Phantom 2 FPV Reccomendations?

dlopez916

dlopez916

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Anyone have a recommendation for a FPV system for the new phantom 2? We will be ordering the 2 this week, but would like some help from anyone with experience with a 3rd party fpv system. We have looked at the Fatshark Predator 2 and 2 CE. Priced doesn't matter. We want a quality feed with a good range. Thanks!
 
I've used a lot of the 5.8GHz systems. I have the Fatshark 250mW system on my Phantom which I use with the Altitude goggles. On my S800 I have the DJI AVL58 system which uses the Boscam frequencies. On my F550 I have a cheapo ebay 200mW system.
On all of them I have skew-planar antennas.

To be honest, they all work well. None seems to be any better than any others. Range is excellent on all of them but only with the skew-planar antennas. They made a huge difference.
 
Good answer there Rilot. On something the size of a Phantom the key things are good goggles (if you go that route) and good, well tuned antenna. I own Predators and they are pretty good but not as clear as i'd maybe like some day.

IMO anything over a 250mw on a Phantom is overkill. With cheap DIY, badly made skew-planar antenna that I have (using the wrong gauge wire!) I get 1.3km... this took me to the extent where my full range Futaba T8J began to drop signal and it was way further than I would (or should) be normally flying.
The other reason i like the lower power option is that it is much less angry when/if you accidentally turn it on with no antenna attached. I have done this twice on my Fatshark 250mw (once for 3-4 mins before remembering) and it is 100% still. The higher the power, the less likely it will react so well. 600mw is a popular choice but if you read up on this enough you will discover that, with good antenna, that can get way beyond 10 miles.

Pricing being less of an object I would suggest the Fatshark Dominators or Attitude goggles (better picture than the Predators). A kit like this: http://www.firstpersonview.co.uk/comple ... ude-bundle

If you look outside the Fatshark box then I am hearing good things about these: http://www.foxtechfpv.com/skyzone-fpv-g ... -1218.html

These have diversity (two RX's so it chooses to give you the output of the most powerful connection) and a camera in the front of the goggles (a little thing but very handy). 854X480 screens too (FS Preds have 640 X 480).
 
Could someone explain to me how something like this would be used with a Gopro? I don't know anything about FPV. I also plan to purchase the Phantom 2 with gimbal in the next few weeks unless DJI comes out with a gimbal for the Vision which does not seem likely

Thanks
 
First off I'd do a bit of Youtube browsing on the subject... there are rafts of videos with people setting FPV up.

In a nut shell you will need....

On the Phantom:

- GoPro Hero
- A video transmitter (vTX). This takes the signal from the camera and sends it to the video receiver (vRX). It will need power to work. This can either be taken from the balance plug of the battery or better still solder your own auxillary power cable from the battery terminals in the shell.
- GoPro Hero Output Cable (it takes the video and audio output from the USB socket). It plugs into the video transmitter. This is not needed if you have the Zenmuse (it has its own 3 cables that you plug into your vTX)

Off the Phantom:

- Video Reciever (vRX ). This can be either a seperate box with an aerial or it can be inside a set of goggles (like the Fatshark Predators). This receives the output from the vTX on the Phantom. If it via is a seperate box then you will also need a monitor to plug it into (or you won't be able to see anything!)
- Power source. The goggles use a battery (sometimes they don't come with one!). Monitors need their own power source. Most can use a lipo.

A good option for someone thats never used FPV is the Fatshark Predator V2 kit which comes with the 250mw vTX, goggles (with vRX inside), battery and a cable that allows you to plug a monitor into the goggles for either your use or a spotter. Out of the box this will do 500-700 meters range with the rather crappy stock antenna. Get yourself some circular polarised antenna and you will get 1.5km+ with 250mw (way beyond your line of site on a Phantom).

There is a HUGE amount of info on this forum about FPV setup and it is often better to search than it is to ask (because it is so well covered). This should hope a little though.
 
so if i got the phantom2 with gimble i do not need a cable out of go pro? the gimble has on that plugs into go pro 3 and then i can plug the vtx cable into my fatshark 250mw? what kinda connector comes off bemuse to fatshark? do i need something special there?
thanks
 
FASTFJR said:
Since I don't want to wear goggles this seems like a good set up

http://www.dslrpros.com/Products/tabid/ ... fault.aspx
Click to expand...

Yes a very good premium setup.

hjscm said:
so if i got the phantom2 with gimble i do not need a cable out of go pro? the gimble has on that plugs into go pro 3 and then i can plug the vtx cable into my fatshark 250mw? what kinda connector comes off bemuse to fatshark? do i need something special there?
thanks
Click to expand...

The Hero3 clips onto the Zenmuse via its bacpac port (which is why the zenmuse also powers the Hero in flight). It sends the video output to the main board inside the Phantom and there are 3 wires that come out of the holes near one of the legs (5v, video out, ground). 2 of these wires go to your fatshark 250mw (video out and ground). Ideally you will want to buy a 5 pin molex plug and some terminal crimps (ebay).
 
Currently 2 cables come out of the phantom 2, the one for the zenmuse and the one for the FPV/iosd. Firstpersonview.co.uk has a cable that replaces the FPV/iosd cable so that you installing an immersion kit is plug and play. Personally, I would go that route and either goggles or screen, depending on what you prefer.
 
rilot said:
I've used a lot of the 5.8GHz systems. I have the Fatshark 250mW system on my Phantom which I use with the Altitude goggles. On my S800 I have the DJI AVL58 system which uses the Boscam frequencies. On my F550 I have a cheapo ebay 200mW system.
On all of them I have skew-planar antennas.

To be honest, they all work well. None seems to be any better than any others. Range is excellent on all of them but only with the skew-planar antennas. They made a huge difference.
Click to expand...


Do you use the cloverleaf antennas that came with the AVL58 ? If so, did you notice a significant improvement when using the skew-planar antennas?

I'm using the AVL58 with the included cloverleaf antennas and think I should be realizing longer range than I am currently. Right now my video feed starts to intermittently drop out at about 400 m.

thomas325 said:
can we still use this on phantom 2? so i can still use my 7" marshall monitor

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/9 ... o_kit.html
Click to expand...


That's what I'm using, with a cheap old 7" car headrest monitor temporarily till this comes in:
http://www.foxoffer.com/dvr5008w-5-inch ... rhJA-g1HY8
 
DeweyAXD said:
...The Hero3 clips onto the Zenmuse via its bacpac port (which is why the zenmuse also powers the Hero in flight)...
Click to expand...

Because the Zenmuse powers the GoPro, can you run without a battery while flying? Seems like it you could save a tiny bit of weight that way. If not, I guess having a fully charged GoPro battery would minimize the power drain from the flight battery.
 
I made this video to hopefully help with your setting process for FPV and iOSD mini. All you got to do is solder the corresponding wires (red to red....brown to black....yellow to yellow....orange to yellow...) and maybe throw on some heat shrink to keep everything nice and tidy. Let me know if you have any questions.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv7pE_sM5x8[/youtube]
 
hi folks... a google search led me to this thread/forum and I just have to say THANK GOODNESS! I tried out a few other forums and so far they've all been dicks when asked basic questions like the one that started this thread, especially towards drones. I'm also new to Phantom and this guy basically asked my question and the responses in here were extremely useful clearing up a lot of the questions I had about FPV, especially that video talking about 5.8Ghz... so I mainly wanted to say thanks for being cool to yall and I look forward to participating on this site.

Now that you're all buttered up, I do have one quick question in the event anyone is still watching this thread... I've taken the video and other input from here to heart and intend to go with a set of skew planar antennas for the fpv... searching around Amazon and Ebay there seems to be 2 price points, a $16-20 range, and then a $45-60 range... is there really any difference in antennas at these price points, or is it like Monster A/V cable vs normal cables (basically the same just a name brand)?
cheers folks!
 
Here is a very cheap FPV setup, you can get 1km+ range with this setup, its a nice start to FPV.
And if you use a directional antenna on the receiver you could go above 2km.

Boscam TS351: http://j.mp/1iwjZzR
Boscam TS353 400mw: http://j.mp/1gJ6t7s
Boscam receiver RC305 5.8Ghz: http://j.mp/1cRoJjy

RC305 + TS353 combo: http://j.mp/1iuhzQ6

Antennas (circular polarized)
cloverleaf antenna to rx: http://j.mp/1arIRFU
Cloverleaf antenna to tx: http://j.mp/1dG8kbW

7" LCD: http://j.mp/1d7kwsr
Boscam 7" RX-LCD5802 5.8GHz Diversity Receiver: http://j.mp/1lZuham

Just to show how well this setup works here is a video i found on youtube (4.6 km on minute 8:14), in the description is the setup used, and you can read RC305 and TS351, just like this setup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pkYzuNXp_c
 

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