Getting started in FPV

Getting started in FPV

I've been dying to try the FPV thing for over a year now. I made a couple of attempts last season only to be foiled by equipment issues. I abandoned my first 2.4GHz setup because I didn't realize the interference issues would be so significant with my DX7 (I thought the digital SS stuff would choose clean channels). Then I bought a 900MHz system from RangeVideo only to have the tx dead on arrival--500mW tx would only give me about 75-100ft line-of-site in the air and it got really hot. An EE buddy of mine said it was proabably an antenna issue, but we just couldn't fix it. On top of that I bought an EagleTree OSD which arrived non-functional. My e-Logger V2 wouldn't recognize it. Emailed EagleTree, got the firmware updates, did the diagnostics, blah,blah, blah...nada. They suggested that I needed an e-Logger V3 so I bought one...no dice. Got frustrated.

Over the last year I been collection gear again a little at a time and I'm almost set to have a real, functioning FPV setup. And so far everything works.

Right now I have:

    KX-171 camera
    800mW 900MHz tx
    11dbi 900MHz patch antenna
    ReadyMadeRC pan and tilt antenna mount with servos
    900MHz digital receivers x2
    EagleTree e-Logger V3
    EagleTree OSD Pro
    EagleTree GPS expander


In the mail one their way to my door right now are:

    EagleTree Eagle Eyes ground station
    Headplay PCS-01 video goggles


I think I'm going to start with a scratchbuilt FFF platform just because scratchbuilding is fun. I've done a couple in the past that performed well as aircraft though I never got to do FPV with them before the inability to relocate them forced them into the dumpster. I'll just re-hash one of those plans. If I get impatient or lazy I'll buy a Skywalker.