long range video options

[Andy Sayle]

hi Folks,

I've decided that long range flying using 5.8GHz is getting a bit too hit and miss after a few km.  What are the better options for lower frequency video transmission at the moment?  Is the ImmersionRC 2.4GHz setup any good? or are there better alternatives?

Cheers
Andy

[stevec]

I just bought a 2.4 ghz Lawmate with saw filter and a TBS unify? 500Mw 2.4 vtx, but a lot of poeple seem to go to the 1200 MHZ band, there is a channel that you can use legally not sure on the wattage restrictions though.

I figured the video on that 100km TBS Xfire video was pretty good so for what I need it should be fine...

I will be making a helical 2.4 GHZ antenna for longer range stuff, and I may even play around with Yagis as for real long range most stuff will be straight and level anyway, and if it all goes to rats then I'll hit RTH and wait for reception to come back when it has turned round..

[Ratty]

There is no legal 1.2 band for use in the air, i think it is ground based transmitting only.  ;D

[keukpa]

There is no legal 1.2 band for use in the air, i think it is ground based transmitting only.  ;D

Yeah, the 1.2G band is reserved for ATV in the UK, the same channels the 1.2G VTXs use are also used by ham radio people using ATV. So 'legally' you can't use 1.2 in the UK

[English Turbines]

Anything over 25mw on 5.8G is also illegal......2.4G Video is also illegal, certainly using an airborne 700mw Video Transmitter is.

May as well be hung for a Sheep as a Lamb....as the saying goes...

A 200mw 1.3G VTX goes a long way on the right antennas.....and those amateurs broadcasting TV images to each other use narrow beam directional antennas.

:vulture:

[stevec]

Yeah, the 1.2G band is reserved for ATV in the UK, the same channels the 1.2G VTXs use are also used by ham radio people using ATV. So 'legally' you can't use 1.2 in the UK

There you go then that's the new thing I have learned today I thought there was one frequency in the 1.2 band you could use.
I stand corrected😀

And ET I think we are all using 10 mw2.4 and 25 mw 5.8 systems on here.

/steve


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[English Turbines]

And ET I think we are all using 10 mw2.4 and 25 mw 5.8 systems on here.

/steve

Lol.....Yeah right Steve, and the sky is pink on Sundays...

This little VTX on 1280mhz is just great, really small and light....:)

What is noticeable, is that if I run it right next to my old Spektrum DX7 (DSM2)...It has no detrimental effect at all.....But my Taranis receivers go loopy...



:vulture:

[Coyote]

What are the better options for lower frequency video transmission at the moment?  Is the ImmersionRC 2.4GHz setup any good? or are there better alternatives?

1.2/1.3 is one option, I use that but have been trying the ImmersionRC 2.4 Nexwave gear for a bit now I really can't knock it for picture quality and reliability so far.

My only criticism though is the two outer bands are there so you can fly with 2.4GHz radio users without them interfering with your picture. As we all found at Mad Dogs and flying in smaller numbers, it is complete twaddle lol, they interfere still so the channels are no better than the others.

[Andy Sayle]

So does the presence of 2.4GHz radios in operation, render a 2.4GHz video downlink unusable, or is it just a case of a little bit of picture degradation?  There's a good chance I'll be flying with 2.4GHz pilots (a mix of LOS and FPV)..

Cheers
Andy

[Brucey]

If you use one of the two channels that are outside of the band you will be ok.

Just make sure you maximise your separation from your mates rc tx, this makes a huge difference. You will see some noise but it's flyable as long as the first signs of static don't scare you!

I would just be cautious of flying long range while you have people around you with 2.4g radios.

I've used 2.4 since I started fpv, and flown at most of the MD meets using it, only a handful of times I've had trouble and that was down to the lack of separation. I even managed 10km at a meet, I just made sure my yagi wasn't pointing at the other pilots!

Here is a live feed from a MD meet, lots of 2.4 rc tx in operation and the dvr makes it look worse than it was.

http://youtu.be/h24osM0lgsc

[Ratty]

Anything over 25mw on 5.8G is also illegal......2.4G Video is also illegal, certainly using an airborne 700mw Video Transmitter is.

May as well be hung for a Sheep as a Lamb....as the saying goes...

A 200mw 1.3G VTX goes a long way on the right antennas.....and those amateurs broadcasting TV images to each other use narrow beam directional antennas.

:vulture:

2.4 is not illegal. You can legally use up to 10mw on 2.4.

My reason for saying 1.2 was illegal was not to say don't use it. Just to correct the statement.  ;D

[Coyote]

So does the presence of 2.4GHz radios in operation, render a 2.4GHz video downlink unusable, or is it just a case of a little bit of picture degradation?  There's a good chance I'll be flying with 2.4GHz pilots (a mix of LOS and FPV)..

Cheers
Andy

It made it annoying at very close range but unusable once you started flying away. Your Vtx starts fading where the 2.4 radios stood next to you don't .

We were hoping and under the impression that this was not going to be the case but it was.

[Andy Sayle]

Ah, that's not so good then.  Maybe the not so legal 1.2GHz band is where I need to be looking then...

Andy

[BlueFlyer]

I don't think anyone cares about legal on here anymore, considering the original question was about going long range, I'd assume he's already doing "illegal" stuff by flying out of LOS.... like I said, I don't think anyone's arsed anymore lol

As for a "legal" 1.2 frequency, there's a frequency 1258MHz that's "legal" in the USA... shops like readymaderc.com sell 2 versions of the 1.2 gear... one that ONLY has 1258 as a working frequency and they sell it domestically to the USA... the other is the "normal" version which has many channels, up to 1320 if I remember right

[AdamG]

As Blue says, if your'e doing long range FPV your're being a bit naughty anyway, so you might as well do it on the best frequency for it which is 1.2  ;D