Help with fpv gear

KasperT

Junior Member
Hey everyone im going to buy a fpv setup and build a plane for it. But i have no ide what batterys i should use.
My setup is going to be this:
Osd http://www.foxtechfpv.com/cyclops-nova-osdmah-bug-fixed-p-402.html
Camera http://www.foxtechfpv.com/horyzonhd-full-hd-1080p-fpv-camera-v2-p-498.html
Monitor http://www.foxtechfpv.com/foxtech-m700-7-monitor-p-575.html
Video Link http://www.foxtechfpv.com/58g-400mw-vtxrx-p-550.html

Im going to build Mikey´s FPV v3 ( http://flitetest.com/articles/mikeys_fpv_v3_scratch_build ) as the platform and im going to use the same components as they are using in the build.
But i need to know what kind of batterys i should use for the ground station and the plane. And should i use two batterys on the plane or can i use the same battery for the plane and the fpv gear? And is there any downsides if i use the same battery? And another question can i use this ( http://viewitem.eim.ebay.se/10pcs-1...ale-pin-Pigtail-Cable-RG316/160798432548/item ) to make circular polarized antennas?

Kasper
 

Nonamerc

Arman
Hi KasperT,

Welcome to the forum. You can also buy 7 inch monitors from ebay which are about 50 percent cheaper but they have blue screen but most people wont get blue screen that fast. Most people turn arround before it happends. You are going to buy the 400mw version instead of the 200mw version. Also how higher the mw the bigger the power consumption. You can use one battery for your groundstation, I am using an 2200 mah 3 cell 20c turnigy lipo. After a 20 minute flight the voltage in each cell is about 4.10 volt so you will have more then enough power left to swap the groundstation battery with your flight battery. You can use one battery with your plane for everything but the flight time will be less then if you are using two separate batteries. What I recommend that if you want to do medium range fpv flights (5-7km) that you buy two 2200 mah 3 cells they are really cheap. If you are going for medium range fpv flight you can use two batteries and plug them in paralel with this plug:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__23132__XT60_Harness_for_2_Packs_in_Parallel_1pc_.html
When you do this you will get twice the flight time. If you plug in two 2200 mah lipos you wil get this: 2200x2=4400mah the voltage will be still the same. NOTE:
NEVER PLUG IN TWO DIFFERENT CELL TYPE BATTERIES N PARALLEL. SUCH AS 2 CELL WITH AN 3 CELL. Also the mah of the two batteries must be the same.

Arman, nonamerc

If you have more questions, ask me I will be more then happy to help you
 

colorex

Rotor Riot!
Mentor
Welcome, fellow Swede :)

Where are you located? UndCon on this forum might be able to help you a bit more, if he's close to you.
 

KasperT

Junior Member
Thanks for answering so fast. Do you have any link to a good screen from ebay. i dont want to modify it. Whats the differens between going with 400mw and 200mw? Can i parallel batteries with diffrent C? like one with 20C and one with 30C.

I live in the northern part of Sweden in Luleå :D
 
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colorex

Rotor Riot!
Mentor
Thanks for answering so fast. Do you have any link to a good screen from ebay. i dont want to modify it. Whats the differens between going with 400mw and 200mw? Can i parallel batteries with diffrent C? like one with 20C and one with 30C.

I live in the northern part of Sweden in Luleå :D

I can't help you with the screen... But mw means transmission power. Double power doesn't necessarily mean double range, it's only like a third more of range.

Theoretically you can use batteries with different C rating as long as you don't exceed twice the discharge capacity of the lesser battery. That is, if you have a 2.2Ah 25 C and a 2.2Ah 35 C - you can't draw more than

2 x (2.2 x 25) = 2 x 55 = 110 Amps

However as you load a battery more it's voltage drops more if it has lower C - so if you pull close to 110 Amps (close being more than 60A) the voltages will go uneven which is not so good.

So, yes it's possible, but better play safe and get similar batteries.

---

Min mamma bodde i Luleå när hon var liten.
 

KasperT

Junior Member
I can't help you with the screen... But mw means transmission power. Double power doesn't necessarily mean double range, it's only like a third more of range.

Theoretically you can use batteries with different C rating as long as you don't exceed twice the discharge capacity of the lesser battery. That is, if you have a 2.2Ah 25 C and a 2.2Ah 35 C - you can't draw more than

2 x (2.2 x 25) = 2 x 55 = 110 Amps

However as you load a battery more it's voltage drops more if it has lower C - so if you pull close to 110 Amps (close being more than 60A) the voltages will go uneven which is not so good.

So, yes it's possible, but better play safe and get similar batteries.

---

Min mamma bodde i Luleå när hon var liten.

Okey im going to buy 2 more 3cell 2200mAh i already got 2 For my tricopter.

Okej det är en fin stad förutom att det blåser nästan hela tiden;)
 

lobstermash

Propaganda machine
Mentor
With your antennas, you can pull apart the rubber ducky one that comes with it and solder up your antennas.

By the way, FoxTechFPV is expensive. You can get the same stuff (literally the same brand, same system) for a lot less from Bevrc.com. I don't know why Hobbyking don't sell the NOVA OSD... But their Foxtech (5.8) system is also the same.

You can get a cheap screen from ebay from tomtop. Look through a couple of threads on here or do a search on ebay.

I'm a fan of the Horyzon camera, but also check out the SecurityCamera2000.
 

KasperT

Junior Member
With your antennas, you can pull apart the rubber ducky one that comes with it and solder up your antennas.

By the way, FoxTechFPV is expensive. You can get the same stuff (literally the same brand, same system) for a lot less from Bevrc.com. I don't know why Hobbyking don't sell the NOVA OSD... But their Foxtech (5.8) system is also the same.

You can get a cheap screen from ebay from tomtop. Look through a couple of threads on here or do a search on ebay.

I'm a fan of the Horyzon camera, but also check out the SecurityCamera2000.

I think i want to Have the original antennas just i case. And i think i Will make both left and right hand polarization in case i fly at the same time as someone else at the airfield. So the 5.8 system from hobbyking is the same as the one from foxtech? Do you know if hobbyking Have any good osd so i can see how much power i have consumed.
I found a screen: viewitem.eim.ebay.se/New-7-TFT-LCD-Screen-Car-DVD-VCR-Reverse-Camera-Headrest-Monitor-FB110/170880514187/item

Can you record in full hd with the security cam?
 
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lobstermash

Propaganda machine
Mentor
I can understand you not wanting to cut up the originals antennas. However they're not very useful unless you're horrendously lucky and they've cut the active part to the 1/4 wave of one of the channels on the tx and rx.

If all you want is power consumption, both the E-OSD (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=16662&aff=516279) and the Super Simple OSD (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=19369&aff=516279) work fine and are super cheap.

The security cam won't record in full HD but is a good flight cam (adjusts to high and low light well). For HD recording, you'll need a GoPro or something similar. HK recently released a 1080p wing cam which does a pretty good job with a decent quality microSD (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=25656&aff=516279) but it's on backorder. I've got the original version of this, which needs a class 10 microSD and some minor editing to give decent quality (720p). I'd look around for a cheap 2nd hand GoPro for recording, as they're still the industry benchmark. They're not the greatest for a flight cam though.
 

KasperT

Junior Member
I can understand you not wanting to cut up the originals antennas. However they're not very useful unless you're horrendously lucky and they've cut the active part to the 1/4 wave of one of the channels on the tx and rx.

If all you want is power consumption, both the E-OSD (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=16662&aff=516279) and the Super Simple OSD (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=19369&aff=516279) work fine and are super cheap.

The security cam won't record in full HD but is a good flight cam (adjusts to high and low light well). For HD recording, you'll need a GoPro or something similar. HK recently released a 1080p wing cam which does a pretty good job with a decent quality microSD (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=25656&aff=516279) but it's on backorder. I've got the original version of this, which needs a class 10 microSD and some minor editing to give decent quality (720p). I'd look around for a cheap 2nd hand GoPro for recording, as they're still the industry benchmark. They're not the greatest for a flight cam though.

Its more that if i fail to make the antennas i still hade the original left so i can still fly.
I will start with the E-OSD and if i feel that i need a osd with more functions i can buy it.
Im going with the horyzon hd v2 for recordig and fpv for now atleast.
Is there much differens between 200mw and 400mw because there is a 40 dollar difference in price.
 

lobstermash

Propaganda machine
Mentor
There're diminishing gains the higher power you go, and the antennas are more significant than the tx power. The extra power will only get you a couple of hundred metres further, rather than double your range. Worth $40? You can decide.

The Horyzon camera looks really good. It's pricey, but seeing it seems like a good compromise between running a separate GoPro and flight camera.
 

KasperT

Junior Member
There're diminishing gains the higher power you go, and the antennas are more significant than the tx power. The extra power will only get you a couple of hundred metres further, rather than double your range. Worth $40? You can decide.

The Horyzon camera looks really good. It's pricey, but seeing it seems like a good compromise between running a separate GoPro and flight camera.

Okey i think i will go with the 400 from foxtech because that system was for 12v so i dont need to struggle to get the right voltage. And i can get longer rage with it.

Yeah i think that to and if you do some corrections on the computer they look almost the same. Just a Bit darker is the hhd
 

Nonamerc

Arman
I think i want to Have the original antennas just i case. And i think i Will make both left and right hand polarization in case i fly at the same time as someone else at the airfield. So the 5.8 system from hobbyking is the same as the one from foxtech? Do you know if hobbyking Have any good osd so i can see how much power i have consumed.
I found a screen: viewitem.eim.ebay.se/New-7-TFT-LCD-Screen-Car-DVD-VCR-Reverse-Camera-Headrest-Monitor-FB110/170880514187/item

Can you record in full hd with the security cam?

securitycam2000 is an company but no you cant record in full hd because these cameras only have video output. You can record it on the ground with an ezcap or a dvr. But that is not going to be HD. The antennas should be both right hand or left hand. I advice right hand since almost all patch antennas are right hand to so you can use them with a patch. Hobbyking has the EZosd for 170 dollars. Its a very good osd, I have the cheap super simple easy osd but that one doesnt work fine. The battery voltage is not correct.
Yea that monitor is good :) they are almost all the same but from different vendors. Note that these screens have blue screen.

Arman
 

Nonamerc

Arman
I can understand you not wanting to cut up the originals antennas. However they're not very useful unless you're horrendously lucky and they've cut the active part to the 1/4 wave of one of the channels on the tx and rx.

If all you want is power consumption, both the E-OSD (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=16662&aff=516279) and the Super Simple OSD (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=19369&aff=516279) work fine and are super cheap.

The security cam won't record in full HD but is a good flight cam (adjusts to high and low light well). For HD recording, you'll need a GoPro or something similar. HK recently released a 1080p wing cam which does a pretty good job with a decent quality microSD (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=25656&aff=516279) but it's on backorder. I've got the original version of this, which needs a class 10 microSD and some minor editing to give decent quality (720p). I'd look around for a cheap 2nd hand GoPro for recording, as they're still the industry benchmark. They're not the greatest for a flight cam though.

I have the simper simple osd but that it doesnt work right for me. The battery voltage is incorrect.
 

lobstermash

Propaganda machine
Mentor
The super simple is off by a varying amount, but can still be used as an indicative measure (much like the voltage on a turnigy 9x's stock firmware). The E-OSD can be re-flashed with open source firmware which allows you to calibrate. Google 'CL OSD'. But if you can do basic maths, the voltage that both OSDs display is consistent with each fresh battery and you can use it to get a good indication of the actual power.
 

KasperT

Junior Member
Sometimes it says 11.31 volt when i am flying for two minutes with a fresh battery

Okey. i have orderd all the stuff now and i choose the e-osd for now. if i want to have a more complicated osd later i will just order it.
Thanks for the help and tips you guys has given me. And i placed a hk kk2.0 board in the order to. Do you think i can put my old hk V2.1 board on the plane for stability if i reflash it with OpenAero flying wing?