Thought I would post a few pictures of my Mk I Ground Station - before I dismantle it
This is / was my first attempt and, as often happens although pleased it actually all works, I am convinced I could and should make a second, better effort.
The tripod was 'scrounged' from an amateur astronomy telescope. The best thing about it is that it is made with the legs consisting of 2 rectangular tubes, with a central adjustable rectangular section on each leg. This makes the securing of GS components very easy.
The 'components' are mounted onto a piece of plywood the ply onto the tripod over 2 studs (old rc car body fixing posts). After putting the ply over the studs, a split pin secures one of them - again the type used to hold rc lexan car bodyshells down.
The antenna tracker includes a built-in ubec and Ez Antenna tracker; Patch aerial and 5.8 ghz vrx.
Rt audio from vrx is spilt to go to antenna tracker + components board. Video & Lt audio feed go straight from vrx to component board. A power feed goes from component board up to antenna tracker.
The component board contains a video splitter; monitor; dvr and 2.4ghz vtx to take video to Fat Shark goggles or my 'Video Helmet'.
Mk II changes will be:-
- replacing the Ez pan & tilt kit - cheap, weak & horrible.
- fitting a Diversity vrx with Skew Planar & Helicoil aerials
- Diversity will allow Telemetry to go to Android phone, showing plane's current GPS position in Google maps.
- removing all left audio RCA cabling - just isn't needed anymore.
- overall neater and tidier.
I do NOT ever expect to achieve Coyote standards of Ground Station excellence - see his pictures for a 'superbly neat' GS, but I will enjoy trying !
(http://s16.postimage.org/6q8oaccc1/SANY0001.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/6q8oaccc1/)
(http://s16.postimage.org/lc4acbyi9/SANY0002.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/lc4acbyi9/)
(http://s16.postimage.org/fcgj8odpt/SANY0003.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/fcgj8odpt/)
(http://s16.postimage.org/tmq3k5u29/SANY0004.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/tmq3k5u29/)
(http://s16.postimage.org/uditpxwfl/SANY0005.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/uditpxwfl/)
Mk1 looks pretty good, so Mk2 should be very interesting to see. I`m with you on the pan / tilt rig, it just doesn`t cut it does it
The pan&tilt seems so weak on the fixing to the pan servo, I just cannot trust it not to fail whilst flying. That could be a disaster I could well do without.
I started off with that pan/tilt from ElectronicaRC but the pan was badly engineered and the large circular servo disc (cant call it a servo horn !) caused a lot of friction on the case top, I tried silicone grease etc.
I ended up ditching it and going the ServoCity route.
GS is nice and compact / tidy especially compared to mine.
PK
Well I've been busy during all the rain we have had and started over with a Ground Station.
The reason I started again was that I was unhappy with the engineering integrity of the Electonicarc.com Pan & Tilt mechanism, used as the basis for the MkI. Obviously at the same time I decided to improve other aspects.
MkII Specification is:-
ImmersionRC DUO5800v2 5.8GHz Receivers with Diversity, hooked up to,
5.8GHz Skew Planar Wheel antenna - Right Hand Circular Polarised AND
5.8GHz Heliaxial antenna
Video output fed to:-
Portable DVR (small screen item middle centre)
My Andoid phone (GPS to Google tracking app)
Ez Antenna Tracker
Airwave 4ch 2.4GHz video transmitter (sends video to Pilot's goggles)
3s 11.1v 5000 mah 'power' Lipo
All this equipment if fitted onto (modified):-
EzAntennaTracker Antenna Pan/Tilt - a wider 'floor' has been screwed on, such that the WHOLE unit (all the components)revolves with the Pan servo. No wires to get crossed up !!
Compared to my first effort I believe this setup to be of a higher spec (Diversity vrx), smaller, lighter, neater and of a greater mechanical reliabililty.
Yep, feeling rather pleased with myself right now !
(http://s16.postimage.org/5ybkf7pwh/Mk_II_Front.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/5ybkf7pwh/) FRONT
(http://s16.postimage.org/h84aa5uxt/Mk_II_Back.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/h84aa5uxt/) BACK
(http://s16.postimage.org/qnp7khja9/Mk_II_Side.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/qnp7khja9/) SIDE
Puts everything about mine to shame :laugh: great job
That`s looking really nice, its evolved very well, looks very pro mate :)
Looks good... :)
nice one bud.
;) G