I'm glad to be the first post in this new subforum.
After discovered LHCP antenna in Vision camera back in December 2013, I DIY a pair of helical antennas to cope with Vision camera. I managed flying stock P2V aircraft with the homebrew helical for 2.7 KM range by FPV. I think I'm more or less done with the stock P2V.
I have been planning an innovative mod on the P2V aircraft targeting ultimate FPV range of P2V as long as the battery last and future ground station iPad app. I estimate P2V can fly 6 KM range (12 KM round trip) at full speed with safety 20% battery remained if it's not too windy.
The idea is to convert standard 802.11n Wifi protocol to other proprietary protocol for long range transmission from the aircraft, and then convert the proprietary protocol back to standard Wifi protocol on the ground AP/repeater for Vision app running on Android/iOS devices. This mod/project is called PVBridge.
DJI LightBridge performs 1.7 KM range with rubber ducky antennas (probably 5 dBi) on ground station and 5 KM with directional antennas. I target 2 KM range with 5 dBi rubber ducky antennas on ground station and 6KM with helical or other directional antennas. Obviously, P2V could not achieve 1080p full HD for sure.
There are 3 key factors for long range FPV:
1. 5.8G control link - can reach 3-4 KM with directional antenna, and it may not be an issue if using ground station iPad app for waypoint navigation;
2. 2.4G Wifi FPV link - the focus of this PVBridge project, hope to control camera tilting and aircraft yawing by FPV link during waypoint navigation if it goes beyond 5.8G control link;
3. 5200mAh battery - no solution so far;
I know this is a challenging project that may last months, and I might not be success at the end of the day. Anyway, I am willing to give it a try and keep my fingers crossed.
I will keep updating this and the following posts with my progress and thoughts.
• Stage 1 - Hack Vision Camera & Change Configurations
• Stage 2 - Build a Long Range Wireless Bridge
• Stage 3 - Mid Range FPV Test
• Stage 4 - Long Range FPV Test
After discovered LHCP antenna in Vision camera back in December 2013, I DIY a pair of helical antennas to cope with Vision camera. I managed flying stock P2V aircraft with the homebrew helical for 2.7 KM range by FPV. I think I'm more or less done with the stock P2V.
I have been planning an innovative mod on the P2V aircraft targeting ultimate FPV range of P2V as long as the battery last and future ground station iPad app. I estimate P2V can fly 6 KM range (12 KM round trip) at full speed with safety 20% battery remained if it's not too windy.
The idea is to convert standard 802.11n Wifi protocol to other proprietary protocol for long range transmission from the aircraft, and then convert the proprietary protocol back to standard Wifi protocol on the ground AP/repeater for Vision app running on Android/iOS devices. This mod/project is called PVBridge.
DJI LightBridge performs 1.7 KM range with rubber ducky antennas (probably 5 dBi) on ground station and 5 KM with directional antennas. I target 2 KM range with 5 dBi rubber ducky antennas on ground station and 6KM with helical or other directional antennas. Obviously, P2V could not achieve 1080p full HD for sure.
There are 3 key factors for long range FPV:
1. 5.8G control link - can reach 3-4 KM with directional antenna, and it may not be an issue if using ground station iPad app for waypoint navigation;
2. 2.4G Wifi FPV link - the focus of this PVBridge project, hope to control camera tilting and aircraft yawing by FPV link during waypoint navigation if it goes beyond 5.8G control link;
3. 5200mAh battery - no solution so far;
I know this is a challenging project that may last months, and I might not be success at the end of the day. Anyway, I am willing to give it a try and keep my fingers crossed.
I will keep updating this and the following posts with my progress and thoughts.
• Stage 1 - Hack Vision Camera & Change Configurations
• Stage 2 - Build a Long Range Wireless Bridge
• Stage 3 - Mid Range FPV Test
• Stage 4 - Long Range FPV Test