(Part 2) Top products from r/fpv

Thank you for all that! That was a useful YouTube video, too.

I had to make the purchases yesterday, since I'll be playing with actors in the studio on Monday. That said, I still have time to buy some things.

It's a comfort that I seem to be on the right track. The biggest difference between what I bought and your suggestions is that you suggested I buy the Dock-Kings and other pricier receiver/converting gear. I'd appreciate if you could look at my list of purchased items to determine if you think it will work, or if you see some some red flags.

I suppose in the long run, if this theatre show concept shows promise, we would then invest in more reliable gear, such as no-compression wireless HDMI tx/rx. For now, here it is:

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4 cameras:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y5D8SPZ/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (1S LiPo)

2 x https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y56RL5P/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (1S LiPo)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0184DVN4G/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (2S or 3S LiPo)

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3 receivers (should I buy different antennae?):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0774SMGQN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2 x https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H36AIGY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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3 AC/DC adapters for the receivers:

3 x https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ISM267G/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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3S LiPo (for 3S LiPo camera and try battery-powered Receiver)

2 x https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GF63645/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Battery chargers

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00466PKE0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Charger-Channel-Inductrix-Connectors/dp/B074M6G2MD

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Each receiver has an AV output + AV RCA cable. I'll plug in the RCAs from 2 or 3 receivers into this Switcher:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KXVBB7C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Using an RCA cable, connect the Switcher's Output to this RCA to HDMI converter:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KTDG177/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Then HDMI to projector.

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Ta-da?

$500 is a tight budget. $500 can get you "something that flies" and "something that's FPV." At the $500 level, you're talking 4-12 minutes.

Wind handling comes from "being fast" and "having a decent flight controller". Naze32, Flip32, KK2 2.1, NAZA, etc.. are all good flight controlers.

The big question is, what are you trying to do? Just "get in and have fun?" Well, in that case I'd probally point you at something like a the Proto or Hubsan ready to fly FPV quads, and a second, non FPV quad for bashing around. Buy two of the same brand, and a half a dozen batteries, and a good charger.

Quadcopters break. And they break, a lot. The bigger they are, the more they break. If you oops, you've lost a prop. If you oops hard, you've broken an airframe, bent a motor shaft, popped a battery... something like that.

If you're determined to fly something larger, you're going to eat the budget quickly.

So "the nerobro way"

Hubsan 104d FPV: $150
http://www.amazon.com/Hubsan-H107D-FPV-Mini-Quadcopter/dp/B00GSNWB5K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422240063&sr=8-1&keywords=hubsan+x4+fpv

Hubsan 104 crash pack: $20
http://www.amazon.com/Hubsan-H107D-Quadcopter-Crash-shown/dp/B00FZ9BDMU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1422240063&sr=8-2&keywords=hubsan+x4+fpv

Hubsan 107 (non fpv): $54
http://www.amazon.com/Hubsan-H107L-Channel-2-4GHz-Quadcopter/dp/B00IZC6C8E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422240139&sr=8-1&keywords=hubsan+107

4x battery charger: $7
http://www.amazon.com/ThinkMax%C2%AE-X4-Battery-Charger-Hubsan/dp/B00LGWQ4FG/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1422240139&sr=8-13&keywords=hubsan+107

That'll get you something to learn with, and something to fly FPV with for less than $350. And you will NOT be bored. :-) And if you really screw up, you'll have spare parts. Consider adding a few more batteries.

YAY! Having a mac makes this process 99999999 times easier.

Try this: https://www.amazon.com/KEDSUM-CP2102-Module-Download-Converter/dp/B009T2ZR6W

It's what I use.

You didn't specify frequency so I'll assume 5.8ghz. Given your different connector types on each end, I could recommend maybe something like this for the transmitter:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__43698__5_8GHz_Circular_Polarized_Antenna_SMA_Transmitter_Only_Short_.html

and this for the receiver:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__51624__Circular_Polarized_5_8ghz_Receiver_Antenna_RP_SMA_LHCP_60mm_.html

The key idea is you want a Clover Leaf (3 lobe) on the transmitter and Scew Planar (4 lobe) on the receiver. You also have to match RHCP or LHCP (which ways the lobes lean).

This 90 degree adapter

http://www.amazon.com/Right-Angle-Degree-Female-Adapter/dp/B00AGMBSHG

could also be useful given your vtx location.

Sure!

Eachine EV800D goggles - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B076BWMTL7?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

FrSky Taranis X-Lite Pro - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07QJ38Q1X?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

Emax Tinyhawk Freestyle - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07W4RZYGS?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

6 pack of GN3 450 mah lipos- https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07X1T44QT?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

Yes!
But it isn't perfect...

I grabbed an EasyCap USB Capture Device from to get my video/audio,

and an LM2577 Step-up Voltage Regulator to allow my to power my Rx at 12v from USB.

My entire base station is just powered off of the laptop battery now. Like others have said though there is an issue with lag. There are drivers for the EasyCap devices for both Linux and Windows, and you can use either tvtime or DScaler respectively to view the video with as little lag as possible. Even with this setup though I'm still ~100-150ms behind what is actually going on. You can make the mess manageable by velcroing your Rx and cables etc to the back of your laptop.

When you're decently high up off the ground the lag isn't terribly noticeable as long as it isn't windy and you are just cruising around. Once you get down close to the ground though and have to make quick adjustments you will definitely notice the lag, and you can pretty much forget about doing quick slaloms around trees and such.

Oh sure I was honest in saying you will eventually spend a heck of a lot more. Yet my point is that too many people think it's too expensive.

Fpv shopping list for one on a budget:
(Do your own research next time)
Monitor
7" TFT LCD Color https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SLDF7O/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_NxCXub0G1JF6N
$27 hook you TX and a 12th source and you have video.

Now for the good stuff...
700 TVL Surveillance Camera https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GMAAJY/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_zACXub1JMVWMM
$30 strip the camera out and hook it up to a 3S battery. Your video. This is your basic over priced $60 Sony board camera.

Now for your TX/RX:
1.2G 8ch video transmitter and receiver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M7TBAZG/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_3FCXub0RC8NSF
$65

I'm at $120 here. All prime and definitely not the absolute cheapest solution.

If you don't have a soldering iron go to harbor freight and pick one up for $10. Get flux and solder for another $10.

Build your own antennas, I did. Lazy people spend $60 on a pair of antennas.

My point is this hobby can be a cheap or expensive as you make it. I'm tired of the misconceptions with "drones", the media portrays us as idiots. Yet many of us are genius.

Use your creativity and build something cheap or buy something expensive but make the hobby what you want to make it. If you lack the technical skill to build, there are plenty of alternatives just be willing to pay.

This will do it:
http://www.amazon.com/coaxial-coax-adapter-female-RP-SMA/dp/B00CVQ3XLY/ref=pd_cp_pc_1

It will have a bit of gain loss, but that at least will get you able to test things. One thing you don't want to do is turn on a transmitter without an antenna attached.

Wireless TV setup. I have some (somewhere) and they also used the same frequencies. Quite possibly the bowling club or anything nearby. Bars/Pubs/bowling clubs I could definitely see using aforementioned technology to avoid running long cables.
There are many different brands but here is an example

https://vimeo.com/143101584

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-G5KBODY-16MP-Camera-3-Inch/dp/B008MD3RNY

If weight is a possible issue for your build, look at getting the Mobius. Much lighter platform for recording.

This is what I found online, which one do you use specifically? This looks promising

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029KDHT0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You need this on your drunken order.

Here's a link to transmitters that are compatible with the inductrix, I ended up keeping the Flysky for when I get a bigger drone and bought the stock inductrix controller.

here

I think I will use this screen and strap it onto the top of my 9xr along with the vrx. Gonna be alot of electronic work dont really have to much experience with. Got to cut the wire and put a those red jst's on it.

This is the one I have. Avoid if possible. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BYTEHQO/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Using an Extech MN10 pocket multimeter set to 2000 ohms, I found the resistance across the ground and bat leads to be 200. Does this likely represent a short, or is there supposed to be some connection between ground and battery?

I examined the soldering points (on the opposite side of the board from the picture), and there is absolutely no visible solder making a connection between the two connection points.