Put it at the bottom of a rectangular cardboard box. Make a slit at the end to look through with the screen at the bottom.

I stole this idea from a military FPV system I saw on the web. This is after I bought a 10,000 nits outdoor viewable screen and had it wash out in daylight....

-Ken

Originally Posted by Andology

here's my old Ground Station.. Designed & used for my Aerial Photography business..

http://vimeo.com/7675601

I'm just finishing up on a much sexier version with bigger screen, more modular, and geared more towards FPV..

Anyway, check it out, see what you think.

Cheers

Andy

Stunning! Do you still do AP?
Ad

Originally Posted by Lomcevac

Stunning! Do you still do AP?
Ad

Naa, not since leaving Thailand (left Thailand, then lived in Cyprus for around 3 years, and basically just got back to UK after 10 years of being abroad... got back here around 5 months ago...

Still got most of my equipment, but got rid of Helum balloon and JR GSR 26cc heli just before leaving Thailand... I switched to electric since then..

I may try doing some here in UK... just crap weather and not very inspiring subject matter

Cheers

And

Originally Posted by Andology

I may try doing some here in UK... just crap weather and not very inspiring subject matter

Cheers

And

You've not seen Hogster's work then.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1067009

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1048665

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1047192

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=879521

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=940977

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=904015

wow, they are some beautiful shots man... seriously...

Thanks for the links man, I'm inspired!!!

Cheers

Andy

Well my base isn't much, but it works for me. I just open it up, plug in the battery and put on the glasses. The box has all of my antennas and FPV gear inside it so it makes for easy carrying. The patch antenna is mounted on the lid and propped up at the appropriate angle.

-Alex

Andy I love your ground station not only is it well laid out but great craftman ship.The brits are great crafts men though we shouldnt exspect anything less lols. Nice one.
Regards Liam.

I like Alexes ground station, its something most of us could do and not take a year to complete it Andology's station is relly great, I would like to see schematics and code here so that we would could do something similar ( Hint Hint ).

Mike

Andy is probably gone after his last thread.

Originally Posted by JettPilot

I like Alexes ground station, its something most of us could do and not take a year to complete it Andology's station is relly great, I would like to see schematics and code here so that we would could do something similar ( Hint Hint ).

Mike

Mike why would you want to make a GS that complicated, I don't see any benefit to it? Ok it beeps and has pretty lights but wheres the beef?

I am just about finished with my ground station. Nothing flashy but should get the job done. Hoping for some good weather over the Thanksgiving break to test it out.

...

Hey Sugarland,
I'm from Clearlake. Know any good places to fly FPV near Houston?

Someone asked about the "Windsurfer" Antenna Reflector:

"Windsurfer" Antenna Booster. (5 min 3 sec)

Notice the solid video at 2.1 km...I use a 200mW VTx...

Here's how the base station is worn:

Originally Posted by scrape

Andy is probably gone after his last thread.

I'm still here....

Just lingering.

My last thread kinda exploded so i quietly "walked away" and hid behind a sofa lol..

Originally Posted by JettPilot

Andology's station is relly great, I would like to see schematics and code here so that we would could do something similar ( Hint Hint ).
(

BS2 Code running in Ground Station (this is the pre-final code that i wrote, the code i re-wrote after this is more efficient but very difficult to read & follow, but essentially (functionally the same).

' {$STAMP BS2}
' {$PBASIC 2.5}

'--------------------------------------------
      '*** SETUP STUFF ***

'Attach names to I/O values


'POWER CONTROL OUTPUTS
TV PIN 15
OUTPUT TV

RF PIN 14
OUTPUT RF

'RGB LED OUTPUTS
RLED PIN 10
OUTPUT RLED

GLED PIN 9
OUTPUT RLED

BLED PIN 8
OUTPUT BLED

'SPEAKER OUTPUT
SPKR PIN 12
OUTPUT SPKR

'AERIAL STUFF
SERVO PIN 6
OUTPUT SERVO

LIGHT PIN 3
OUTPUT LIGHT

'INPUTS
PWRBUT PIN 7
INPUT PWRBUT

AERIALSENSOR PIN 2
INPUT AERIALSENSOR

'DECLARE VARIABLE TYPES
counter VAR Word
timer VAR Word
pulseCount VAR Word
x VAR Byte
ModeSet VAR Word
aerialPos VAR Word
timeDelay VAR Word


timeDelay = 5000     '5000 =  17 minutes (+/-1) 1 loop = 0.2 seconds




'--------------------------------------------
'--------------------------------------------
'--------------------------------------------
'--------------------------------------------



      '*** MAIN PROGRAM ***


GOSUB AerialIn

'-------------------------------------------#
 Standby:
'-------------------------------------------#
ModeSet = 0
GOSUB Scan

'flash white & beep
FOR x = 1 TO 4
HIGH RLED
HIGH GLED
HIGH BLED
PAUSE 5
FREQOUT SPKR, 12, 1200+(1500*x)
FREQOUT SPKR, 6, 1000+(1500*x)
LOW RLED
LOW GLED
LOW BLED
PAUSE 25
NEXT
PAUSE 50
HIGH RLED
HIGH GLED
HIGH BLED
FREQOUT SPKR, 10, 3200
LOW RLED
LOW GLED
LOW BLED
PAUSE 100


'switch colour red ---> yellow
FOR x = 1 TO 150
GOSUB Scan
PWM RLED,150, 4
PWM GLED,x, 4
NEXT


'switch colour yellow ---> green
FOR x = 1 TO 150
GOSUB Scan
PWM RLED,(150-x), 4
PWM GLED,150, 4
NEXT


'switch colour green ---> cyan
FOR x = 1 TO 150
GOSUB Scan
PWM BLED,x, 4
PWM GLED,150, 4
NEXT


'switch colour cyan ---> blue
FOR x = 1 TO 150
GOSUB Scan
PWM BLED,150, 4
PWM GLED,(150-x), 4
NEXT


'switch colour blue ---> purple
FOR x = 1 TO 150
GOSUB Scan
PWM BLED,150, 4
PWM RLED,(x/3), 4
NEXT

'repeat

GOTO Standby


'----------------------------------------------


      '*** SUB ROUTINES ***

'-------------------------------------------#
 Scan:
'-------------------------------------------#
'scan sensors & buttons

IF PWRBUT=1 THEN ChangeMode
IF AERIALSENSOR=1 AND aerialPos = 0 THEN GOSUB AerialOut
IF AERIALSENSOR=0 AND aerialPos = 1 THEN GOSUB AerialIn
RETURN



'-------------------------------------------#
 ChangeMode:
'-------------------------------------------#
'switch operation mode

IF ModeSet = 0 THEN Mode1
IF ModeSet = 1 THEN Mode2
IF ModeSet = 2 THEN ShutDown
IF ModeSet = 3 THEN Mode1


'-------------------------------------------#
 Mode1:
'-------------------------------------------#
'Green Mode:
ModeSet = 1
timer = 1
'initiate button acknowledgement
'turn off stuff that shouldnt be on
LOW RF

'Turn on TV
HIGH TV

GOSUB BeepCommand
GOSUB Scan
LOW RLED
LOW GLED
LOW BLED
PAUSE 250


' beep & flash into mode green
FOR x = 1 TO 15
GOSUB Scan
PWM GLED,x*10, 5
PWM RLED,150-(x*10), 5
FREQOUT SPKR, 5, (3000+(x*200))
PAUSE 8
NEXT

GOSUB Scan

GOSUB BeepConf


'#---CYCLING---#

CycleR:
HIGH GLED
PAUSE 50
GOSUB Scan

IF timer = timeDelay THEN AutoShutdownR
PAUSE 50
GOSUB Scan
PAUSE 50
GOSUB Scan
timer = timer + 1

GOTO CycleR


AutoShutdownR:
LOW GLED
FOR x = 1 TO 20
HIGH RLED
FREQOUT SPKR, 10, 4800
PAUSE 40
LOW RLED
PAUSE 100
HIGH RLED
FREQOUT SPKR, 10, 4800
PAUSE 40
LOW RLED
IF PWRBUT=1 THEN GoBackToR
PAUSE 100
IF PWRBUT=1 THEN GoBackToR
PAUSE 100
IF PWRBUT=1 THEN GoBackToR
PAUSE 100
IF PWRBUT=1 THEN GoBackToR
PAUSE 100
IF PWRBUT=1 THEN GoBackToR

NEXT

GOTO ShutDown


GoBackToR:
GOSUB BeepConf
timer =1
GOTO CycleR



'-------------------------------------------#
 Mode2:
'-------------------------------------------#
'Blue Mode:
ModeSet = 2
timer = 1

'turn on RF


'Turn on TV
HIGH TV

GOSUB BeepCommand
GOSUB Scan
LOW RLED
LOW GLED
LOW BLED
PAUSE 250

HIGH RF
' beep & flash into mode blue
FOR x = 1 TO 15
GOSUB Scan
PWM RLED,150-(x*10), 5
PWM BLED,x*10, 5
FREQOUT SPKR, 5, (3000+(x*200))
PAUSE 8
NEXT


GOSUB Scan

GOSUB BeepConf


'#---CYCLING---#

CycleM:
HIGH BLED
PAUSE 50
GOSUB Scan
PAUSE 50

IF timer = timeDelay THEN AutoShutdownM
PAUSE 100
GOSUB Scan

timer = timer + 1

GOTO CycleM


AutoShutdownM:
LOW BLED
FOR x = 1 TO 20
HIGH RLED
FREQOUT SPKR, 10, 4800
PAUSE 40
LOW RLED
PAUSE 100
HIGH RLED
FREQOUT SPKR, 10, 4800
PAUSE 40
LOW RLED
IF PWRBUT=1 THEN GoBackToM
PAUSE 100
IF PWRBUT=1 THEN GoBackToM
PAUSE 100
IF PWRBUT=1 THEN GoBackToM
PAUSE 100
IF PWRBUT=1 THEN GoBackToM
PAUSE 100
IF PWRBUT=1 THEN GoBackToM

NEXT

GOTO ShutDown


GoBackToM:
GOSUB BeepConf
timer =1
GOTO CycleM



'-------------------------------------------#
 ShutDown:
'-------------------------------------------#
'Power down to standby mode:
ModeSet = 3
'initiate button acknowledgement
GOSUB BeepCommand
LOW RLED
LOW GLED
LOW BLED
PAUSE 250


'Shut Telly servo and ramp LED & beep
FOR x = 1 TO 20
GOSUB Scan
PWM RLED,x*7, 5
PWM BLED,150-(x*7), 5
FREQOUT SPKR, 5, (6000-(x*200))
PAUSE 8
NEXT

PAUSE 120


GOSUB Scan

LOW RF
LOW TV

FOR x = 1 TO 20
FREQOUT SPKR,25-x, 2500-(x*90)
PAUSE 5
GOSUB Scan
PWM RLED,150-(x*7), 5
NEXT

PAUSE 100
FREQOUT SPKR,20, 1800
FOR x = 1 TO 50
PWM RLED,150-(x*3), 5
NEXT

PAUSE 100
FREQOUT SPKR,70, 1500
FOR x = 1 TO 50
PWM RLED,150-(x*3), 5
NEXT


'delay before re-entering standby

FOR x = 1 TO 200
GOSUB Scan
PAUSE 100
NEXT



GOTO Standby


'-------------------------------------------#
'SOUND EFFECTS
'-------------------------------------------#


'Beep Command issued
BeepCommand:

'reset colours
LOW RLED
LOW GLED
LOW BLED


HIGH RLED
HIGH GLED
HIGH BLED

FREQOUT SPKR, 30, 4650
PAUSE 30

LOW RLED
LOW GLED
LOW BLED

PAUSE 30
IF ModeSet = 1 THEN rFlash
IF ModeSet = 2 THEN mFlash
IF ModeSet = 3 THEN pFlash


 rFlash:

HIGH GLED
FREQOUT SPKR,30, 4870
PAUSE 50
LOW GLED
GOTO continue


 mFlash:

HIGH BLED
FREQOUT SPKR,30, 4870
PAUSE 50
LOW BLED
GOTO continue

 pFlash:

HIGH RLED
FREQOUT SPKR,30, 4870
PAUSE 50
LOW RLED
GOTO continue


continue:
PAUSE 200
HIGH RLED
HIGH GLED
HIGH BLED
FREQOUT SPKR,20, 4870
LOW RLED
LOW GLED
LOW BLED
RETURN

'--------------------------------------------

'Beep Confirmation  task complete
BeepConf:

'reset colours
LOW RLED
LOW GLED
LOW BLED

HIGH RLED
HIGH GLED
HIGH BLED
FREQOUT SPKR, 30, 3260
LOW RLED
LOW GLED
LOW BLED
PAUSE 40
HIGH RLED
HIGH GLED
HIGH BLED
FREQOUT SPKR, 20, 4800
LOW RLED
LOW GLED
LOW BLED
RETURN

'--------------------------------------------



'-------------------------------------------#
 AerialIn:
'-------------------------------------------#

'double check
FOR x = 1 TO 4
HIGH RLED
FREQOUT SPKR, 20, 4800
LOW RLED
PAUSE 200
IF AERIALSENSOR=1 THEN RETURN
NEXT

'close
AerialInCont:
FOR x = 1 TO 15
HIGH RLED
PULSOUT SERVO, 520
PAUSE 20
LOW RLED
PAUSE 20
NEXT

DEBUG "Aerial Socket Closed", CR
LOW LIGHT
aerialPos = 0
RETURN


'-------------------------------------------#
 AerialOut:
'-------------------------------------------#
'open

'beep warning about to open

FOR x = 1 TO 10
HIGH RLED
FREQOUT SPKR, 20, 4800
LOW RLED
PAUSE 50
IF AERIALSENSOR=0 THEN RETURN
NEXT

HIGH LIGHT
FOR x = 1 TO 15
HIGH RLED
PULSOUT SERVO, 1150
PAUSE 20
LOW RLED
PAUSE 20
NEXT

DEBUG "Aerial Socket Open", CR
aerialPos = 1
RETURN

Originally Posted by Tarro

Mike why would you want to make a GS that complicated, I don't see any benefit to it? Ok it beeps and has pretty lights but wheres the beef?

Dunno about Mike, but personally, i wanted something that looked a little more professional to take on a client's job... the whole "bag of wires" thing just made it look too "hobby" and the AP service i was offering was connected to one of my other companies that was known for it's quality & professional style of doing things...

(not to mention the fact that i make things like this just to see if i can and to challenge myself. As a result, i learnt loads of stuff that i didn't know before, and for me, this hobby is all about that!!)

The other thing, is that i found when using my ground station, because it was all integrated, i never forgot anything.... Everything is in the case, so i didn't have to go through a massive checklist before leaving the office to make sure i had all the stuff i needed for the job...

Anyway, enjoy..

Cheers