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FPV drone equipment for yachts

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by YachtForums, Jan 6, 2018.

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  1. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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  2. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    Thanks. Sounds like wine (or bourbon neat )and chips might be a good complement? Going down to O degrees up here tonight,. Please feel our pain?
  3. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Wine would make my night flights look better... ;)

    For those who haven't seen a night flight, this is one of the competitors at the 2015 Orlando Heli Blowout...

  4. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    YIKES. I'm a college student from the late 60's, that reminds me of tooooo many things.
  5. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Since I've already derailed this thread, might as well take it to full train wreck status...

    I've been waiting for FPV technology to mature. Recently DJI released new FPV digital goggles with 50 millisecond latency and a range of 7 kilometers. FPV racing has exploded in popularity but there's a segment emerging that I really like... Freestyle 3D! Check this guy out...



  6. timvail

    timvail Senior Member

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    WOW!!!!!!!!!!
  7. Bill106

    Bill106 Senior Member

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    Any idea what he was Flying Carl? I looked and couldn't find a reference. Been toying with those goggles for my Mavic Pro, once I switched the controls around to what I was used to from my RC days I've been pretty comfortable with some acrobatics but on the controller/Samsung interface I've experienced so many random delay issues I have zero confidence in any out of visual range flying. Pine trees are not very forgiving!
  8. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Not sure on NURK's FPV racer, but most of these guys are flying scratch-built quads. He's using Fatsharks, so it's an analogue signal. The new DJI goggles are digital and are suppose to give FAR greater range, plus improved screen clarity, latency, etc. Not sure what he's using for a controller, but most any modern TX should work with DJI's receiver. My personal TX is a JR 11X 24. (below)

    The new DJI RE goggles are only part of the evolutionary equation for FPV racers. You'll need DJI's Occusync camera and receiver to enjoy the clear screen benefits. Not sure how much this equipment is going to cost yet. If you already have the Mavic, it will be plug and play with the new goggles. Be sure to get the most recent "Race Edition" goggles because it has a built-in diopter adjustment for far sighted folks.

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  9. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    This video shows just how good this new system is. If you ever flown around the backside of a structure or a group of trees, you've seen the static of an analogue signal...

  10. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    The range and clarity is spectacular...!

  11. Bill106

    Bill106 Senior Member

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    Oh yes, definitely have seen the loss of signal around the trees and structure! Not so bad when you're flying in the pine stands and have mostly visual contact but going full IFR above the trees and a couple klicks away, losing the signal can cause temporary cardiac issues! :) You know it's supposed to RTB but until you re-establish you're wondering what it's going to splat into. Kind of like the old days at the RC field, there you are merrily putting your way overpowered Kaos through her paces and some idiot fires up his TX without grabbing the clothespin for that frequency, as she's heading for the center of the earth in the parking lot full of shiny new cars!

    When I have solid signal the quality is on par with those vids on the SD card. First video must have been in the "P" mode, manual calls it positioning but there's a better word, "S" sport mode is MUCH more fun slaloming through the trees!
  12. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Funny, but sadly it happened all too often on 72mhz! At competitive events, we had to relinquish our transmitters to a compound. You had to have possession of the clothes pin to bust your Tx out of jail. The advances in RC technology are really quite remarkable. If only Nikola Tesla lived long enough to see his work mature.

    I've got the RE goggles on order. Suppose to arrive soon. Haven't decided on a quad yet because I don't know the footprint of DJI's new camera and receiver. Will probably build a quad from scratch, but not looking forward to soldering. I suck at soldering!
  13. SeaEric

    SeaEric YF Historian

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    I own a Mavic Pro. I've only flown it a handful of times - not enough to be good at it yet. My (old guy!) problem is that I watch the youtube instructional vids on how to do neat moves and think "I've got this!" then by the time I get around to flying again I have forgotten how to even turn the darned thing on.
  14. Bill106

    Bill106 Senior Member

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    One of the reasons I switched to 27 and I think 52 MHz, less traffic. Wish we'd thought about a TX jail back then! After literally digging a K&B out of a hole and putting the basket of ex plane parts in the trunk, I fondly recall seeing the offending flyers plane doing it's own post hole digging dive in the rearview mirror. The guy was also, like me, jumping up and down screaming for everyone to shut their transmitters off, to no avail. I'm pretty sure I didn't accidentally bump the mic on my 6 meter ham mobile with a 250 watt trunk mount amp. :rolleyes:
  15. Bill106

    Bill106 Senior Member

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    I didn't get much from the videos either Eric, I got the "fly more?" pack and try to spend an afternoon at a time running through all the batteries. If you can find a open field, set up a couple targets to fly at/around and you'll pick it up pretty quick. Have you switched it to sport mode yet? That disables a lot of the avoidance safeties but is SO much more fun!
  16. SeaEric

    SeaEric YF Historian

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    For me - sport mode = pucker factor. I'm not there yet. Most of the open area around me has water instead of grass. I want to be able to shoot video of a boat underway. Some of the Mavic's abilities to follow and circle a subject really appeal to me.
  17. AMG

    AMG YF Moderator

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    I agree, but I have only made one test flight in 15 months so I donĀ“t dare to fly over water yet... and as you said, what I learned then is gone now... so next flight will be over snow..!
  18. Kevin

    Kevin YF Moderator

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    Am I the only non-pilot here? o_O
  19. chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    I can't even fly a paper airplane........

    I know the chances of getting caught might be slim but flying over the rail road in this day and age is a Federal offence.
    Those guys were completely exposed and trains have pretty good communications.
    Hate to see any of our friends here in trouble for a little flying fun.
  20. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I ve been using drones for a year or so and i found that the control system make them very easy to use. Talking photo drones, not racing... very quick learning curve once you get over the initial few minutes. The hardest part is remembering how the electronics handle certain situations like loss of signal and low battery.

    I ve used a mavic, phantom 2 and now a spark. I mostly use it in the bahamas and i am still amazed at the different perspective that you get; familiar places look so different from the air.

    It also allows me to capture moments we coudlnt get otherwise. Its s amazing the perspective you get with a little elevation. Also great to capture watersports like tubing or jetskiing: