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For all who fly rc using video... - 10/2/2003 2:48:45 PM   
ebeygin



Posts: 194
Joined: 9/3/2002
From: Toronto, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hi there!

All you guys who control their planes by watching the video trasmitted from the plane/heli, don't you ever get worried that the rc radio will go out of range? I plan to buy a wireless video system soon, and can imagine that when I fly my plane with it, I will want to explore a decent amount of territory around my airfield. Considering that the plane might go slightly further than I can see it clearly, that distance will brush the limits of most commercial radio systems, since before when asked about radio range of my airtronics equipment, the answer i got was, the range is further than you can see your plane. I know that this range is not greatly further, and is about 1mile in average? So should I be concerned with this problem? Or should I be flying my plane on a distance of 1.5 miles with no worries??

Thanks,

Eugene
       Post #: 1

RE: For all who fly rc using video... - 10/2/2003 3:00:40 PM   
Orbitter



Posts: 115
Joined: 8/13/2002
From: Blaine, WA, USA
Status: offline 		Line-of-sight is between 4-5 miles with my Futaba 6VA. If you fly 1000ft away and go behind some trees or building, your askin' for trouble. (maybe).

I would say you'll be fine just make sure you don't fly your plane behind a mountian.

Regards,
Bryan


_____________________________

Ya Gotta LOVE Balsa Wood!
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(in reply to ebeygin)
       Post #: 2

RE: For all who fly rc using video... - 10/2/2003 3:08:19 PM   
ebeygin



Posts: 194
Joined: 9/3/2002
From: Toronto, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		4-5 miles??? wow! did you do any modifications to it???

how many watts is the transmitter?

i'm really impressed.. i would be really afraid to get it that far

has anyone flied airtronics radios past 2miles?

p.s. I have a RD6000 SPORT

(in reply to Orbitter)
       Post #: 3

RE: For all who fly rc using video... - 10/2/2003 4:51:21 PM   
Chillybee


 

Posts: 133
Joined: 10/21/2002
From: Plainfield, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		I'd like to know what kind of batteries you're using to get 4-5 miles from a transmitter? I've never flown further away than I could see my 12 foot glider (which I estimate is about 1500 feet, but I'd like to try the video thing if I could get that kind of range.

(in reply to ebeygin)
       Post #: 4

RE: For all who fly rc using video... - 10/2/2003 5:06:03 PM   
yb2normal



Posts: 344
Joined: 12/21/2002
From: Broomfield, CO,
Status: offline 		Hi Eugene,

Anytime you consider flying a non-standard way like via the video, you should consider some failsafe devices to help keep control of your plane. I am putting the final touches on an autopilot that, when activated, will fly the plane back to my field and circle overhead. I am using the same method used by cyber-flyer.

Beyond that, the main piece of advice I can give is to capture some practice videos over your field while watching the plane, not the video. Then go home and carefully study the video you captured so you have a good idea what the field looks like from the air. I have heard from at least two clients who almost lost planes when they got disoriented when in the air and flew the plane out of range. They got lucky because the video system continued operating after the plane landed (crashed?) and they were able to sniff out the plane's location by looking for video on the receiver, but I would think this is the exception rather than the rule.

Here's the start of my autopiloted plane:
http://www.yb2normal.com/uavtwinstar1.html

Bill

(in reply to ebeygin)
       Post #: 5

RE: For all who fly rc using video... - 10/2/2003 5:31:46 PM   
elevator_up



Posts: 298
Joined: 6/3/2002
From: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Status: offline 		I usually fly the plane normally, and don't use the camera as my eyes. Without a compass on the screen or being very familiar with the territory, I think you get lost real quick (heck I sometimes lose orientation of the plane when I can see it ). I usually have a video man with me ( my 10 year old likes to be called that ) to watch the live video and give me instructions of what to capture and where to fly. I look at the screen briefly but not as my primary visual. Does anyone here fly with the camera as their primary visual ? How's it work ?

(in reply to ebeygin)
       Post #: 6

RE: For all who fly rc using video... - 10/2/2003 6:45:23 PM   
ebeygin



Posts: 194
Joined: 9/3/2002
From: Toronto, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hi Bill!

I would definitely put additional devices to assist me in flying the plane, if my budget would allow me to. But in the mean time, I can probably afford just the wireless system itself...I wish I could test the range on the ground, but I'm afraid it won't be identical to the range when the plane is in the air.

oh, and a very nice setup!.. i noticed that's the same plane that you used to demo your 200mw system..

(in reply to yb2normal)
       Post #: 7

RE: For all who fly rc using video... - 10/2/2003 10:36:27 PM   
yb2normal



Posts: 344
Joined: 12/21/2002
From: Broomfield, CO,
Status: offline 		elevator_up, I can't wait for my son to be old enough to fill this role

Eugene, yes, the twinstar is a nice platform. It does not mind too much the camera duct-taped to the top of the tail!

I have flown my Wingo from take-off to landing "under the hood", but only after having reviewed a lot of tape from my flying field. This helped me know where I was when in the air so that I could turn back and find my landing spot. With an autopiloted plane I think I might be more adventurous, but the plane really has to prove itself to me before I venture too far away.

Best Regards,
Bill

(in reply to ebeygin)
       Post #: 8

RE: For all who fly rc using video... - 10/3/2003 2:04:23 AM   
Fubar-One



Posts: 1774
Joined: 3/1/2003
From: Canyon Country, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Oh, I dont have the cojones to fly by video! I fly by watching the plane. I dont even have the monitor facing me so as to eliminate the temptation to look at it and not the plane! My father generally watches the video and lets me know things like the electric prop is blocking the camera and so on. My experience (such as it is) allows me to know what the camera is probably seeing at any one time during the flight so I can just aim the plane depending on if the camera is facing fore, aft, or along the wing. Now if I had a heads up display that worked like the 20mm gatling gun on an Apache helicopter...
quote:

ORIGINAL: ebeygin

Hi there!

All you guys who control their planes by watching the video trasmitted from the plane/heli, don't you ever get worried that the rc radio will go out of range? I plan to buy a wireless video system soon, and can imagine that when I fly my plane with it, I will want to explore a decent amount of territory around my airfield. Considering that the plane might go slightly further than I can see it clearly, that distance will brush the limits of most commercial radio systems, since before when asked about radio range of my airtronics equipment, the answer i got was, the range is further than you can see your plane. I know that this range is not greatly further, and is about 1mile in average? So should I be concerned with this problem? Or should I be flying my plane on a distance of 1.5 miles with no worries??

Thanks,

Eugene


_____________________________

"B Positive to ground, over..."

(in reply to ebeygin)
       Post #: 9

RE: For all who fly rc using video... - 10/3/2003 8:00:13 PM   
The_Matrix



Posts: 135
Joined: 7/12/2003
From: Red Springs, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Since we are on the subject of Vid Cams, I have recently been thinking of purchasing the unit in the below pic. Listed range is 1000 feet, Is that gonna be sufficient? If so, may definately get the unit, which is only $50

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_____________________________

[B]Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment.[/B]

(in reply to Fubar-One)
       Post #: 10

RE: For all who fly rc using video... - 10/5/2003 2:27:39 AM   
ebeygin



Posts: 194
Joined: 9/3/2002
From: Toronto, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		my opinion - NO!

If your budget doesn't allow you anything else, then this is a perfect package. Price is very good. But, the system itself... mmmmm. dunno about that.. looks like the spylinker system to me...

i have my eyes 100% on the blackwidow's 600mw 2.4 5v system... From all the different systems, that one seems the best for the money and quality.

and frankly.. if my system would only go up to 1000 feet, I would be really disapointed...

just my 2c...

-eugn

(in reply to The_Matrix)
       Post #: 11

RE: For all who fly rc using video... - 10/5/2003 6:03:13 PM   
Fubar-One



Posts: 1774
Joined: 3/1/2003
From: Canyon Country, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Got my eye on that system also. Very happy with the camera I bought. Just need to get some more moolah together.
quote:

ORIGINAL: ebeygin

my opinion - NO!

If your budget doesn't allow you anything else, then this is a perfect package. Price is very good. But, the system itself... mmmmm. dunno about that.. looks like the spylinker system to me...

i have my eyes 100% on the blackwidow's 600mw 2.4 5v system... From all the different systems, that one seems the best for the money and quality.

and frankly.. if my system would only go up to 1000 feet, I would be really disapointed...

just my 2c...

-eugn


_____________________________

"B Positive to ground, over..."

(in reply to ebeygin)
       Post #: 12

RE: For all who fly rc using video... - 10/5/2003 10:32:13 PM   
skrag



Posts: 13
Joined: 8/16/2003
From: Greenbrier, AR, USA
Status: offline 		I have bought two of these units, one with video/audio and one with video only. The one with video only seems to be much more stable, yet even it has little glitchy moments in the air, but all in all it takes some awesome video. I just performed a hack on the camera which I hope improves my reception in that the antenna on the camera was coming out of the top of the unit, and I wanted it pointing down beneath the plane, so I took the camera back off, flipElectric Flyerped it 180 degrees pointing the antenna down (with respect to which way the video image would be projected) and now when I attach it, I should hopefully have clearer access to the antenna. It has been raining here the last couple of days so haven't had a chance to try that out, but I'll try to post back the results. If you care to check out any of the videos I have done with the unit that looks exactly like the one you have the picture of here on your page, you can visit my link at http://www.afsc.k12.ar.us/ef.

(in reply to The_Matrix)
       Post #: 13

RE: For all who fly rc using video... - 10/6/2003 9:48:39 AM   
aeroview


 

Posts: 6
Joined: 7/11/2003
From: Brockton, MA 02301
Status: offline 		A good source of information on flying by video can be found at www.cyber-flyer.com. At about 4000 feet the model becomes invisible to the naked eye in a clear blue sky. That is also about the altitude where the sound of the plane becomes inaudible as well. It takes less than 30 mins to climb up to 20,000 feet .

(in reply to ebeygin)