I am very new to RC airplanes and i know this is probably just a stupid newb question that gets asked alot but...

here it comes...

I remember a long time ago, way before I ever even thought of flying RC airplanes I saw a show on some guys who wired mini(spy) video cameras to their planes the cameras gave live feed into the guys laptops. I was just wondering how to do this and what camera's are the cheapest.

Check out the AP Board. There are multiple threads on this topic.

If you want cheap, go with something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...725506945&rd=1

It comes with everything you need to get going except a laptop or VCR to record the video output on. Who knows how good the camera, transmitter or receiver is, but you asked for the cheapest, so there you go.

Originally Posted by Mattydiah

If you want cheap, go with something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...725506945&rd=1

It comes with everything you need to get going except a laptop or VCR to record the video output on. Who knows how good the camera, transmitter or receiver is, but you asked for the cheapest, so there you go.

I have this setup and it is terrible. I mounted it on my RC Car and I am lucky if I can keep a usable signal the length of the driveway. The transmitter/camera is small and you can definately put it in an aircraft. I think the weak link is the receiver. It has aknob for tuning in the signal. It's about a 300 degree turn and 1 degree of it will actually bring in the signal. If I had to guess I might even think it's a regen type receiver. Maybe making something crystal controlled for the specific frequency the camera is putting out might help, but I just haven't had the time to play with it yet.

I built a transmitter for a guy at work. He is going to use in a bigger aircraft. It's on the ham bands. Being a ham it was ok for me to build and tune. He hasn't taken the test yet for his ticket, so he hasn't powered it up yet. It puts out about 2 watts and we have done land tests of over 1 mile with good antennas. He has a cool idea of using video goggles and flying the plane that way. Yes, I will be taking video :-D

Hope this helps,

Kaos

Check this company out.
Blackwidowav

You can have either the video/camera aboard your plane, or have the signal fed to your equipment on the ground.

Originally Posted by Kaos116

I have this setup and it is terrible.

I know, I never said it was good. He said he wanted cheap, and you cant argue with $20

If you use something like a 9.6 volt battery pack it will transmit much better with a more stable signal.

Actually, there is a voltage regulator in the plug on those cameras. You can read more about them here: http://www.rc-cam.com/hk_video.htm

Keith

But once you drain the battery the voltage regulator is useless. If the battery is drawn down enough there is nothing for the regulator to regulate. I do know from my own experience with an "800mw" transmitter that it worked much much better with a battery pack than it did with a 9 volt transistor radio battery. The nine volt battery would drain pretty quickly and I had all sorts of problems after that happened. If it's made to regulate 9 volts and you are only feeding it six volts from a nearly drained battery it will throw the whole thing out of kelter. Cut the plug off the battery lead and replace it with a plug that will accept a 9.6 volt pack and see for yourself.

I am using the BlackwidowAV camera sysem. I get great video link about 1/2 mile out. the 200mW system is about 250.00 and it works great. Now I need to digitize the video I have and post it here.

The BlackvideoAV also has a down link TX that transfer the Video out sighal from your digital still camera to the groun so you can see what your camera is seeing. Just click the button when you see something good.

Brian, an EAJ