Originally Posted by Eagle202

So about how much would the RVOSD5 and the rangevideo OSD cost?

Well Rvosd5 (osd and autopilot) is $299- but in my opinion it's the best one going-includes reputedly the most accurate IMU/artificial horizon, return to home (essential insurance to have, especially flying fpv long distances), fly by wire stabilization etc- check out http://www.rangevideo.com/index.php?...roducts_id=135 for more info on rvosd5 & their other fpv products- or get a cheaper osd with rth ike nova osd that bmsweb just posted a video of combined with the amp and patch antenna-rth, especially flying rc frequency at 2.4 ghz IMHO is essential insurance to ensure your investment comes home in one piece

Originally Posted by TheSelf

Well Rvosd5 (osd and autopilot) is $299- but in my opinion it's the best one going-includes reputedly the most accurate IMU/artificial horizon, return to home (essential insurance to have, especially flying fpv long distances), fly by wire stabilization etc- check out http://www.rangevideo.com/index.php?...roducts_id=135 for more info on rvosd5 & their other fpv products- or get a cheaper osd with rth ike nova osd that bmsweb just posted a video of combined with the amp and patch antenna-rth, especially flying rc frequency at 2.4 ghz IMHO is essential insurance to ensure your investment comes home in one piece

Thanks for the weblink. That is pretty cool stuff.

Do you know if the FrSky system works well on a Spectrum DX6i TX?

I use FY31AP and Hornet OSD with no complaints. Though it's configuration is not as complete as RVOSD5 it is just as capable, the IMU and Art. Horizon are pretty good and fast, I do believe it's a little lighter and smaller. Plus RVOSD requires PPM which was the deal breaker for me because I wasn't going to spend another $50 for a PWM to PPM board.

I haven't had to rely on it yet, but I have tested my RTH quite a few times and it always comes right back to me, plus now that I have this new motor and prop and have gotten rid of vibrations I will really push the limits, my next flight I plan to climb until I have used up 2000mah of my 2700mah battery and see how high up I can get, I am guesstimating 6000 to 9000 feet, then see how long it takes to glide back down, I also plan to do a flight where I just go straight until RTH totally kicks in :P.

Originally Posted by NorCalMatCat

I use FY31AP and Hornet OSD with no complaints. Though it's configuration is not as complete as RVOSD5 it is just as capable, the IMU and Art. Horizon are pretty good and fast, I do believe it's a little lighter and smaller. Plus RVOSD requires PPM which was the deal breaker for me because I wasn't going to spend another $50 for a PWM to PPM board.

I haven't had to rely on it yet, but I have tested my RTH quite a few times and it always comes right back to me, plus now that I have this new motor and prop and have gotten rid of vibrations I will really push the limits, my next flight I plan to climb until I have used up 2000mah of my 2700mah battery and see how high up I can get, I am guesstimating 6000 to 9000 feet, then see how long it takes to glide back down, I also plan to do a flight where I just go straight until RTH totally kicks in :P.

I see the value (and cost) of the RVOSD system. I'm nowhere near purchasing anything but I would like to start setting up a compare list with pros and cons when I finally pull the trigger on FPV.

Good luck with your new motor. Hope you make you height goal. As for the flying until the RTH kicks in. You may want to put a GPS tracker on that thing in case you lose power and it get lost.

Too bad no one has come up with an easy way to have a reserve battery kick in when the primary gets low. Now that would be something that might sell.

Originally Posted by Eagle202

I see the value (and cost) of the RVOSD system. I'm nowhere near purchasing anything but I would like to start setting up a compare list with pros and cons when I finally pull the trigger on FPV.

Good luck with your new motor. Hope you make you height goal. As for the flying until the RTH kicks in. You may want to put a GPS tracker on that thing in case you lose power and it get lost.

Too bad no one has come up with an easy way to have a reserve battery kick in when the primary gets low. Now that would be something that might sell.

It has GPS, plus I record my video transmission. I did lose motor the other day (because of RX plug for ESC coming lose) about 1.2km out and only at about 120 meters altitude, but I managed to come to an ok emergency landing only 200 meters away from myself.

There is always a risk, I could have a bird unexpectedly attack me, a freak gust of wind, mechanical failure, anything COULD go wrong, so I minus just well push the limits and hope all works out .

Originally Posted by Eagle202

Thanks for the weblink. That is pretty cool stuff.

Do you know if the FrSky system works well on a Spectrum DX6i TX?

I don't know personally - but I just checked the Frsky 7dbi patch product discussion page and someonr confirmed this fit does spektrum antennas- and someone else with a dx6i asked if it will fit onto it and someone replied to say only if you fabricate a new connector cable- and make the SMA connector mod- which can be done by googling subject- might be worth reading the discussion page and doing more research- obviously as it's a patch antenna- it is directional and would mean you would have to keep it pointed towards your aircraft all the time

Originally Posted by Eagle202

I see the value (and cost) of the RVOSD system. I'm nowhere near purchasing anything but I would like to start setting up a compare list with pros and cons when I finally pull the trigger on FPV.

Good luck with your new motor. Hope you make you height goal. As for the flying until the RTH kicks in. You may want to put a GPS tracker on that thing in case you lose power and it get lost.

Too bad no one has come up with an easy way to have a reserve battery kick in when the primary gets low. Now that would be something that might sell.

RVOSD has an aux battery feature. It will drain from the battery with highest voltage.

Originally Posted by TheSelf

I don't know personally - but I just checked the Frsky 7dbi patch product discussion page and someonr confirmed this fit does spektrum antennas- and someone else with a dx6i asked if it will fit onto it and someone replied to say only if you fabricate a new connector cable- and make the SMA connector mod- which can be done by googling subject- might be worth reading the discussion page and doing more research- obviously as it's a patch antenna- it is directional and would mean you would have to keep it pointed towards your aircraft all the time

Thanks. I do not really want to dive into my Spektrum and do something that would void and support that would give me.

I guess I will just wait until I can build up my funds to get a used Futaba or JR.

Originally Posted by iskess

RVOSD has an aux battery feature. It will drain from the battery with highest voltage.

That would help. I was thinking more of a stand-by fully charged battery that would become the power source and have the almost drained battery taken out of the circuit.

I figured a heavy duty relay or very small contactor controlled automatically from a Low Voltage alarm or manually using a aux output on the receiver.

This would be the same circuit used in power backup systems fed from two different sources. If the primary source failed or hit a trigger point the secondary would be put into the circuit and take over.

Just thinking out loud.

anyone here got any feedback on how to cut access hatches in either the side or the belly of the fuse as some you have done, but without messing with the pushrods on the sides or carbon fiber rod along the belly? thanks-otherwise I'm thinking of possibly screw the halves together with nylon screws/bolts, with double sided tape in between- instead of glue or even magnets- for east re-access to the 'innards' as well as possibly creating an access hatch, but don't want to have to mess with the push rods or carbon fiber rod..

Originally Posted by Eagle202

Thanks. I do not really want to dive into my Spektrum and do something that would void and support that would give me.

I guess I will just wait until I can build up my funds to get a used Futaba or JR.

here's a thread on someone who tried it:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1523224

otherwise you can still try boosting/amplifying your spektrum transmission: http://www.diydrones.com/profiles/bl...ost-your-24ghz

Originally Posted by TheSelf

here's a thread on someone who tried it:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1523224

otherwise you can still try boosting/amplifying your spektrum transmission: http://www.diydrones.com/profiles/bl...ost-your-24ghz

That second link looks interesting. Thanks

Just read the second link myself and find it very interesting also. But the comments are all from 2009???

Originally Posted by Maddmax

Just read the second link myself and find it very interesting also. But the comments are all from 2009???

My gawd, don't time fly when you'r having fun.

Daemon put together a few clips of my Sky Surfer from the CO FPV meet last weekend. We had bumpy air most of the time, but having a roll gyro helped take the work load off me correcting for cross wind gusts.

2012 FPV FPV Meet - Sky Surfer chases bike (3 min 4 sec)