Was surfing the net and came across this.

http://www.wowhobbies.com/walkeradev...lebattery.aspx

An all in one system. Interesting what might become available as technology moves forward.

This system looks like it might make FPV simple. Also with a set of head phones, the sound being emitted from your tank would be on board as well. You wouldn't need to have the volume cranked up to know what your tank is doing, I think it would help personalize the experience, and bring some sanity back to the battle field with respect to sound.

The included camera set seems bulky, but perhaps the camera could be removed and spliced in with a longer cable to allow the camera to escape the confines of the box. This would allow you to mount the camera in the turret or hatch. Or I suppose you could just interface with another camera .

Not sure how many of these you could have on a field at one time though. Doesn't really say much about that. I'll have to read up more.


EDIT

Found some more reading material on this set up. Looks like 8 channels, so a little limited for big encounters.. Right now though the chances of finding any FPV on the battle field is limited. Shouldn't be a problem for awhile.. Yu can also get plug in goggles to give your a true onboard experience.

A couple of guys in the club have been experimenting... Immortal is finalizing a system to sell complete as we speak...

There is a lot of FPV stuff available now. It is so hard to stay current on this stuff. While surfing I found a whole whack of more information on what is available. I started down the Fat Shark route, but there is so much available now.

Curtis had a thread about some FPV, but never gave many details on what or where the components where coming from. Is this Devo stuff the hardware?

Maybe I will hold off buying anything until I see what he is stocking in his shop.

Here is the latest .

http://www.walkera.com/en/showgoods.php?id=2709

32 video channels( that should do it)


Retail price $339

You know I have been building tanks for years, and I am running out of shelf space. I am thinking of changing gears a bit, and am wondering how many others out there are thinking this too. This new FPV technology is getting cheaper and better. Rather then more tanks I am thinking of upgrading my favorites to a full meal deal FPV IR battling set up, with the lastest technology. This system also has a goggle output for glasses.

I am really liking my HL Leopard 2 and this set up would be great. Perhaps with the new larger Modern tanks we take IR battling to the next phase. Use these modern tanks as the basis for this new technology. Set some club rules that differ for the traditional norm, and suggest people set up their modern tanks with all this FPV stuff.

Currently I have a Sherman firefly set up with the Fat Shark system, but maybe the Leopard 2 will be a platform for this next round of electronics.

Horizon Hobby is releasing a system that has head tilt with the FatShark.

I trust them more than any hobby related vendor/manufacturer, including Tamiya, so I'll be looking seriously at that system.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/products...dset-SPMVS1100

There you go. So many options right now . Number of available channels is important though. I have the Fatshark stuff, so this would be a really cost effective way for me to go. Love the size of that camera set up they show in the video.


I prefer using goggles as it really is an immersion experience. Driving your tank with no idea what is around the corner is exhilarating and worth the price of the goggles. The video monitors on the radio are convenient and would be good to help target, but keeping the ability to look up and gain Helicopter battlefield vision defeats the purpose of FPV for me, Not knowing where the enemy is and having to find them would add to the thrill of the game.

Forgive this rookie question, but with the Devo F7 transmitter package, the goggles and a clark board I'd be ready to go? What else would I need to have a completely operational tank with FPV?

Looks very promising guys. The noise of your own tank will drown out most of the other sounds on the battlefield anyway. The volume on your battle tank can't be muted or tuned down at Danville and NEAD events since hearing a enemy tank fire or approaching is part of the battle experience. One of the items inspected is speaker volume. I have used my video systems on AFVs and tank that are not involved in the battle or without a sound system and it is very cool to hear the tanks fighting around you. Using the FPV will be just like a "Real" tank....when buttoned up.... you hear and see very little and your" situational awareness" is greatly diminished.

You would have to make sure you were buying the complete Devo set up. Adding any board that would allow you to use regular RC signals would work. Clark, DBC2/3, IBU,.

However, to be Clear, a $200 Fatshark goggles set up could be used with any system, even the standard Taigen or HL could be used.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...d_5_8G_TX.html




Or $300

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...d_5_8G_TX.html

It'd be really cool if you could turn off your engine remotely, but still have the battle system active, maybe even to fire the main gun or move the turret. That way, you could be sitting silent under camo waiting while listening for the enemy. Of course you run the risk of the Maybach getting the inertial start up or the Russian revving and getting blasted while waiting to move.

It is possible with many of the non Tamiya based IR systems out there Jeff. We just don't allow tanks to turn sounds on and off to, keep things fair. Some tankers forget to turn up their volume when coming to an event and need reminding. Almost all of us turn the volume down when we work on them at home or else we'll go deaf.

The DBC3 and the upcoming 4 have the ability to turn off the engine and keep all the IR systems and sounds active. It is a programming thing when setting up the Benedini sSo this feature is user definable. With the programmable TBS you could adjust the engine volume and turret sounds down, knowing you will be picking it up on the head phones. The Cannon could be left at full volume to enhance the booming effect of firing the cannon, and allow your competitors to know you are firing at them..

An onboard FPV system will be adding interesting challenges with respect to sound, and how it needs to be portrayed in this onboard environment,..

Clark already does this so no issues with it.

well I have been working with Walkera directly for a long time already. The system I will have does have a microphone but it will be set up on an 11" lead - meaning you can place it right beside your speaker and only get your tank sounds.
It is a complete system - Radio, camera, wires, recievers and Tx's, battery and charger, micro sd card Everything a tanker will need to do FPV in his tank or just buy the pieces. I will be selling each piece seperately so that you can load a portion of your fleet or all of it.
The camera system I will have you will be able to place 2 cameras inside your tank and switch them remotely, ( Only larger tanks will carry 2 due to space restrictions )
I have tested and max distance is about 250' to 300' range for clear video
Radio will be set up like the turnigy I sell with cannon fire, lights and engine on a switch. I am negotiating having graphics on the radio specificly for tanks as well. First batch or two this will not be in the cards.
Radios currently will control, Clark and by default the others that run the same frequency which is basicly everybody except taigen and HL BUT low cost radios will be available for these owners as well.

I gaurantee this will be a lower cost option than any other FPV out their but I will have an " all the bells and whistles unit" as well for all us technocrats.
I am very close to having a fully complete system ready, there are 6 test systems out there and the one I use is the 7th

Without a doubt FPV is the way to go as it adds soooo much to the battle. What is the coolest 2 things though is being able to record on 32gb sd micro cards, edit them and make small movies And using a gunners port to aim your cannon.
Telescopic sights are a side thing I work on at nights now. finding convex mini mirrors that are useless is a B that rhymes with witch

Can't wait to see it Freaky. I am coming north in October to the Niagara area. Will it be at a Can-AM battle day?

While far from FPV, I did a battle at Can-Am with video glasses in July 2012.

Great guys and a very fine venue. Thanks again for inviting me up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvYj...m45MJ47wobWY2g

You and that Panther were tearing things up :P

Our October meet is the 4th

The Devo rc line is quite impressive. I've had my eye on a Walkera HM 4F 200LM Heli for some while ( http://www.helipal.com/walkera-hm-4f...on-devo-8.html) I used to try fly the first gen of gas choppers once ( Kavan, HeliBoy, Hirobo ) and I've though of returning ion a limited basis. I was never a hot dog, just normal fight, landing. I had seen this company packaged the Walkera with the Devo 8 although not the same one...

I've experimented with on board video and have FPV goggles- Vuzix AV920 but I found thew rubber blackout adapters don't do a good enough job of keeping out external light

Jerry

Jerry

Commander I will make sure we have at least 2 battle ready tanks with complete systems if your going to come. 1 a TD and the second will be a surprise

Here is a thought with respect to sound.

The Video transmitter has audio in ports. What if a person ran a parallel output from the speaker out from the sound card directly to the video transmitter. You would then hear the sound files directly from the card transmitted to your head phones?


Not sure if this would work, but last night I took all the FPV off of my Sherman, and am going to install it in my Leopard. I may give this a try and see what the result is. If this worked then the sound generated by the gears wouldn't be an issue at all, as you would only be hearing the sound files generated by the card directly.

I am not sure what the cost of what Freaky is developing, but I know the Fat Shark stuff is in the $200-300 range. So rather then buy yourself another tank, maybe take the plunge into FPV. This would probably enhance the IR battles to a level all on its own without trying to change the actual IR game,

In my opinion and through my own experience I feel that you need to go with immersion goggles or at least turn your back to the on- field action. Experience the battling through the on board video and do not peek out to the battle field.