NexStar Video platform
 

A couple people requested information on the camera setup I have on my NexStar so I will post the information here also.

The camera works very, very well. It is a very high quality 480
line color camera. It is only 2" across. You can get it here.
$109.00 + shipping.

http://cctvspecialty.com/smallest-co...esolution-ccd-
480-lines---1-lux-2-inch-sleek-mini-dome-spe-md.html

The video/audio is remotely transmitted via a very high power,
(600 mw), 2.4 Ghz thansmitter/receiver,
radome antenna, system I purchased here. $169.00 + shipping. They
have higher powered ones, (up to 2W), but you don't need them for
hobby type use.

http://www.boostervision.com/cart/sc...?idCategory=26

NOTE: This transmitter requires an FCC Technicians lic. to use in
the USA.

This is THE BEST remote video transmitter/receiver/antenna combo
available today, period.

It will transmit up to 5000 ft with the included rubber duck
antennas and around 15,000 ft with the patch radome antenna
available at the same site.
The system works on 12VDC for both transmitter and receiver. A
couple of 3S2P LI-PO @ 11.1 VDC, around 3300ma or more will do the
trick for about an hour of recording. I use my laptop and a PCMCIA
video capture card from AverTV for the recording. You can get the
card here.

http://www.aver.com/mpd/cardbusretail.html

If you want the very best, IMHO, this is it.

Happy flying!!

Cubby

RE: NextStar Video platform
 

Does your dome camera pan an tilt ? If so, that is a great setup !! A .40 sized glow trainer is great for FPV, its fast, aerobatic, andyou can fly it all day, just fill up with gas and fly as many times as you like. I dont know why more people dont use them for FPV.

As far as your 2.4 GHZ video transmitter, 600 mW is average... 1000 mW is widely available and much better. Also there is something wrong with your battery times, I run a 3S 2100 mah LIPO on my 1000 mW FPV setup, with a high draw camera, a GPS, and OSD, and it works for more than 3 hours.

JettPilot

RE: NextStar Video platform
 

JettPilot,

The dome is kind of small, so a conventional servo-on-a-servo PT system is hard to engineer to fit. I have given some thought to it though, and would appreciate any input. I have thought of putting the whole camera on a swivel, leaving the tilt to fit only one servo in/on the enclosure which is feasible. Finding/building a ball raced "Lazy-Susan" kind of swivel in a 2" diameter is the challenge.

These dome cameras are pretty high quality at 480 line and have good light transition qualities. Easy to install and good protection for the camera.

As far as the battery times, I guessed on them as I have been working on the setup for over 2 weeks with on-off-on usage with one battery which just ran down this weekend. A more considerate estimate would fall closer to your numbers.

What is the cost of your 1W unit w/ receiver? Which GPS/OSD did you settle on? I have looked at the SkySpy Telemetry board:

http://www.sky-spy.bigstep.com/homepage.html;$sessionid$ICLAG1AAAAUVBTZENUGXBMWPE RWRJPX0

and the PicoPilot system:

http://www.u-nav.com/

For all the possibilities a FPV could encompass, the PicoPilot, with its autonimous navigation capabilities via it's computer configurable GPS waypoint routine, w/ altitude and throttle hold and such, covers just about all the bases. A 900mhz wireless modem is also available under Accessories for real-time telemetry/commanding. PicoPilot-NAT being $900.00 for the package, is a bit high, but delivers.

BoosterVision.com has a 2W unit as well as a 1W unit available. The 1W I ended up getting for a friend cost $169.00 + shipping. I ordered a 600mw unit, but they ran out of stock and sent a 1W for the same price, pretty good service IMHO.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts,

Cubby