best FPV setup on budget for a FT gremlin?

[PsyBorg]

Most Vtx now days are selective power settings. They pull off a wide range of voltages usually 2s to 6s. They also usually have a step down voltage to power a camera as the VTX will have its own LC filter so keeping the two together is best. Just make sure that the camera you get is set to run either the 5v or the 12 v regulated and filtered power from the VTX.

Now.. to complicate things most pdb have 5v and 12v regulators built in. Some have LC filters as well. So you have two options how to power the video gear. I prefer to run the vtx off the 12v regulated power so its not cooking itself trying to step down higher battery voltages on my 5 inch quads. If there is OSD then I will run the camera to the pdb osd. If not I just feed the camera off the VTX.

For the Gremlin you would probably be wanting a VTX that runs off of 5v to maximize flight times as the batteries are small. Look for something that switches output power max 200 mw and runs off of 5v. So you can probably find 25/50/100 or 25/100/200 in the 5v range. Then the runcam micro I linked will work with any of them as that has a wide range of power inputs but again running off 5v is best.

Oh and most (barring fat sharks) goggles and monitors have their own receivers. Diversity (two receivers) setups are best as they choose the most powerful reception and you can use two types of antennas. Like a CP and a directional / patch antenna.

 

[CAPTA1NSW3ATPANTS]

i was wondering if anyone could take an in depth look at my setup

So if i use

these goggles: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/quanum-cyclops-fpv-goggles.html?___store=en_us

this transmitter: https://www.banggood.com/DYS-MI200M...JZA0my-dV7M8LVnjJAXUgg2TbzqwqucRoC7IoQAvD_BwE

the receiver in the goggles (goggle link above)

this camera: http://www.getfpv.com/fpv/cameras/runcam-micro-swift-2-2-1mm-lens.html

this battery: Hyperion 450mAh 3s 50c Lipo Battery (7.4 volts)

This gremlin(with the power pack) https://store.flitetest.com/power-pack-g-with-flite-test-gremlin-frame/

this antenna(which i think is circular) https://store.flitetest.com/immersionrc-5-8-ghz-spironet-antenna-set-rhcp-sma-connector


than do these things all work together and do they all have the right voltage or do i need a five volt regulator and am I missing anything.

sorry for such a big thing to ask for and i know someone probably wont do it but it would really help.

 

[ElectriSean]

Those antennas are huge, I don't think they would go well on a gremlin. Unfortunately there aren't many options for gremlin sized circular (CP) antennas, the ones out there are pretty fragile. A lot of people go with a simple dipole on the VTx even though it's not optimal. A VTx like this one - https://www.banggood.com/Eachine-VT...e-FPV-Transmitter-p-1114206.html?rmmds=search has an easily replaceable dipole and is tiny, I run a similar one with a micro swift on my 2" creampuff.

 

[sprzout]

So if i use

these goggles: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/quanum-cyclops-fpv-goggles.html?___store=en_us


sorry for such a big thing to ask for and i know someone probably wont do it but it would really help.

I know they're more expensive, but I'm going to recommend that you buy the Quanum Cyclops V2 goggles. The biggest reason for it is the ability to scan through and find your channel that's broadcasting video. Also, for an added bonus, if you are out at the field and someone else is flying FPV, you can scan to find theirs rather than having to ask or skip through the channels. The scan function was something a lot of guys hated about the cheap Cyclops goggles, and Quantum was very quick to push out the new version with the button added. And, at $60 US, they're still one of the cheapest options (and what I feel is the best price) for the quality you get. It's not the BEST, but for the price, you're hard pressed to find something equally as good.

Now, there's another question I have to ask, because it might make a HUGE difference in how you move forward, before building your own:

What is your budget for an FPV rig?

The Gremlin is a great option for moving into the world of FPV, but if you're looking to be budget conscious and you want something this size, it might just be cheaper to buy something already built, like an Inductrix Pro or a NewBee Drone Acrobee, or even the DYS Elf. The downsides with moving to one of these pre-built systems is that you are stuck with their components specifically, and you will be tied to a specific transmitter (either Spektrum and its DSMX or FrSky), but the upshot is that you don't have to worry about certain combinations of cameras, PCBs, tuning, etc. to start off with - and it'll probably come in under your budget limit. Again, this is all depending on several things - 1) Your budget, 2) which transmitter you plan to go with.

I went Spektrum on my radio, because my first drone was a Blade Conspiracy 220. There were several reasons for this: 1) nearly everyone at my field and my dad's field uses Spektrum, so if I needed radio help with setting up configuration, there is usually someone there that I can bounce an idea off of, and 2) my Conspiracy 220 was bind n' Fly to the Spektrum, meaning the receiver in it was all ready to go - I didn't have to put in a receiver, set up configuration, etc. It was all ready to fly. The Inductrix Pro that I picked up was also DSMX compatible, meaning it bound right to my Spektrum radio without any extra configuration setup.

The downside to this is that DSMX receivers are not cheap. $30 for a 4 channel receiver in my Sea Duck, when I could've gotten a $15 receiver that would've worked with FrSky...But nobody I know at my field or my dad's has any experience setting up an FrSky Taranis radio, so that's why I went the way I did. You may find near you that there are different radios available; I see the FT guys prefer Graupners as of late. It's really your decision and how you want to move forward...I know I opened a can of worms on that, but it's kind of a decision that you need to be aware of if you aren't already.

At any rate, to circle back to the build vs. buy, if you go Spektrum, I'm going to recommend the Inductrix Pro for a starter. It's small enough that you can fly it indoors, it's QUICK, it supports full acro mode so if you want to learn to do power loops, flips, rolls, split S turns, etc., and it'll broadcast in 40 channels on 5.8 Ghz broadcast for video. It also has the capability of tuning PIDs, which is something you'll need to learn more about as you decide to start building your own quadcopter. And this is all in a drone for $120.

It does have its detractors; due to its size and weight, it tends to get pushed around by any breezes, but this is a problem with all of the micro quad/TinyWhoop sizes. And the VTX in it is only a 25mW transmitter, so you don't want it to go TOO far from you or the video will cut out. That said, I flew mine the length of our high school baseball field (about 350 feet away) and had no issues with the video at all (and really, with the size of this thing, you don't want to go further than that; it'll be tough as hell to find if it goes down and you don't have a spotter).

If you want to go FrSky, I'd recommend the NewBeeDrone Acrobee; very, very similar to the Inductrix Pro, but it uses the FrSky receivers, for $105 before shipping.

Either way, these things are really, REALLY hardy...but they're built, and you don't get the ability to put them together yourself, like with the Gremlin. Ultimately, it's your call, but food for thought.

 

[CAPTA1NSW3ATPANTS]

my radio is a Tactic TTX6l0 with six channels i use it to fly my ft viggen and i was hoping that i could just buy another receiver to go on my quad. my initial plan was to buy the gremlin with the power pack and battery and have flite test assemble it and then put my own fpv on it. with your suggestion of just buying a BNF quad i was wondering if you new of any of them that are about the size of the gremlin instead of the size of a tiny whoop. Im still a teenager so a lot of money, my max budget would probably be $200 maybe $300

thank you for your feedback

 

[ElectriSean]

I don't believe Tactic makes any appropriate receivers, they all seem to be PWM only and huge.

 

[French]

So I recall that the Tactic only have PWM receivers. You're going to need a receiver with a serial protocol to talk to the gremlin flight controller (it's a femto).

While a RunCam micro is an amazing camera, it's weight may impact your flight times (even though it's very light). That's why most of us use the even smaller and lighter AIOs. If you do get a RunCam Micro Swift, I'd suggest this VTX and antenna that is designed for the Micro Swift - http://pirofliprc.com/RunCam-TX25_p_4185.html

 

[CAPTA1NSW3ATPANTS]

what is the antenna for

i thought the antenna had to come out of the video transmitter

 

[French]

That is a video transmitter that mounts directly to the back of the micro swift. Click on the link and you'll see

 

[CAPTA1NSW3ATPANTS]

im about to ask the most generic question that will lead anyone who has been talking to me on this thread that i have learned nothing. It has just recently been pointed out to me that my tactic radio does not have a small receiver that i can buy that will work with the gremlin so i was wondering if there was such thing as a quad radio and receiver that is under or around $100 Canadian.

 

[PsyBorg]

You are close enough to get a Taranis Qx7 I would say got for that as that will be the last radio you will probably ever need barring a drop or forgetting it was on the roof of your car at the field and you take off down the road. Then there are several tiny options for receivers including a new micro one that has telemetry.. Yay tuning a quad right from the radio!!! :applause:

 

[CAPTA1NSW3ATPANTS]

thank you that helps a lot

 

[ElectriSean]

This is about as cheap as it gets, though I'd recommend saving up for a bit and getting a Taranis QX7 and XM or XM+ receiver.

https://www.banggood.com/Flysky-FS-...6B-i-BUS-Receiver-p-1090406.html?rmmds=search

 

[CAPTA1NSW3ATPANTS]

what receiver does it pair with?

 

[CAPTA1NSW3ATPANTS]

ya i think im going to go with the Qx7

 

[sprzout]

You are close enough to get a Taranis Qx7 I would say got for that as that will be the last radio you will probably ever need barring a drop or forgetting it was on the roof of your car at the field and you take off down the road. Then there are several tiny options for receivers including a new micro one that has telemetry.. Yay tuning a quad right from the radio!!! :applause:

This is the decision to go either FrSky or Spektrum that I was mentioning earlier... Both are good transmitters, each with their pluses and minuses (I've heard a lot of people complain about the gimbals in the Taranis radios and they end up upgrading; the Spektrum has its own issues with failsafe signals and of course, the more expensive receivers). I'm gonna suggest that you read up on both through their websites and see which one works best for your personal needs, Cap.

 

[CAPTA1NSW3ATPANTS]

With all of the things I have learned from this thread i think i might ditch the gremlin and build something bit bigger. and i was wondering if somebody could tell me if

this frame (from flite test) https://store.flitetest.com/mrm225-carbon-fiber-fpv-frame/

and this power pack (also from flite test) https://store.flitetest.com/power-pack-d-standard-quadcopter/


would work together

 

[ElectriSean]

With all of the things I have learned from this thread i think i might ditch the gremlin and build something bit bigger. and i was wondering if somebody could tell me if

this frame (from flite test) https://store.flitetest.com/mrm225-carbon-fiber-fpv-frame/

and this power pack (also from flite test) https://store.flitetest.com/power-pack-d-standard-quadcopter/


would work together

No, that power pack is more for the old electrohubs and stuff, 10" props and slow motors. You want this one.

 

[Panda Man]

like yourself I am new to this, after a lot of looking and listening I went for the Tyrant s, Stu from UAV futures on you tube rates it as a good one to start with. ordered it from the bangood site reasonable price.

hope it helps.

Mike

 

[revgregg65]

Psyborg,
I've been planning on putting a micro swift on my Gremlin and pairing it with a vtx03 . Can you post some photos of how you mounted yours?
Thanks!!