GrabBee X for viewing on laptop screen

[mikaellaine]

Hi!
Does anyone use the GrabBee X USB grabber
(http://cooldrives.stores.yahoo.net/grxusb20augr.html)
for viewing video in the ground station?
Any experiences? Seems like a good way to set up NTSC/PAL viewing, IMHO...

Thanks for all comments...

[jrohland]

I don't know that particular USB grabber but, every one of those things I've see have a 1/2 second or more delay. I think you will find that does not really work as a realtime monitor.

The other problem I've seen is many of them stop capturing (and displaying) when video synch is lost. Since you are likely to loose synch often, you may find this a frustrating method.

[merlin703]

Wow, that's expensive. If you are looking at something like that. You can go for the EasyCap for $19.00 Also, DealExtreme has it for about $13 bucks and FREE shipping. I do not know if it's the same version though.

Here is a video of someone (not me) using the product.

Video comparison part 2 - EasyCap (0 min 24 sec)

Also, if you are willing to spend almost $90 bucks on the other product, why not get an Aiptek MPVR. You could have an onboard recording and also use it as your default camera for onboard and ground recordings. I think it's just $110 or so.

[merlin703]

Hey J, do you know if it has been any changes regarding what frequencies are legal in the US. Including the ones that require a simple license?
I'm looking at this Diversity Receiver. I didn't know they work with many frequencies. I just assumed they work with a simple frequency.

[jrohland]

Merlin, the Oracle diversity switch is receiver agnostic. That is, it does not care what the frequency is. You use receivers to convert the radio signal to analog video which feeds into the Oracle. It uses video synch signal (as I understand it) to decide which receiver has the best signal.

You can use that diversity switch with 900, 2.4, 5.8 or any other band you want. The only requirement is that the receiver must put out NTSC or PAL standard video. (No hi-def.)

There are true diversity recievers in the 2.4 band. They actually have two receivers and a switch. There is no great avantage to that except you reduce your component count and wiring complexity.

As to your other question, as far as I know, 900, 2.4 and 5.8 are the only bands used in the USA. In theory, you could use any band for which you are licensed but, it would be hard to find equipment in other bands. Commercial (and Public) broadcasters use microwave equipment to transmit (usually hi-def) video signals but, that equipment is large, heavy, power hungry and expensive.

[merlin703]

I believe my confusion was because I thought the diversity receiver just had to be connected to the two antennas (antennas to Oracle DR which connects to just one receiver). I actually didn't know I had to have two receivers, duh!

Thanks J

[mikaellaine]

Thanks guys for the excellent input! merlin703: you're probably right, I should just get a digital camcorder.

[merlin703]

The monitor is small so you probably won't be able to fly it by looking at that monitor but it's a excellent recorder and it works for your onboard camera and recorder. Just make sure you do not get a camera that stops recording when there is not video input. I have the Other Aiptek and as a ground recorder sucks because where there is no video it just stops working

[mikaellaine]

The price of goggles is so low its a good choice for viewing online. For recording, a camcorder... I was just thinking of this laptop viewing because its so easy/cheap to get into. I ordered the grabber from dealextreme - we'll see how it works (I'll post my experiences once I get it; the mailman has a long hike from Hong Kong). I can use it for my old VHS&BetaMax tapes anyways
Thanks again guys for the great, swift replies. Really appreciate it!