How to be successful in FPV tutorials

[FPVSteve]

Mind it could also have been the DVR he was using - I can't help but think he probably had a better view than that.

[Coyote]

I`m not surprised with his anti-RTH words, I can say hand on heart RTH is got me into more trouble than actually helping me out.

Like with the elevon there, yes that`s not going to happen that often, but happened to Dizzy only two days ago. The RTH system is then useless.

The plane being blown off course can confuse some RTH systems and it gives the wrong control movement because it "believes" it facing a different way to what it actually is.

If you have a GPS drop out it has no idea or the wrong idea of where home is. Or its altitude can be way off an it can return too low not knowing its going to fly into something.

That`s why when noobs join and want RTH straight away we try to put them off, it writes off more planes then they save. When its setup perfectly its great,when its not or something unforeseen happens, its a liability.

[CurryKitten]

Thanks - that's interesting to know.  I've always considered it an extra safety blanket, but never used it "in anger" on my quad.  I will certainly be doing a lot of testing close in when I eventually get a Storm on my Bix 2 although I'll be aiming never to actually need it. 

[FPVSteve]

I'm in no real position to comment as I've not gone out to anything other than short range at the moment but I've always seen its best use as being a last resort attempt to get home, say, failsafe on the Rx - at that point you can't do anything, so anything that might be able to bring you back into range is a god send.

Having said that, to get into that situation is probably either pilot error (Fresnel violation or gone out too far) or other unforeseen radio issue.

[CurryKitten]

Yep - if radio goes, right now the failsafe will just remember stick positions, which means the motor will turn off and it will (in theory)start gliding down in a circular flight path... probably going into a little stall and recovery over and over again.  That said, my FrSky receiver beeps at me if it's not getting a good signal, so if I have this thing triple beeping at me and I ignore it, then I've only got myself to blame.

But anything can happen out there anything could fail, it could get hit by something.  I'm getting what Coyote means, you test RTH in good know conditions, but when you need it odds on the shits already hit the fan and it may not help you

[Flyboysee]

This was a great flight, vid quality sucked though all the way. He makes a lot of sense and as I start thinking about going further out I realise I need to iron things out a bit. I'm reasonably happy that my RTH will get me back (provided no airframe issues etc). This is the first I've heard of using attenuators to simulate range. Great video!

[g.collins]

I use RTL, in both my mini and big SW, every flight I do, without fail, I go out 200 meters or so and flick it in to RTL and make sure it terns back to home, then I tern it of and continue my flight.
I love the system, and when I had my video lipo go down, it was such a relief after I switched RTL on, and 2 minutes later, my little SW was flying over head. but as stated earlier it is essential to make sure its set up right, and like myself, check it regularly.
;) G

[Coyote]

Now this one is not part of IBCray`s tutorials, but addresses lots of important points like :

Turn your vtx on with no antenna = Bye bye vtx
Double power does not mean anywhere near double range
Receiver sensitivity
Antenna SWR importance
Linear vs Circular for 5.8ghz

Lots more too, all good points from Bruce

5.8GHz for FPV RC planes

[Grumpybeard]

These are an excellent collection - just watched "Radio Communication" - well presented and I learned loads!

[strachg]

very informative. thanks.

[Coyote]

A new video is up, may be of interest to some seasoned pilots as well..............

Night flying ! :)

Success in FPV Part: 11 - The Night Flight

[scarrzy]

Very informative thanks

[Coyote]

Troubleshooting video added

[FPVSteve]

That night flying video is a bit pants really .... he's not flying in the dark at all, he's in a car park which has huge floodlights.