There is a lot of FPV equippments available today, so why build new system from the scratch?
In my case: because it was a challenge :-)
I've started years ago with OSD system.
Next project was 4 channel diversity receiver.
After several months I built telemetry (data transmission) between OSD and receiver, to show on LCD display all flight parameters, and of course last position of lost airplane.
Next idea was to add ability to move receiver antenna to point exactly at the airplane. And at the end (so far) connectivity between receiver and PC (laptop) with software to get telemetry data, show airplane track on the map, save it, and export it to Gogle Earth.
Now it is quite complete system, for those who want to flight far away, find lost airplane or even share flight track with other FPV pilots.

Now it's time for some pictures

My osd:

and sample screen


My Diversity receiver


My PC software


and overall diagram of my system in attachement.

Nice work.

Nicely done.

How have you found cost compared to commercial offerings - especially the diversity rxr?
Are there savings to be had or is it just a project of passion?

- Paul.

Originally Posted by Mr Fluffy

How have you found cost compared to commercial offerings - especially the diversity rxr?
Are there savings to be had or is it just a project of passion?

There are two sources of cost: hardware and software/project.
Considering hardware cost (when reproducing this project), savings are significant .
But software and project required a lot of work - hundrets of hours, so its cost is far, far bigger than price of commercially available products .

Prototypes are always expensive, only mass production can make cost low (or just acceptable for customers).

Congratulations on a job well done !
Looks awesome.

wow amazing work, and you do that just for fun. If I had your knowledge, I would be rich today.

Very impressive

NICE!!
I wish i could do that

Some parts of this projects are already available as Do-It-Yourself files, for example OSD board, and diversity receiver.
License for this projects is "wineware" - it means one bottle of wine (or equivalent payed by PayPal).
All files for OSD board (except HEX file, which will be send individually) are available in this FPV forum:
OSD files

Originally Posted by VRflyer

I would be rich today.

So according to this kind of license I would be drunk today

very funny

What chip are you using to generate the video?

Originally Posted by docphi

What chip are you using to generate the video?

Atmega328. All video overlay is produced by the Atmega's software, not hardware. That way I can produce text and graphics, with low cost of hardware.
Of course it is a video mixer on board, but made of transistors, resistors and diodes. This mixer guarantees, that OSD signals do not harm video signal (white/black/sync levels), regardless of camera and actual scene exposure.
Some simple OSD uses single resistor to mix signals, and that can't work properly.
In my OSD you can also change background level of text (with potentiometer)

Wow! I'm not worthy! Great job! How do we get the files to build the diversity receiver?

Wow!! Amazing Work!!! :d

Originally Posted by docphi

How do we get the files to build the diversity receiver?

Diversity receiver uses Comtech DEMO board (video amplifier + audio decoders) and additional Comtech RF modules, plus my control board (with Atmega32 processor).
So far my collegues in Poland built several Diversity receivers, based on modules I've bought directly from Comtech.
DEMO board needs to be tuned, to achieve vivid colors and high picture resolution.
I know that Comtech RF modules are used in stdandard receiver from RangeVideo store, and it is also possible to build my Diversity based on 4 those receivers (or one receiver and 3 additional RF modules).
I can send Diversity files via e-mail.

This video shows how my tracking antenna works.

Tracking antenna test (1 min 48 sec)