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Trying FPV for First Time

PostPosted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:24 pm
by indianaflyer
Hi all! First post on these boards. I found these boards through the videos from RC Model Reviews. I have to say I love the reviews and honesty
in the reviews.

I'm still a newbie to R.C. flying. I started with fixed pitch helicopters and the headaches of flying and repairing them. I stumbled upon a Harbor Freight
glider and instantly fell in love with it. Since then I've been flying an FPV Raptor and love it and also a new Phoenix Evolution X. I also have an 808 #16 and #18 and love flying with my cameras on them. I'm really getting into electric gliders. They are a joy to fly.

So now I want to to get into basic FPV. I'm in Indiana and I use a Spektrum DX6i. I know I need to start small and all I want to do is fly out at most a mile. Two miles would be awesome. I'm looking for advice on good and solid equipment to buy.

I'm not sure where to start. I've visited other boards but they all seem heavily into it and I'm a little intimidated. I'm looking for basic advice for a basic set up and equipment, things I can buy at a good price online and put it all together. Also, it's not mandatory for me to start out with goggles. I would be OK flying by sight while sending the video signal back to a monitor for another person to watch. After I successfully do that I would then make the jump to goggles. I'm willing to take it slow and start basic and build up.

So, I have the gliders and the receivers/TX. Now I need the camera/video TX and the video receiver. Where do I start?

Thanks!

Re: Trying FPV for First Time

PostPosted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 8:28 pm
by RCModelReviews
I'll be trying to get the rest of the FPV made easy series of videos and articles completed in the next couple of weeks, that should help.

It's worth noting that some folk have had problems trying to do FPV with DSM2 so if your DX6i supports DSMX I'd make sure I'm using a DSMX receiver for your FPV flying.

Most 2.4GHz RC gear should give you about 2.5-3.5Kms of range. Last weekend I heard of a FrSky system with 200mW 5.8GHz video setup and a 5-turn helical antenna flying to 4.3kms which is 2.7 miles.

Re: Trying FPV for First Time

PostPosted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:57 am
by indianaflyer
I look forward to your videos and I hope you come out with them soon.

My DX6i is a a DSMX TX. I've been using those orange Spektrum receivers and they say DSM2 on them but compatible with DSMX. I assume it would be best to
get an official DSMX receiver.

I really want to get into basic FPV very soon. I'm willing to buy the equipment from China and willing to take the chance on bad quality stuff if the price is low
enough. It doesn't look like you need a lot of different equipment to start but I'm not sure where to start. If I could start at 1/4 a mile to 1 mile, that would be awesome!

There sure are a lot of neat things you can get for planes/gliders. I recently purchased a little card that will record my altitude. It hasn't come yet but I can't wait to try it out once I get it.

Re: Trying FPV for First Time

PostPosted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 12:25 am
by Quad k
Sounds like I'm in the same boat, new to RC flying 6-7 months with same Tx. Still gathering info on equip needed to start up FPV. Looking forward to the build & flight time.
Good luck

Re: Trying FPV for First Time

PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:30 am
by S-rob
indianaflyer wrote: My DX6i is a a DSMX TX. I've been using those orange Spektrum receivers and they say DSM2 on them but compatible with DSMX. I assume it would be best to
get an official DSMX receiver.


I think the Orange are DSM2 only. They do still work with DSMX radio's (I have a DSMX DX6i)
From what Ive seen from vids testing Orange (on youtube)
the 6 ch orange are the worst of the Bunch, NEVER use a sat rx with the 6CH , due to the HUGE lag if the signal is coming from the sat rx.(only an issue with 6ch Orange)
7 Ch orange are considerably better & work well with the orange Sat rx's

Re: Trying FPV for First Time

PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 7:46 am
by rogueqd
Just go out and buy the basics. You don't need anything flash to get out half a mile or so and you'll find that fun/scary enough to start.

Get a 5.8Ghz 200mw video setup, a decent CCD camera (with wide dynamic range) and the best viewing screen you can afford, and just get out there and have a go. There's no need for an OSD or anything fancy as long as you stay within half a mile. Spend time ground testing your gear and keep your first few flights within a couple of hundred yards. You'll have heaps of fun and can add more bells and whistles when you're ready.

Re: Trying FPV for First Time

PostPosted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 1:04 am
by indianaflyer
Quad k wrote:Sounds like I'm in the same boat, new to RC flying 6-7 months with same Tx. Still gathering info on equip needed to start up FPV. Looking forward to the build & flight time.
Good luck



Good luck to you too.

I have an FPV Raptor. My new ESC and UBEC came from Hobbyking last month and my wire I ordered three weeks ago came a few days ago. So now I need to wire my new ESC and UBEC and put them in my Raptor. My main question right now is the ESC and battery cable length. I've read many times that it's bad to have long cables from the ESC to battery. But in my Raptor, the stock ESC is in the cowling that holds the motor and has long wires that run to the battery in the nose. That's the way I want to do it. But the instructions that came with my Mystery ESC 40amp says not to run ESC to battery wires more than six inches. I want to run the wires twelve inches but probably no more. I've read another forum with a big discussion on this. But then again, no one has ever said they personally had a ESC go out because of long cables/wires to the ESC. I'm going to have to have to make a decision and I"m running 12 inches between my ESC and battery. That's how I'll start out anyway. Once I get that set up I'll start looking very seriously about buying my first video equipment.

Re: Trying FPV for First Time

PostPosted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 1:23 am
by pldb64
IndianaFlyer,

You might want to do a quick search on here for HallMarks thread on building his Raptor. I seem to recall he was asking the same question about a week or so ago. Sounds like your build is only slightly behind his!

Re: Trying FPV for First Time

PostPosted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 1:51 am
by cynr100
Here you go, just to save you some time :D

viewtopic.php?f=51&t=1602

Dennis

Re: Trying FPV for First Time

PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:25 am
by Hallmark
Hello IndianFlyer,

Welome to the forums and thanks for including us in your project group.

I have also heard that long wires from the battery to the ESC can cause failures, but I cannot find anyone who has had this happen. I also think that this rule is more likely to apply to faster higher Amp pulling planes and ESCs. However, you can move your ESC to the top of the wing and lessen the distance some that way.

That said, I am going to trial my ESC in the tower and see what the telemetry tells me as well as tempratures etc immediately after landings. I am about to start a dedicated FY-31AP and Hornet OSD thread here for when you (and any others) are ready to go there.

What size is your Raptor and how was it for trimming in etc? I also suggest you look at getting different servos before you install other radio gear as I hear that the stock set up is a bit unreliable.

Welcome again and we hope to see lots of posts from you and about your learning experiences. :)

Hallmark