Anyone doing FPV on their Rigs?

[Grandad]

Just curious to see if anyone here is into FPV? Would like to know about your setups and equipment.

I started our FPV journey with a analog system, using Foxeer Cat 3 camera paired to a Rush Max Solo VTX. Antennas varied to start. For looking at the image I bought a cheap 7" monitor.

I then wanted to see how far I could Drive the car, so more upgrades followed. I purchased TBS Crossfire and receiver which gives far superior range.Then came all of the various antennas and testing.

I have recently upgraded from Analog to Digital, I am now using a Walksnail setup and I have to say the differance was amazing.

 

[332_RC]

Yes, I've done it. Arrma infraction 3s w/ a roll bar mount & a DJI Osmo Action camera w/ TPU mount.

.

 

[Hornet68]

Following.

 

[Grandad]

Cool!

Is that like an action camera or are you able to drivemthe car using that to see where you are going?

 

[Dark Wolf]

I don't have any footage to share at the moment, but I bought a small camera that fits inside my IR60 cab.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ5JDH7F?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_5&th=1

DW

 

[Grandad]

I meant using the camera to actually drive the car. In order to see where you are going you can use a screen or googles.

 

[Grandad]

This is our current setup on the Mojave's.

This setup is a Walksnail GT Kit. The camera is housed inside some aluminium tube to protect it from roll overs. The VTX is protected by some flat aluminium bent to take the impact from a roll over, it also has a fan mounted to create decent airflow for the VTX.

The whole thing is mounted onto some plexi and attached to the top of the body using DualLock Velcro. This way it is easy to remove if we want to do some serious bashing.

 

[Hornet68]

I don't have any footage to share at the moment, but I bought a small camera that fits inside my IR60 cab.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ5JDH7F?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_5&th=1

DW

Picture of how that camera is mounted in the cab would be appreciated.

 

[Dark Wolf]

Picture of how that camera is mounted in the cab would be appreciated.

Will do! I just used a couple of pieces of velcro. Pic inbound.

DW

 

[Dark Wolf]

DW

 

[Dark Wolf]

The camera is at home, so I will get a pic of it in the truck today.

DW

 

[Dark Wolf]

DW

 

[kazetsukai]

I'm only starting to play with Caddx / HDZero systems, the wiring and organization there has me a bit confused. Caddx I'm hopeful for low latency and head tracking.

I've been testing a digital link by SIYI on my TRX-6.

Front camera is mounted to a servo I can turn:

And yep, there's a rear camera too:

The SIYI link takes SBUS input from RC controllers, which it repeats on the vehicle unit transmitter.
Right now I use an RC8X for the input.

I mount this up high on a tripod, and then use the PC to watch the video feeds:

Glass to glass the latency is about 120-180ms which I'm aiming to improve. But yeah crawling around in the woods from the couch is pretty cool.

 

[Grandad]

Very nice.
Can you tell us about the components you are using?

I have been trying to some decent long range. I bought a long range antennas tracker Just have to figure out how to connect it to my Walksnail
MyFlyDream Mini Crossbow
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mOyl43z

 

[kazetsukai]

Very nice.
Can you tell us about the components you are using?

I have been trying to some decent long range. I bought a long range antennas tracker Just have to figure out how to connect it to my Walksnail
MyFlyDream Mini Crossbow
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mOyl43z

Funny, I have the same Mini Crossbow tracker- I just have yet to get it going as well. It would work well with this system being tripod mount like the rest of it.

Here's a rundown of the system components I use:

I could use help getting the Caddx stuff running- I have the Moonlight kit, gimbal, the Caddx VRX and the Goggles X, and I'm a bit confused how to put it all together, especially organize it so that there aren't tiny / vulnerable wires out in the open. I do want to get a GT for the range.

 

[Grandad]

Funny, I have the same Mini Crossbow tracker- I just have yet to get it going as well. It would work well with this system being tripod mount like the rest of it.

Here's a rundown of the system components I use:

I could use help getting the Caddx stuff running- I have the Moonlight kit, gimbal, the Caddx VRX and the Goggles X, and I'm a bit confused how to put it all together, especially organize it so that there aren't tiny / vulnerable wires out in the open. I do want to get a GT for the range.

Very interesting setup. Can you post some links to the different gear used?

If you manage to get the Crossfire tracker up and running, please let me know.

In regards to the Moonlite etc it is very straight forward. Is there something in particular that you are struggling with?

Essentially., I use some flexibility with Dual Lock as the base to mount the whole thing to the top of the car. The Moonlight VTX is protected using som flat aluminium bent into a U shape and a Fan is attached to the top to provide cooling for the VTX and the camera is fitted inside some square aluminium tubing. This way if I roll the car, nothing gets damaged.

I run everything through a BEC and have that mounted on the underside of the body shell along with a separate battery to power it all.

There really isn't much wiring to worry about. I have never had to replace any wiring.

I too have a gimble, but would not recommend using it. I broke mine first run. If you are crawling it may be OK but I won't be using one again.

For long range you will need to decent Directional antennas on your goggles along with a decent Omni antenna.

 

[kazetsukai]

Can you post some links to the different gear used?

The HM30 system - Ground + air unit with basic camera
Their camera options (A2, A8 mini are good)
Ethernet hub (for using more than one camera)

They also have other ground stations which are essentially the HM30 married to an Android-powered controller. The UniRC is their next generation link, with 2.4GHz + 5.8GHz dual band instead of just 5.8. I have the MK32 and UniRC 7 as well, and they have more or less the same set of ports as the HM30, minus I think SBUS input/relay function. I think they might be developing another ground station but I'm not sure when we'll hear about it.

Is there something in particular that you are struggling with?

Uh, I can elaborate maybe a bit tomorrow but of off the top of my head.... The air unit has these tiny wires coming off it, I know two are power. The other two I'm guessing are UART TX/RX, and I'm also guessing those are needed for head tracking with the gimbal. I'm struggling with how people deal with these tiny, bare leads in a way that isn't excessively fragile...

I too have a gimble, but would not recommend using it. I broke mine first run. If you are crawling it may be OK but I won't be using one again.

Crawling is my main use case. I have three new crawler rigs on order, two 1/8 and one 1/6 scale. In these I plan to mount the gimbal in the driver seat position of the interior instead of on top of the rig for a bit more immersion. This should protect the gimbal from any direct impacts. I'll probably also have the SIYI system ride shotgun or mounted elsewhere as a backup / 3rd person view.

The key I think to getting good range is getting at least one of the radios as far off the ground as possible. I had high hopes for the Caddx repeater, but it doesn't support head tracking, at least not yet. Directionals will only go so far with both ends on the same ground level... it will probably work really well in a valley or mountain range.

 

[Grandad]

Directionals work both ways, on the flat or raised above ground level. You just have point them at the car the whole time. Unlike Omni antennas, which radiat in all directions. These are far superior to the regular Dipol antennas.

 

[Grandad]

Are we talking about the Walksnail Moonlight, if so, it is plug and play. It does have to solder pads, RX and TX next to the pins where you plug the cable into. These are VX, TX, GRD and VCC. This cable simply plugs into your battery, or in my case, into a BECH and then to a small 3s lipo.

I have not had any issues with cable, even though the wires are very small and I am not gentle with the car. You could always put some Cable Sleeve on it to help protect it.

 

[Grandad]

Funny, I have the same Mini Crossbow tracker- I just have yet to get it going as well. It would work well with this system being tripod mount like the rest of it.

Here's a rundown of the system components I use:

I could use help getting the Caddx stuff running- I have the Moonlight kit, gimbal, the Caddx VRX and the Goggles X, and I'm a bit confused how to put it all together, especially organize it so that there aren't tiny / vulnerable wires out in the open. I do want to get a GT for the range.

What is your longest range, using your system?