Today I had an issue with my Fatshark built in receiver module. This made me think about the requirement for hard wired connection to the ground station in the future.
Thankfully a year or so ago I'd bought a 4 way video booster, meant for use in cars. Today I decided to finally include it in my relay box so I can hard wire into it and not have to rely on my goggles receiver when I'm doing long range attempts.
I also decided to change my old 4 way PDB with a brand new matek one. It's a miniquad PDB that has 12v and 5v BECs built in. I used the 12v bec to power the VTX and having this board means i have the ability to add a 5v component in the future.
First I soldered the video cable coming from the AAT Driver directly to the video in port on the PCB of the video booster. The centre pad is actually GND and the 2 outer pads are the signal.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img923/3838/EYrzTe.jpg)
Then I ripped the horrible molex connector off the VTX and directly soldered the voltage and signal wires to it, making sure I had them on the right pads according to the connector. Then a dab of hot glue for insulation and to reduce any stress on the tiny solder pads
(http://imageshack.com/a/img924/9706/ZKjhHK.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/9962/VrbDKy.jpg)
Video signal wire from one of the booster's output ports to the VTX. Power wires to the PDB
(http://imageshack.com/a/img923/2034/rIsGbb.jpg)
(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/5355/KiVv12.jpg)
Power wires from the ESC pads to the AAT Driver and the LED Voltage display on the front of the box.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/7435/88nkNL.jpg)
Power wires from the ESC pads to the video booster and the XT60 plug via a switch.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/6844/iRnJaZ.jpg)
Video booster stuck down AND hot glued in place, VTX mounted with RP-SMA connector poking out the side of the box and all other componets connected up and going in
(http://imageshack.com/a/img924/3466/eWqLzP.jpg)
Ta Da! Finished. I forgot to take a picture of me connecting the VTX red wire through a switch on the side. This means I can turn off the VTX if I'm not using it.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img921/8934/TPkals.jpg)
Bravo!
Thanks
P
Do you have a link for that Matek 12 / 5 volt PDB Blue please..?
I planned on using a 5V BEC anyway to power my DVR, because it gets hot having a linear VReg in it....(I think).
Should you not be taking your Video Signal from the boosted side only...?....Isn't the AAT signal unboosted?
:vulture:
Not sure what you're on about ET.
I've connected it as follows:
1. Video signal from the tracker goes to the booster's IN port. (This is the signal I'm wanting to split 4 ways, and therefore requires the booster)
2. Video signal from one of the 4 x boosted out ports goes to the 5.8 VTX.
As for the link to that board... I have no idea where it came from. I just found it in my drawer lol.
But these look similar http://www.banggood.com/search/matek-pdb.html (http://www.banggood.com/search/matek-pdb.html)
Quote from: BlueFlyer on January 09, 2017, 12:00:11 AM
Not sure what you're on about ET.
I've connected it as follows:
1. Video signal from the tracker goes to the booster's IN port. (This is the signal I'm wanting to split 4 ways, and therefore requires the booster)
2. Video signal from one of the 4 x boosted out ports goes to the 5.8 VTX.
Oh, I think you mean the Video signal from the Lawmate VRX when you say "Tracker" maybe..?
I can see you have a boosted signal for the 5.8 VTX...ok.
I just ordered a Matek PDB from E-Bay....Im hoping the 12Vdc out will be enough to drive the Booster and the VRX..?
Although I could drive the booster straight from the 3S Lipo perhaps..? I want the 5vdc out for my DVR.
What do you think..Is it powerful enough?
:vulture:
Hmmmm, I guess kind of. The signal comes from the Lawmate receiver, goes into the tracker, which reads the embedded GPS data, then sends it out the other side.
The booster's IN port is physically connected to the tracker's video OUT port, not the Lawmate receiver.
The video booster can take the 3S voltage so thats why I soldered it to the ESC output to get the raw voltage.
The 5V BEC from that kind of PDB is usually just powering a flight controller and a rc receiver. You'd have to look at your DVR's mah consumption and the specs of the PDB you've ordered to see if it will provide enough current to the DVR.
Quote from: BlueFlyer on January 09, 2017, 12:13:07 AM
Hmmmm, I guess kind of. The signal comes from the Lawmate receiver, goes into the tracker, which reads the embedded GPS data, then sends it out the other side.
The booster's IN port is physically connected to the tracker's video OUT port, not the Lawmate receiver.
The video booster can take the 3S voltage so thats why I soldered it to the ESC output to get the raw voltage.
The 5V BEC from that kind of PDB is usually just powering a flight controller and a rc receiver. You'd have to look at your DVR's mah consumption and the specs of the PDB you've ordered to see if it will provide enough current to the DVR.
Ah, yes....see what you mean now about Video IN.
I think I need to use the 12v regulated just to feed the Lawmate VRX.
Raw 3S Lipo to feed the Video Booster.
Raw 3S Lipo to feed the 5.8 VTX.
Regulated 5vdc to feed the HKDVR.....(If it's man enough)
What do you think...?
:vulture:
Link to that nice little switch please?
Which one steve? The one on the side or on the front?
The one on the front is about 5 years old, I bought a bunch of them when I first tried to build a ground station. It has a blue LED that comes on when you switch it on. But this time I just wired it up as a regular switch and didn't connect up the LED. I know the relay box is on when the LED voltage display is working lol.
As for the other one, it's the same design just without the LED.
Just search ebay for rocker switch, there's loads of different styles.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141725682546 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141725682546)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261349269695 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261349269695)
I like your set up very much getting rid of unnessery connections makes for a far more reliable system, its compact too☺
I always have the ability to connect hard ware like goggles via cables you really never know when you may need that facility I have to admit last year on my longer flights I should have plugged in to my GS really like yourself it pays to keep KISS 😊
Now after looking at yours I need an update on mine lol
dizzy😉
In action, although I didn't use the 5.8 relay on this occasion as my mate was using his relay station and I couldn't be bothered opening up the box to change frequency lol. Plus, the battery lasts longer in the goggles if you don't use the built in receiver module, which is ideal for longer flights.