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20 August 2013

Starting with FPV with Fatshark Predator and ImmersionRC

August 2013. Now it's time to go one step further and start flying in FPV.

It took me a while until discovering what exactly to buy, reading and asking in forums. As this is not a cheap upgrade, I did want to get it right at once.

So I finally bought the following components:
  • Fatshark Predator pack. It includes the goggles, a camera, and a 2S 1000mAh battery.
  • ImmersionRC 600mw video transmitter, including 5.8GHZ antennas.
  • Immersion RC Spironet circularly polarized antennas, 5.8GHZ.
  • 3S 1000mAh 11.1v LiPo battery for the video transmitter
 Fatshark Predator goggles for FPV
 ImmersionRC 600mw video transmitter
 Spironet antennas
 3S 1000mAh 11.1v LiPo battery

With these you have everything you need in order to start flying in FPV. You can also choose not to buy the goggles and purcharse an LCD screen, there are cheap ones out there.

As this frame is a bit small, I've to place one of the batteries unterneath the frame, so I've bought a plastic landing gear from banggood to avoid the components touching the ground. And it is also a good idea in case of having a crash, because it will absorb most part of the impact avoiding brakings.


So everything put toguether looks like this

Quadcopter FY450

Notice that the wood stick allows me to put the FPV camera on the front, and gives me space to mount the GoPro just behind it with the GoPro mount. So the camera is inside the landing gear (not in the picture now).

 Quadcopter FY450
  Quadcopter FY450

The wire connections of the FPV system are easy. The camera has one wire, that goes to the right side of the transmitter (video, positive, ground). The battery is connected to the black and red wire that goes to the left side of the transmitter.

It is really important, both for the goggles and the video transmitter, to attach the antenna at the first place, and after that connect the battery. Don't do it otherwise!

I also find useful the velcro strap ties, for batteries or whatever you need.

Velcro strap ties


14 August 2013

Rock climbing aerial footage

V003. Recording date: 10-08-2013

This recording session has been quite a challenge for me. I didn't have a lot of experience flying yet, it was windy, water underneath, narrow walls, and people watching... 100% under pressure! The spot is really beautiful for hicking, climbing, or just for chilling.


To try to get rid of vibrations and jello I tried this time using moongel inside the GoPro waterproof housing, as some people recomend in forums. It really makes a difference, it's worth a try, but vibrations and jello depends on a lot of factors, so it might work or it won't for you... At the end it´s not worth it to publish this video, because of the quality and all the weird movements due to my lack of experience. Hopefully I can repeat at the same location and make a top one! :)

Setup:

Frame Whirlwind FY450
BL-2830/11 1000kv rotors
20A SK ESC
10x4.5 Plastic HK propellers
KK2 controller board
GoPro Hero 2
3300mAh 3S 20C battery
Turnigy 9XR transmitter
FrSKY V8FR-II receiver

4 August 2013

Jello test aerial quad flight

V002. Recording date: 2013-08-02

I recorded this video before I put the wood extension for allowing the camera have different point of views easily. Re-edited video to remove a person that didn't want to show up in the video, but I didn't want to loose the scenes... sorry for the quality. For this video I used the earplugs solution under the camera mount. It doesn't work very well for me though! First flight over water, really scared!


Setup:

Frame Whirlwind FY450
BL-2830/11 1000kv rotors
20A SK ESC
10x4.5 Plastic HK propellers
KK2 controller board
GoPro Hero 2
3300mAh 3S 20C battery
Turnigy 9XR transmitter
FrSKY V8FR-II receiver