powerful transmitter - something going there.

[schraut5]

@edobeirne 900 mhz is supposed to be a great frequency - I just think that it really depends on where you are flying. Cell phones also transmit on 900 mhz, so in the city there will be lots of interference. But, I live in the city and plan on flying in parks in the city. Thanks for watching!

[lpbug]

dude thanks so much for making this, cause i myself live in urban area (Santa Monica, California) but most fpv flyers are in more rustic areas...anyways just 9 blocks from the beach lol such a waste not flying here... thanks for your guides, now I'm one step closer to fpv!

[schraut5]

@lpbug That sounds amazing! I am trying to rush to get this system up and running before the weather turns crappy here in Chicago. Let me know if you want to see anything else. Thanks for watching. Sub!

[Mena142]

900mhz is much more crowded than 5.8Ghz, cellphones for example use the 900mhz frequency.

[schraut5]

@Mena142 That's what I've heard before. Even though I'm sure it's a great frequency away from people. I live and fly in the city and I need a system that can deal with it. Thanks for posting!

[edmari440]

I'm a very interested noob in FPVrc... thank you for taking the time and effort in helping all of us. Your contributions are appreciated.

[schraut5]

@edmari440 My pleaseure! Just figured that I would document my venture into the world of FPV. Please let me know if there is anything else you want to see and thanks for watching!

[Mena142]

@schraut5 I want to see you (eventually) fly out of your balcony :)

[schraut5]

@Mena142 Haha! I want to! It's so tempting...