Anyone know where I can get a camera setup that can be used and viewed while flying? Transmitted to the ground into a monitor?

[link=http://www.digitech-turbines.com/shop/enter.html]Digitech Turbines[/link] , menu In Flight Camera, s...
Regards

I've used a wireless system from Boostervision (see [link=http://www.boostervision.com/boostervision/default.asp]here)[/link] in everything from a turbine A10X to a 3D-fun fly plane...easy to mount and works well. I have some awesome vids from this system (all recorded on VHS or I'd post here).

Unless you fly in close and tight, get the High Power system.

Barry

Can you view these during flight?

Yes, just hook up a TV or composite input monitor to the output of the receiver (or to the video output of the VCR or DVD you are using to record the signal).

Barry

[link=http://www.microwireless.net/]Microwireless[/link]

What sorta video quality have you guys gotten with the range of transmitter signal output options? They say a 1/2 watt camera TX system will transmit up to 2 km, but are the 1000mW, diversity receivers, etc. options worth it? I'd like one for a jet, but I'm also looking at installing one on an arena blimp.

One highly recommended option is black widow video as I'm told, but in the past month I've sent Bill numerous emails for quotations I have yet to receive a single reply. The lack of response is a little surprising since he advertises a great deal...?

Kelly

The quality of the image on the Boostervision camera is just "OK", 300 lines resolution, I believe. I would suggest getting the high power transmitter and RX option. The camera is also sensitive to noise from the ECU, impacts image quality. Low power system range is 1000 feet at best and the high power unit maybe 1/2 mile at 400 ft altitude or so. I had a hard time maintaining a consistent image quality when doing 'hard' aerobatics and at low altitudes (under 200 feet or so).

I have since gone to a 'professional' 900 MHZ based system using a MaxStream transmitter and receiver attached to a Sony DVC and encoder. Not for the faint of wallet (total cost around $800) and weighs about a pound - but I've since flown it to 44,000 feet and Mach 2.1. This also requires a ham license to operate, but the image quality is awesome.

Be aware that Sandor (Digitech) has reported range / interference issues with some cameras causing crashes.

Did anyone try the www.futurehobbies.com products yet?

Yes I'm aware of that post. Hopefully he'll clarify if I'm wrong, but that camera he was speaking about is the CVS solid state camera with a custom modified extension cable for the lens assembly. That's not a 2.4GHz remote camera that's originally intended or tested for R/C use. Either way, you are always correct in being suspicious and thorough range checks are always warranted. I'm going to go one step further and have a friend pull out his frequency analyzer just to get a better idea of what's going on before I stick any extra video hardware in my multi thousand dollar jet... Similarly, I've got a GWS speed control and turbine fuel pump (home made smoke system) to try out, hopefully clarifying how much interference is being produced there as well. It pays to be careful with this stuff, particularly when you can't justify the cash to replace the entire model if (by that I mean when...) something goes wrong...

Kelly

Thanks, that is what I am looking for. I am putting it in the nose of a twin turbine DC-10, 13Ft long.