Berg 7P Rx for FPV use

[AnthonyRC]

This is something which might interest readers of this new forum.

After getting a little frustrated with 'glitches' while flying FPV I decided to give one of the new Berg 7P receivers a try.

In the past, I had always used the hitec electron 6 receivers, great for long range (3km+), but for low-altitude flights while headtracking, they have proven to be sub-optimal. One of the main problems with these receivers is that when in the presence of other rf sources (like the 2.4GHz video Tx), a temporary loss of signal results in garbage on all channels.

So, the Berg 7P looked interesting, especially the low-cost (~$50), and (PPM) fail-safe feature.

Flight tests so far show that this might be an ideal receiver for FPV. One test flight was quite remarkable, I was able to fly, a few feet off the ground, for what must have been close to a kilometer. This is something that I have never been able to do with the hitec receivers.

Range tests with antenna down look excellent, even with 500mW of 2.4GHz in relatively close proximity.

(I should say that this wasn't sponsored in any way by Castle Creations... but hey, Peter Berg, Castle Creations, if you guys are reading, can I have another couple of these receivers for my other models?... after all, it is Xmas! :) )

[PeteSchug]

Having had very good luck with the four channel Berg, I've been eyeing the seven. Thanks for the report.

I am saving my money for the WRAM show where I expect to go on a full-fledged spending spree.

Pete

[twinturbostang]

Just a little FYI for the newbies...

Remember, the proximity between RC receiver and video Tx can seriously impact performance. It is good practice to locate the two as far away from each other as possible.

[VRflyer]

That is very interesting. I have a b/o presently on a hitec receiver, I will cancel it and order BERG 7 channels.

[PeteSchug]

Just a little FYI for the newbies...

Remember, the proximity between RC receiver and video Tx can seriously impact performance. It is good practice to locate the two as far away from each other as possible.

Maybe it's a good thing I only run 50 mw in my Tiger Moth. The tx and rx are less than two inches apart and the rx antenna runs right by the tx antenna! I used to have them at right angles, but then I stuck the tx inside since the antenna kept getting bent.

I guess the little Berg get a workout. I had a no name rx in the plane I lost (not the fault of the rx) and neither one ever had a glitch that I could notice.

Pete

[twinturbostang]

Yes, of course the transmitter power will have a big impact in any interference. I had a 600mW Tx no more than a couple inches away from my RC receiver, and I was having problems with interference. It wasn't immediately apparent however. I was able to get out about 1/4 mile away from myself, and then started to get glitching. Had I moved the video Tx farther away, I think I could have gotten better range.

[hihptsi]

This is something which might interest readers of this new forum.

After getting a little frustrated with 'glitches' while flying FPV I decided to give one of the new Berg 7P receivers a try.

In the past, I had always used the hitec electron 6 receivers, great for long range (3km+), but for low-altitude flights while headtracking, they have proven to be sub-optimal. One of the main problems with these receivers is that when in the presence of other rf sources (like the 2.4GHz video Tx), a temporary loss of signal results in garbage on all channels.

So, the Berg 7P looked interesting, especially the low-cost (~$50), and (PPM) fail-safe feature.

Flight tests so far show that this might be an ideal receiver for FPV. One test flight was quite remarkable, I was able to fly, a few feet off the ground, for what must have been close to a kilometer. This is something that I have never been able to do with the hitec receivers.

Range tests with antenna down look excellent, even with 500mW of 2.4GHz in relatively close proximity.

(I should say that this wasn't sponsored in any way by Castle Creations... but hey, Peter Berg, Castle Creations, if you guys are reading, can I have another couple of these receivers for my other models?... after all, it is Xmas! :) )

you've made the right choice,the berg 7p is a fine receiver for FPV flying,i been using one since they First came out and will never go back.
the berg has been rock solid for me ive flown it over a mile away and have had no glitches,absolutly rock solid performance,i cannot say enough good about it :) its computer programmable with castle link ,has failsafe,and allot of other nice features at only 8 grams. i range checked it onetime and was surprised at the results,with the plane sitting on the ground rx antenna facing away from me,BWAV 600 mw transmitter was powered up,i walked away from the plane with my tx antenna colapsed facing away from the airplane.i was about a quarter mile away and it was confirmed by my friend no interference,no jitters,and servoes turned when i turned the stick. just like it should!


i keep pushing this receiver farther and farther and have no worries about doing so.

[twinturbostang]

hihptsi: Sounds great! Care to give some more info on your setup? Like plane, components used, distance between RC receiver and video Tx, etc.

[hihptsi]

hihptsi: Sounds great! Care to give some more info on your setup? Like plane, components used, distance between RC receiver and video Tx, etc.



sure, im running a easystar with my 72" wing mod,its running a CC phx 25,Berg7P,BWAV 600mw transmitter,FMA copilot cpd4.align 430l 2550 kv moter, MAS 3blade 6X4 prop (WOT 22.5 amps@240 watts),HS65HB servos.optio s5z,prism.3s 2100 lipos main,450mah 2s lipo for Video transmitter.

the berg7p and the FMA copilot box are mounted together on a carbon fiber plate that velcros to the bottom in the nose of the easystar.my Bwav transmitter is approx 9" away in the rear part of the canopy the antenna for the bwav comes out on the right side of the aircraft angles down slightly,the Berg7 p antenna is exited via a hole in the side of the fuselage and strung down the length of the fuselage on the left side of the aircraft opposite the Bwav aerial.

also i installed ferrite rings on EVERYTHING!! Esc,servos,etc. align sells nice ferrite rings for 2 bux for 3 and they fit perfectly on servo leads and add minimal weight.

have a good one!
Walter

[twinturbostang]

Thanks for the info! Do you see any improvement using the ferrite rings?

[hihptsi]

Thanks for the info! Do you see any improvement using the ferrite rings?


no,never had any glitching issues, so couldent tell you if it made an improvement,i put them on there just for good measure to eliminate anything should it arise :)

have a good one
Walter

[AnthonyRC]

Just an update on progress with the Berg. Today I had my first 'incident' with it, but it was my own fault, and it performed exactly as it should...

I was about a mile away from me, and about 6ft off the ground (chasing a farm track), flying a video-equipped SlowStick. I made the mistake of pointing the Tx antenna at the plane (easy to do when flying via goggles, since you don't really know where the plane is relative to yourself).
The fail-safe cut in, as it should, but when I set it up I didn't have the camera attached. This meant that the motor cut, rudder and elevator did what they should, but the camera swung around 90 degrees.
I realized what I had done, re-oriented the Tx antenna vertically, the failsafe deactivated, but it was too late. No damage though, and flew again a little later.

So, to summarise:
1) The Berg did amazingly well to let me fly so low this far out
2) When programming your failsafe, make sure that the camera is correctly positioned also (at least you'll know where you crash :-)
3) Try to avoid pointing the Tx antenna at the plane (a lot more difficult than it is when flying without goggles)

[John O'Sullivan]

Gee Whiz! AnthonyRC,
You must have amazing eyesight to see a Slow Stick ( 1.3 m span?) at 1 mile distance (5,000 ft +)and to do so at a six foot altitude.
John

OOPS! just realized that this is FPV and not direct line visual stuff.

I have more than half a dozen Berg receivers (old and new) and have no reason to trust my best models to anything less.

John

[PeteSchug]

Bit of sillyness.

I ordered a pair of

"Berg by Castle Creations 7P Programmable Receiver"

from one of the places that responds very quickly. I've always gotten excellent service and amazingly quick delivery. Once again they out did themselves and I got my order in only two or three days! That was the good part. The bad part is that I got a pair of

Pixie-7P by Castle Creations

They got the 7P right, and the Castle Creations, but somehow I don't think it's gonna work.

Oh well, I wasn't planning to fly this weekend anyway!

Pete

[PeteSchug]

Bit of sillyness.

I ordered a pair of

"Berg by Castle Creations 7P Programmable Receiver"

from one of the places that responds very quickly. I've always gotten excellent service and amazingly quick delivery. Once again they out did themselves and I got my order in only two or three days! That was the good part. The bad part is that I got a pair of

Pixie-7P by Castle Creations

They got the 7P right, and the Castle Creations, but somehow I don't think it's gonna work.

Oh well, I wasn't planning to fly this weekend anyway!

Pete

[AnthonyRC]

That is pretty funny... wouldn't be too bad if they sent you something worth more, but hey, these things are $29 a piece :-)