How to make a £9.99 Airwave Vtx module work... for less than a fiver.

RogerD · September 10, 2013, 09:39:29 AM

Of course Steve, no probs. I've just updated the PDF for the single sided version, I forgot you don't need to mirror the pcb when laser printing the bottom. This doesn't effect the double sided one you have done.

Be interesting to see the finished PCB. I've been testing some of my own boards and am tempted to have some printed.

Roger

mrwilljackson · September 16, 2013, 02:31:10 PM

Quote from: RogerD on September 09, 2013, 08:34:12 PM
Note:
Will - I've never ordered a fabbed board - do the pads come plated through the hole?

Hi Roger,

Yes they're plated through the holes - here's a shot of the two sided board for my Bruce Simpson vtx. It works a treat! Sorry for the poor lighting in the shot but you can just about see the copper all the way through ;)

cheers
Will

RogerD · September 16, 2013, 03:34:56 PM

What a great resource. I've completely redesigned a PCB of mine for professional production. The catch with home made 2 sided PCBs is no through the hole copper, and also vias are a pain in the butt!

CurryKitten · September 27, 2013, 05:53:43 PM

You guys really lost me on the PCB design, but if anyone could make a tiny module into something slightly more plug and play, then many people would probably buy one. I use the 'other' frequency based module to fly my mini quad, it was very simple to wire up as it was literally video in/ground/3.3v/antenna. I've read this and still haven't a clue.

It's slightly annoying that my mini quad is tiny and can go/fly anywhere, but I'm lumbered with dragging around the groundstation because I need and external RC305 vrx to get the video to my fatsharks

skyscraper · September 28, 2013, 08:44:32 AM

Quote from: RogerD on September 16, 2013, 03:34:56 PM
What a great resource. I've completely redesigned a PCB of mine for professional production. The catch with home made 2 sided PCBs is no through the hole copper, and also vias are a pain in the butt!

You can get through hole vias on Ebay in various sizes. I got some recently, but not tried them out yet. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100x-best-quality-pcb-copper-via-vias-through-hole-rivets-0-4-0-6-REGISTERED-/321214073745?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac9d9cb91

Getting your pcb fabricated is great and looks very professional though I must say

regards
Andy

stevec · September 28, 2013, 12:09:17 PM

I got an email the other day saying the boards had been cut from the sheet and were in the post, so week or so should see them in my grubby mitts.

I'll put up some pictures when they arrive.

Cheers
Steve

RogerD · September 29, 2013, 12:33:07 AM

Nice :-)

(had no idea you could buy vias!)

stevec · September 30, 2013, 09:36:58 PM

They came today.

Here are some photos...

Roger one in the post for you, sorry but I only had second class stamps.

I have 4 boards left so any one who wants a kit to make let me know and I'll order some parts. Probably be a tenner delivered unless inflation has hit the component market in the last couple of weeks :D

I know the thread is titled under a fiver but that was making it with varo board...

Cheers
Steve

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

RogerD · October 01, 2013, 12:31:23 AM

Nice - great to see the little fellow in real life! :-)

Baner · October 01, 2013, 08:48:12 AM

Hi Stevec, Can you get me a complete backpack With all the bits and tell me how much you won't.

stevec · October 01, 2013, 09:36:58 PM

The only thing I won't be including is the vTx itself, these are 9.99 from first person view.

The parts are en route from Farnell. Price will be 10 quid including fees and postage.

Some photos of the build today...
Unfortunately I damaged the voltage regulator removing it so I can't test it until I get a new one.

Cheers
Steve

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

Baner · October 02, 2013, 08:54:54 AM

Fantastic job Steve my soldering is like Shaky Stevens but I'll have a go thanks very much for the update.

skyscraper · October 02, 2013, 09:13:26 AM

Looks great :)

regards
Andy

stevec · October 03, 2013, 12:30:13 PM

Hi Guys,

I have 2 people with dibs on a back board so that means I have a spare.

if anyone wants to have a kit I am selling for £10 delivered to the uk including paypal.

I will supply all the parts to make the mother board plus chuck in a short length of coax and if you need it some welding wire so you can knock up an antenna.

there is no build video as it is so straightforward now the board is printed in fact the only potential area for a cock up is mixing up the +ve and -ve on the LED and capacitor (+ve is the long leg)

the finished article looks pretty proffesional with the jumper and header pins on it. overall I am well chuffed with how it has come out.

Cheers
Steve

RogerD · October 03, 2013, 01:51:33 PM

nice! - Thanks for posting mine - received just now.

(p.s. why did you put the reg on the other side?)

Roger