(Part 3) 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?

I use this one, which is close to the second one you linked. The first one appears to be a SkyRC clone. The thing I like about the one I have is that it's been on the market a little longer, and seems to dissipate heat a little better than the mini. They perform nearly the same, though.

You can use a parallel charging board to charge multiple batteries at once, but make sure you understand what you're doing. You'll need to make sure your cells that they'll be in parallel with are at similar voltages. If they start to get too far apart, you need to balance charge the battery by itself, and evaluate its health during future charges.

Also, if your batteries have been sitting a long time, make sure they're healthy before you start charging things up again.

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.

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.

Ready to Fly (RTF) means it comes with a transmitter radio in addition to having a receiver built into the plane/quad/multi or it comes with a compatible receiver.

Almost ready to fly (ARF) usually means it comes with a receiver on the plane and its your job to make sure you have a transmitter (radio) that is compatible.

Most other listings are for a plane/multirotor are for the plane itself and require you to bring your own motors, escs, transmitter, receivers.

I'd honestly recommend a cheap as can be like the husban x4 or syma x1. After you learn how to fly for more than 5 minutes with a $40 toy without crashing then invest in building your own that can lift the weight of an iPhone4. building your own is cheapest and lets you learn about wtf is actually going on, plus you will crash, you will crash a lot and break things so you better know how to put it back together when you do crash.

youtube.com/flitetest <--- they have tons of DIY videos and sell parts that make building your own multi rotor easy. also for electronics the cheapest is generally hobbyking.com or banggood.com

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 one, I guess? Amazon: GearMo USB to 3.3v TTL Header like FTDI TTL-232R-3V3 with Windows 10 Support

I have a Mac, though. Not sure if that matters.

Any thoughts on how I would hook it up?

Would something like this work? (To hook the VidTX to the computer)

i think swiddie might be referring to this.
http://www.amazon.com/Badboy-Quadcopter-Camera-Arrival--QuadCopterCity/dp/B00AZEALUK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1370739784&sr=8-3&keywords=hexacopters
The user comments might be interesting to you.

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

Was it these?
http://www.amazon.com/Bolle-X500-Attacker-Tactical-Goggles/dp/B004U86WIC

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

You need this on your drunken order.

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

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.

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.