FPV n00b questions

kompuntu

Member
Hi everyone! Awesome forum!
Been reading a lot and getting more informed, but I still have a few questions:
I've already built a couple of multirotor aircraft (F550, F450, mini250, etc).
Using Naza-M V2 on the F550, Naze32 on F450.
Now I want to add an FPV capability to at least one of these.
Max distance is not at the top of my list right now.
Is ImmercionRC 5.8 GHz, 600 mW Tx a good choice?
I would like to also be able to use one battery on the aircraft (without a separate FPV battery). Is that possible?
Is something like TBS Core a good solution for FPV power management? Or is this an overkill?
I would also like to be able to use either goggles or a monitor (or both?). Anyone doing that? Is that accomplished via an Rx with dual video outputs?
Also, since I already have a Naza-M V2 FC - i'd like to be able to use an OSD (OSDMini?) with relative ease of connecting it to FPV stuff.
Is that doable? I'm ok with wiring pinouts and soldering.
Oh, i'm also a ham, so any FCC-related RF power issues should be taken care of, right? Does that mean that I can go higher on the RF output or is that not an issue?

Sorry for being all over the place. n00b syndrome...

Thanks in advance!
Slava B.
 

kloner

Aerial DP
immersion is a great choice, works with fatshark goggle or uno receivers and monitors...

the core is a great power supply but for the immersion vtx doesn't need power like that, it'll plug straight in up to 6s power.... but, the core and especially core pro with gps gives the new fpv guy a lot of data to use to help get "unlost" and to know what your doing speed wise, current wise, flight time wise. it is a pretty powerful tool i'd bypass osd mini and get core if you wanted osd data.... i only have core vids to show, but i've flown core plus gps and it's way better than any other osd i've tried and i've tried em all....

with a ham tech lic your good to 1 watt.....

this is ezosd, has current, nav and rssi, you get rssi out of certain flysky but all uhf rc rx have it.... shows signal quality on each rc rx antenna along with lost packet info and straight rssi readings.... the core pro is similar.....

but those have a bad track record for reliability....

eagle tree osd pro is a great osd but it's super piggy to install, big, lots of pieces and parts and i've seen alot of interference from them when you don't have a ton of room to install them, same kind of info

tbs core without the gps
 
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kompuntu

Member
Awesome! Thanks for the reply!
I forgot to mention that i'm using FrSky Taranis Plus radio and mostly FrSky telemetry receivers/smart port sensors.
Not sure if it'll play into the FPV space but I thought i'd mention it.
Here's something else I've been trying to research: Gimbals.
Zenmuse vs. Stella.
Also, flying FPV with a GoPro on a gimbal?
I realize that if the camera is being stabilized it's difficult to judge the craft's attitude. But isn't it possible to just turn the stabilization off?
To have a camera on a gimbal act as if it was hard-mounted (even temporarily, to get an idea of what the craft's doing?). And then turn the "gimbaling" back on to continue recording. And then edit that portion out in post? Do people do this at all?
 

kloner

Aerial DP
telemetry on the radio only helps if you don't want an osd.

zenmeuse requires a dji controller, stella doesn't, all i know about em

flying fpv on a gimbal view is dangerous, especialy as good as they are now. You don't now your attitude and if it's malfunctioning, you have no way to even give it a chance to save it.... I've never seen that done, furthermore the problem is usually during a malfunction..... For instance sometimes my naza will not self center and i gotta force it back to center, if not and your unaware things get really hectic really fast with no chance of recovery. That's a common thing with flight controllers especially when you hold it in forward flight/fast forward flight.... you want a dedicated fpv camera, there available as low as $40, no reason to not run one or trip out over it,,, just do it.

a gimbal view is great for framing, on a tbs disco pro there is a camera switch so you can look out of two cameras, dji osd has it, superX osd has it, but it's opposite of what your asking about doing shutting off the gimbal.... if that would happen it'd flop around like a dead bug on the windshield
 

kompuntu

Member
I see...
Thanks a bunch, kloner!
So, let me ask you the following:
I want to build a small(ish) quad or hex (thinking BlackOut) for my FPV adventure(s).
What would you suggest I put in there?
I was thinking of getting me some SunnySky motors, 12-15A ESCs, I already have some FrSky receivers (X6R, X8R, D4something with CPPM), I have a Naze32 Full version FC.
Assuming this is sufficient for the drive portion, what do I need to get for the rest?
ImmersionRC 600 mW Tx, SpiroNET antennae, FatShark goggles, 7-8 inch monitor to get my feet wet with flying through a camera?
Anything else? What kind of a camera would you use on something this small (is it a 280mm frame?) Power management?
Please be as elaborate as you can. And if you can give me ideas for the cost - that'd be awesome! I don't mind spending a few hundred $$ on this if it lasts and can be expanded/upgraded. I love messing with this stuff.
Thanks in advance VERY much!

Slava B.
 

kloner

Aerial DP
i'd suggest getting hold of Richard Shelton at multicopterbuilders.com and tell him kloner sent ya. see what he has in stock, he is THE MAN with minis..... he's dumping alot of inventory right now to get his new frames finished and has all the good stuff at crazy prices.... follow him on facebook to see some of them....

I'm gonna pickup one of his minis as soon as this faa crap blows over.... there money
 

kompuntu

Member
Ok! I will definitely reach out to him!
Its like a self-induced Christmas every time RC boxes show up :)
I'm 40, I need some excitement in my life :)

Thanks a bunch!

Slava B.
 

kompuntu

Member
While i'm waiting for his response i'd like to ask a few more questions:
1. FatShark vs Skyzone? I see Skyzone has diversity reception and also this really cool forward facing camera to look around without taking goggles off.
That sounds useful (at least on paper). Anyone actually used these? Is there any real-world truth to it?

2. Also, I've heard that by simply changing channels on goggles one may be able to "tune-in" into other people's FPV downlink. I'm assuming that works regardless of goggle's brand, as long as the frequencies are the same, right?

3. Built-in receiever or a removable receiver module? Or even just an external receiver altogether?

4. What is this Security2000 camera I hear about? Is it really THAT good?

5. I heard that ImmersionRC and Fatshark teamed up to come up with some new hardware which may not be compatible with some existing receivers? Is this true? Are they using different freqs?


By the way, yesterday I received a few packages. It really was like X-mas in my house :) Got that Aeroxcraft landing system for my F550 (Rob even included a free aluminum F450/550 arm. Blue one). Put it together last night. Looks awesome!
And I got a whole bunch of SunnySky 2216-900KV motors. I think i'll use those on my F450 as well as HobbyKing X650F frame (550mm). These motors have VERY long leads. Is that normal? I've never seen leads this long (at least 20-25 cm long). I was wondering if I could actually extend the ESC leads so that I could mount them right next to the motors instead of on the frame. But I hear that it may not be a good idea.
 

kloner

Aerial DP
all the video stuff is a single channel and doesn't hop so yea, you can see other fpv downlinks, peoples home/business security cameras, etc.

the sc2000 stuff is great, i like the pz0513. they have excellent dynamic range so you can stare at the sun and see anything in view, also has great low light capability, sunrises are no sweat.

in those videos above your looking at sc2000 cameras, top is pz0513, next is pz0420, then pz0513 again on the bottom video.
 

KellyR

Member
You asked about using both goggles & a screen at the same time. I have one of these video splitter/amps for doing just that. RMRC $25

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http://www.readymaderc.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_66_111&products_id=377
 

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