fpvhub northern meet 2013 - beginner presentation
DESCRIPTION
A brief introduction to FPV piloting, my presentation that I performed at FPVHub Northern Meet 2013.TRANSCRIPT
Getting Started in FPV
By Steve Woods (Steve W)www.intothebluerc.co.uk
Joined FPVUK in February 2011
Lives: Humber Bridge-ish. Current plane: FPVRaptor + X5 Wing
www.intothebluerc.co.uk www.youtube.com/intothebluerc www.fpvhub.com
Steve Woods (Steve W)
FPV is what YOU make of it – no strict requirements Learn at your own pace, 10km is not required! Experimentation is half of the fun! Explore! You will spend more money than you think! It’s a hobby, so remember to have fun!!!
Don’t stress about getting results!
Join a community – listen to people who have already made the mistakes you’re about to make!
Some Prerequisites…
Getting Started
So, what is FPV?“First Person View”:The art of flying an RC aircraft from the pilots-eye view instead of watching it fly around the sky, by means of a camera and video receiving equipment.
What you need: An aircraft (it helps!) An FPV system (video
transmitter, receiver and camera)
A monitor or goggles to view the video image.
Legality & Safety
FPV is entirely legal. You must obey the
Air Navigation Order. Insurance is not
mandatory but highly recommended.
www.fpvuk.org/fpv-law
Safety first! Don’t fly near
vehicles, cows, people or Lincoln Cathedral ;)
Be a responsible flyer.
Other insurances are also available (RCHA, BMFA)
15 quid gets you £5million public liability cover Renewed annually (or you can go elsewhere) Not mandatory but highly recommended Subject to FPV Legality www.fpvuk.org/fpv-law Grants you specific exemptions from the ANO.
Instant setup at www.fpvuk.org/join
FPVUK Insurance
Ideally: Easy to fly, stable by default Able to carry a fair amount of weight Able to withstand some enthusiasm ;) Repairable (Foam + duct tape + hot glue = ) Able to grow with you as you get better at FPV A popular airframe
Choosing Your Airframe
Choosing your Radio Control
35MHz Band
Decent range >2km Quite reliable but can
glitch
Pilots will clash if using the same frequency
Long-ass-antenna that will snap if you’re not careful!
2.4GHz Band
Less range, but still >1km Very reliable, mostly
glitch free
Uses frequency hopping to ensure no clashing
Small antenna, no worries Becoming very popular
Short + Medium Range
Choosing your Radio Control
UHF Control Systems
Excellent range (many kilometers)
Very reliable signal The only real option for
long range flights
Can be quite expensive
UK Legal frequency is 459MHz
Very clean transmission band.
You can’t buy a UHF radio, it comes as a module which you can install in your existing transmitter.
Longer Range
In the UK, you have a legal choice of: 2.4GHz, max 10mW power output 5.8GHz, max 25mW power output
Will depend on your control frequency. Do not use 2.4GHz with 2.4GHz control!!!
Choose between legal power output and flight safety.
Video Transmission Choices
On-Board Video Camera
The camera you use is your “eye in the sky” and a critical component.
Cheap ones work! Expensive ones do too! WDR is brilliant in the
UK Angle it down a bit! 2.8mm lens is
awesome!
What I use: 2g Nano camera 2.8mm wide angle
lens
Video Antennae
Your choice will probably be based on the type of FPV flying you will be doing:
Linear Polarised for slow, steady flying
Circularly Polarised for aerobatics / hard banking in the air (and is better!)
Types of antenna: LP: Rubber duck
(whip) CP: Clover + Skew
Planar
Video Receiving + Viewing
Goggles are fantastic, but fairly expensive.
Monitors are cheaper but not as mobile and don’t give the same experience.
Ground station or in-built module – you decide!
A completely personal choice – no right answers.
What I use: FatShark
Dominators Skew Planar
Antenna Built in Video
Receiver
FPV Aircraft: AXN, Easy Star or similar pusher-jetRC Control System: Turnigy 9x on 2.4GHzFPV System: FirstPersonView.co.uk 5.8GHz
system including Dominator Goggles
An Ideal Beginners Setup
FPV Aircraft: 50 quidRC Control System: around 60 quidFPV System: around 400 quid Cheaper than a set of golf clubs! Buy cheap, buy twice!
An Ideal Beginners Setup
Important Checklist Choose somewhere familiar so you can orient
yourself in the air – don’t crash without knowing where you are!
Make sure you can conductthe flight safely – no cathedrals!
Plan your flight beforehand so you don’t accidentally fly off and lose your gear – go in circles!
Your First FPV Flight
What it looks like from above!
Flown with: Multiplex EasyStar £14.99 camera Dominator Goggles 100mw 5.8GHz video 2.4GHz RC control
This was my live view!
FPV is what YOU make of it – no strict requirements
Learn at your own pace, 10km is not required! Experimentation is half of the fun! Explore! You will spend more money than you thought. It’s a hobby, so remember to have fun!!!
Join a community – listen to people who have already made the mistakes you’re about to make!
A reminder…
Steve WFind me on www.fpvhub.com
Visit, and subscribe: www.intothebluerc.co.uk www.youtube.com/intothebluerc
Any questions? No? Great! ;)
Thanks for watching!