Newbie question

[jhtitan]

I had recently bought a cheap $40 2.4Ghz spy cam tx/rx set up from ebay to try out some FPV video capture, as a prelude to FPV flying. anyone have any tips for increasing the range on one of these to get a little better video quality?
I am flying foamie park fliers and not flying out of my LOS but the cam loses signal at very minimal altitude on a 36" WS foamie.

Just thought I would ask here I know most of you have much higher power TX's in your planes for FPV, I plan on getting there soon but just wanted to make some flight vids for right now. not trying to fly from FPV just recording.

Thanks in advance

Jon

[scrtsqrl]

I had recently bought a cheap $40 2.4Ghz spy cam tx/rx set up from ebay to try out some FPV video capture, as a prelude to FPV flying. anyone have any tips for increasing the range on one of these to get a little better video quality?
I am flying foamie park fliers and not flying out of my LOS but the cam loses signal at very minimal altitude on a 36" WS foamie.

Just thought I would ask here I know most of you have much higher power TX's in your planes for FPV, I plan on getting there soon but just wanted to make some flight vids for right now. not trying to fly from FPV just recording.

Thanks in advance

Jon

Build one of these. Easily doubles the range. Just keep it pointed at the plane.

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html

Hope that helps.

[jhtitan]

Build one of these. Easily doubles the range. Just keep it pointed at the plane.

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html

Hope that helps.


How closely pointed are we talking? like strap it to my head so I am always pointing it at the plane/or have someone pointing it at the plane the whole time?

or point it in the direction I will be flying and stay in front of it?

Is it a tight aim or do I have some room if I am flying by myself?

thanks
Jon

[scrtsqrl]

How closely pointed are we talking? like strap it to my head so I am always pointing it at the plane/or have someone pointing it at the plane the whole time?

or point it in the direction I will be flying and stay in front of it?

Is it a tight aim or do I have some room if I am flying by myself?

thanks
Jon

Just stay in front of it. Think of the flying area as an oval in front of it as depicted in the "Pattern (F4)" in the link. If you are close, you can pretty much fly circles around it...the further you go the more accurately you have to point it. I have it mounted on my flight bag that I wear around my neck. I listen for the motor to keep it pointed at the plane.

Some details here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=12028051&postcount=774

[grenadapult]

JHTitan and I fly together, so he linked me to this thread. Great antenna shield! Just wondering, is there any way to make something similar to hang on the bottom of the plane? I was thinking about a flat panel, not concave, to help a little at the aircraft end. You wouldn't want it as directional obviously, what if you turn the airplane around?!! But we're always kind of under it. Would it help the range, or hurt it??

[aaron_gx]

you dont want to start focusing the signal transmitted from the plane, as you will definately lose signal in turns, dives, climbs etc... Depending on how the transmitter from ebay is set up, you may be able to change the antenna. Most 2.4ghz antennas are omni-directional 3db. They are likely the best antenna for the plane side.

If you build this antenna reflector for the ground reciever, you will notice a BIG difference in reception. The 3db on the reciever side just wont cut it at low transmission powers.

Do you happen to have a link to the camera/tx/rx you bought?

[jhtitan]

I thought it was from EBay but it was from raiden tech.
Heres a link to it

http://www.raidentech.com/24ghzmiwicoc.html

Thanks
Jon

[Martin Y]

I got something simular but at Future shop to screw with. Range sucked but then I tryied a 7 db antenna on the RX and that improved quit a bit.

[aaron_gx]

The camera pictured with built in transmitter usually limited to 10mW. Fairly weak signal, you will need to stay relatively close to your receiver, but the antenna reflector, or if you happen to find a 2.4G patch antenna it will greatly improve the situation.