My Trex 500 FPV setup

tomcarpenter · 05-01-2011, 01:42 PM

My FPV heli.

Started on a Quad, then to 450, now Trex 500.

CF frame (not good I know, but this heli was originally my small 'LOS' 3D heli).
AR9000 with 3 satelllites. + Data logger
1.5W, 1.2GHz video TX with home made dipole
EZOSD/GPS OSD
6S power
3S, 500mah video lipo.
Sony WDR700 camera
Trex 600 skids.
Not shown, but I use onboard video recorder Drift HD170.

The setup looks messy, I know.
But I think it's a waste of time hiding wires away. Makes crash repairs a pain, plus I swap things around a lot!!

http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=54993

http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=54992

http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=54991

http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=54990

http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=54989

http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=54988

http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=55000

http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=54999

l14m · 05-01-2011, 05:28 PM

Hi Tom, just be careful how far out you fly. I would seriously recommend adding rssi from your Rc rx to your osd. You will then be able to watch your Rc signal strength (0-100%) and be able to stay in range safely. I wish I'd known about rssi a year and a half ago as it would of saved me a few hundred quid and a hell of a lot of walking lols.
Regards Liam

petter268 · 05-01-2011, 06:09 PM

If you got OSD, you should just do a range test, and then watch the telemetry. But RSSI is best, ofcourse.

tomcarpenter · 05-02-2011, 07:23 AM

You dont get RSSI with Spektrum.

But when I use my UHF, eventually, then I will.

Remember guys, with heli flight times typically 4-7 mintues, you can't actually go very far!

My heli is for flights typically under 800m, for aerobatics.

I check my spektrum after a typical flight and get zero holds and fades. That's even when flying low or behind trees.

I know I am safe.

LOS I can easily go 1Km, again zero holds and fades.

But I cant fly further than about 1.5Km otherwise there is not enough juice to fly home any way!!

RSSI etc is of course vital in a plane when you have 10-30 mintutes flight time

l14m · 05-02-2011, 01:06 PM

I may be wrong but I'm sure Eagletree osd pro has spectrum rssi function. If your not flying to far out and the distances your covering don't give you any glitches then that's good news. I my self am looking into rock solid Rc link out to approx 2 miles. At the moment however I'm happy with just getting some flight time in at around 600 to 800 meters out. I've just recalibrated my rssi on my Thomas near range rx as It was showing about 75-85 % when out at 600 meters which was incorrect. Flight times do vary and for the most, are around 4.5 to 7 mins and pulling around 20 amps in fff. For this reason I switched to flybarless and 4s. I now can easily run for 10 mins and fff hits on average 12-14 amps.
Regards Liam

tomcarpenter · 05-02-2011, 02:18 PM

last time I researched, Eagletree still hadnt sorted out their special cable to connect spektrum data log port (on their receivers) to their OSDpro

It was mentioned on forums, but that was about a year ago. Nothing seems to have materialised.

Even so, I have EZOSD so wont work on mine setup anyway.

But if EagleTree do sort this out then I do have an eagletree OSDpro sitting in a box I could use.

tomcarpenter · 05-03-2011, 03:38 PM

Always trust your instincts!

If you think something's up with your heli, stop, go home and fix it!

But I was so desparate to fly, as windy all week!

Put a new lipo in and now the heli is blindingly fast!

Anyway, I had previously removed the sony camera to change the landing gear. Normally I add some hot glue to stop it slipping. Didnt.
So it slipped.
It was gradually pointing downwards! So to see the horizon the heli was pitched back.
Pretty unflyable, so did my best to make an emergency landing

YouTube

Shockingly virtually no damage. I must have hit throttle hold jsut at the right time and got down fairly flat.
Just stripped tail gears (it's a TT. when that fails I shall put a belt in!), broken servo are, and bent push rod.

My own fault, avoidable.

Funny thing is I was excited to see what state the heli would be in.
It was OK!

05-01-2011, 01:42 PM	#1
tomcarpenter Registered Users Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: west mids	My Trex 500 FPV setup My FPV heli. Started on a Quad, then to 450, now Trex 500. CF frame (not good I know, but this heli was originally my small 'LOS' 3D heli). AR9000 with 3 satelllites. + Data logger 1.5W, 1.2GHz video TX with home made dipole EZOSD/GPS OSD 6S power 3S, 500mah video lipo. Sony WDR700 camera Trex 600 skids. Not shown, but I use onboard video recorder Drift HD170. The setup looks messy, I know. But I think it's a waste of time hiding wires away. Makes crash repairs a pain, plus I swap things around a lot!! http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=54993 http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=54992 http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=54991 http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=54990 http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=54989 http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=54988 http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=55000 http://www.helifreak.com/album.php?a...ictureid=54999

05-01-2011, 06:09 PM	#3
petter268 Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Norway, Kragerø	If you got OSD, you should just do a range test, and then watch the telemetry. But RSSI is best, ofcourse. __________________ Don't drink and drive, just smoke and fly!

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05-01-2011, 05:28 PM	#2
l14m Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2008	Hi Tom, just be careful how far out you fly. I would seriously recommend adding rssi from your Rc rx to your osd. You will then be able to watch your Rc signal strength (0-100%) and be able to stay in range safely. I wish I'd known about rssi a year and a half ago as it would of saved me a few hundred quid and a hell of a lot of walking lols. Regards Liam

05-02-2011, 07:23 AM	#4
tomcarpenter Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: west mids	You dont get RSSI with Spektrum. But when I use my UHF, eventually, then I will. Remember guys, with heli flight times typically 4-7 mintues, you can't actually go very far! My heli is for flights typically under 800m, for aerobatics. I check my spektrum after a typical flight and get zero holds and fades. That's even when flying low or behind trees. I know I am safe. LOS I can easily go 1Km, again zero holds and fades. But I cant fly further than about 1.5Km otherwise there is not enough juice to fly home any way!! RSSI etc is of course vital in a plane when you have 10-30 mintutes flight time

05-02-2011, 01:06 PM	#5
l14m Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2008	I may be wrong but I'm sure Eagletree osd pro has spectrum rssi function. If your not flying to far out and the distances your covering don't give you any glitches then that's good news. I my self am looking into rock solid Rc link out to approx 2 miles. At the moment however I'm happy with just getting some flight time in at around 600 to 800 meters out. I've just recalibrated my rssi on my Thomas near range rx as It was showing about 75-85 % when out at 600 meters which was incorrect. Flight times do vary and for the most, are around 4.5 to 7 mins and pulling around 20 amps in fff. For this reason I switched to flybarless and 4s. I now can easily run for 10 mins and fff hits on average 12-14 amps. Regards Liam

05-02-2011, 02:18 PM	#6
tomcarpenter Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: west mids	last time I researched, Eagletree still hadnt sorted out their special cable to connect spektrum data log port (on their receivers) to their OSDpro It was mentioned on forums, but that was about a year ago. Nothing seems to have materialised. Even so, I have EZOSD so wont work on mine setup anyway. But if EagleTree do sort this out then I do have an eagletree OSDpro sitting in a box I could use.