Hi All
This is the first field test of my 5.8ghz antenna tracker it is 19cm diameter and 14cm tall all in. There is no extra equipment needed(OSD / GPS) on the aircraft as it uses signal strength from the VTX only.So from a market research point of view is it something you guys and girls on 5.8 would be interested in ? providing long range tests and build quality/price was acceptable
http://youtu.be/GVfJWILT7do (http://youtu.be/GVfJWILT7do)
Thanks
Tommy
very interesting. how does it perform in a busy environment? it would have to be seen to reject nearby channels well, or it would get lost and follow some one else's aircraft. for shorter,or medium range (quad flying around "interesting" places) it would be just the job. obviously not having gps, if an aircraft goes down, there's no reference point to go look for it.
Hi Quadbod,
Thanks for your reply, this is the first field test with the 360 unit rotation and live video feed through a slip ring setup so i am unsure about busy environments as for gps but field testing will confirm if it is fit for busy areas. i am trying to make it plug and play meaning no extra parts required just switch it on and plug in monitor or goggles
testing continues ......
Tommy
Hi Tommy,
Looks to work pretty smooth in your video, well done.
I thought I's seen something that looked a bit like this somewhere, don't know if it works the same method as yours
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1337608&highlight=ibcrazi+antenna+tracker (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1337608&highlight=ibcrazi+antenna+tracker)
PK
That looks like it works really well. I like the simplicity. The only problem as far as I can is that that you need 3 Video receivers which can work out expensive.
I built a DIY tracker and I found ( suggested by Coyote on this forum) that a really useful test was to mount a keychain cam on the tracker to see how well it follows the aircraft. Might be worth trying that.
My unit uses slip rings and so far I have found them very reliable for video signal
Will watch with interest!
regards
Andy
hi kp-surfing
indeed this is the same principle as Alex's 2.4 in 5.8 with continuous rotation and the rf modules are on a designed PCB board not full receivers
Hi Skyscraper,
I have just got in from the exact test using a horizon hd cam fitted to the tracker it is a bit shaky when locking on but you can see it works fine this is with no fine calibration at all
i will upload in a bit
Hi All
just a quick video of the tracker with a horizon hd camera attached its just 3 samples where the quad was in view although the unit is not fine tuned yet it never lost the lock
http://youtu.be/wR7YVr__Rkg (http://youtu.be/wR7YVr__Rkg)
Tommy
How does it behave if the source goes below or above the receiver beam? What does it do if somehow it loses the signal, does it do some mind of rotating scan?
Chris
Hi Chris-s
i have only flown directly over the tracker with no signal loss but have not gone below the beam as yet i it ever does lose signal it will rotate 360 until it picks it up again dont think in nothing fancier than that, the bi-quad antennas are set to 20 degree tilt can test this below the beam tomorrow from a hill top
tommy
you guys are well clever.
:) G
I may be a bit stupid but what does that unit do if say you are on 55.8ghz and you go behind a tree or building. Will it just wait or start rotating till signal comes back
Quote from: stevestoys on August 11, 2013, 08:50:51 AM
I may be a bit stupid but what does that unit do if say you are on 55.8ghz and you go behind a tree or building. Will it just wait or start rotating till signal comes back
This is essentially the same problem as a tracker that uses the Video feed to send telemetry. I dont think its a problem
I would be quite keen to try this scheme out on my tracker, though I would use software. I would like to do it in 3D, using 3 sensing recievers. It might also be possible to get rid of the one in the centre, just use the best signal from the sensor receivers.
Another scenario I can see is if you use a single receiver. If you lose signal you could use RSSI to hunt around the sky looking for your aircraft! You just track it side to side and up and down. ( Or maybe a circular motion would be more aesthetic!)
Interesting. It does work very well by the look of it.
regards
Andy
Hi and yes ill have one now please. Honestly that looks the mutts dodahs.
Why has no big firm not done this?
Quote from: mark on August 12, 2013, 08:53:31 PM
Hi and yes ill have one now please. Honestly that looks the mutts dodahs.
Why has no big firm not done this?
easy, they wouldn't be assured of selling you the expensive gps/osd for your aircraft.
Hi again
Andy nice idea
Mark hopefully if all field tests are passed they will be in production soon
quadbod
think that says it all
tommy
Yo tommyd any advance on the trackerl. I need one in my life.
Good job I didn't misspell life as wife eh lol.