Simple, cheap fpv groundstation

by rcnoob | January 29, 2013 | (4) Posted in Projects

This is my first fpv system, although I haven't flown with it, everything works, and I have done range tests. I am using a foxtech 2.4ghz 500mw combo with a fh18c PAL camera, and a patch antenna. The screen doesn't matter too much, just needs to be portable. It is a cheapo AUVIO screen I got from radio shack for 30$. For that price, it was a steal. I did notice that the internal battery of the screen did not work, so I have to run it off of a 2200mah 3s like normal people. I mount it all on a tripod that swivles. I put the receiver on the the tripod also, because I can just point the patch antenna, and wherever that is, my video screen will face that direction, so I can look up and see my plane. It was simple to build, and just used velcro and tape to keep thigs together. The only hard part was mounting the screen to the tripod. 

I wish I could have used circularly polarized antennas, but I do not want to mess anything up, and blue-beams are expensive. The patch antenna is 8dbi so it should give my decent range foward, and a good reception angle.(If that's the word for it?) If you look at rctestflight's videos, he does a wonderful review, and setup tutorial of the same system I'm using, but he has a 9dbi patch. 

As far as radios go, I thought a lot about UHF, but they are very expensive. I thought about the OrangeRX open LRS system, but I heard bad reviews, and I would have to program it. I was afraid to mess up and ruin it. I ended up picking up a futaba 6exp 72mhz with 2 receivers for $65.00. Quite a steal on ebay. 72mhz systems have better range than 2.4, but obiously less than uhf systems. I don't reckon I want to go out 25km with a uhf system, so I am ok with that.

If you have any questions, ask, I may not know, but a lot of other great fpv'ers can help you.

COMMENTS

Tommes on February 2, 2013
Nice groundstation! If you make the inside of the monitorbox black you would have less reflection.
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rcnoob on February 4, 2013
Thanks! I'll try that, was thinking about it, but I am very lazy.
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Simple, cheap fpv groundstation