I owned the Epson BT-300 for several months. I successfully used it, and its latest firmware and software upgrades, with my own Mavic and my Phantom 4. Before that, I tried the Fat Shark and other video displays that were like the Fat Shark, and they are like putting “blinders” on my face.
If the FAA does not specifically tell you that those “blinder” methods interrupt or disable your line of sight, common sense, and I, will tell you that they do. Please follow along with me.
With the Epson BT-300, you have better than the best of the best. With the BT-300, you can do what those others wish to do; plus, by either looking through the translucent eyewear and/or by “peeking” above, below or around the imbedded screenshot in the BT-300, for a live LOS of your bird – not just a picture of it – you can really see it and swear in a court that you were watching it. The great news is that doing it with the BT-300, you can have a real (and legal) line-of-sight view of your bird. As important as that may seem, a real line-of-sight view from your eyes to your bird, in 3-D, is fantastic in many ways.
I used the Moverio BT-300 with the DJI Mavic and with the DJI Phantom 4 for several months. I will tell you why I don’t use it at the end of this article.
You cannot be successful at this hobby with this high-tech equipment by being gung-ho and trying to do everything without doing a lot of reading, listening to your mentors and without searching for the right answer from intelligent sources such as found on this forum. Doing your homework is a must. – There is no “quick start guide” to do it the right way. You didn’t learn to ride your bicycle in 15 minutes; more problematic than that, this ain’t your grandfather’s bicycle. Learn, practice carefully, learn, practice even more carefully, then read and learn some more.
Read everything that Russ43Phantom has written. Read what TMBAerial has written.
Steven Flynn, with Skytango has a great video here. Everything he said is right on. Please visit:
Be careful! This is new and is dangerous technology. The FAA has their hands full. They don’t have the facilities nor the man-power to police us. The Feds, state and local police do not have adequate, legal jurisdiction or the equipment or evidence gathering capabilities to police us either. They do not have a concrete knowledge of “drone rules” or what the next version of what future drones may be able to do.
Be careful! Everybody from the FAA to local police agencies and home owner associations are watching us.
Don’t make a mistake; you could ruin it for us. This thing can be tremendously dangerous when it gets out of your sight and out of control – no more said about that. As my Dad, a WW II, Navy Lt., said, “Loose Lips Sink Ships.”
If you have a problem or question, ask. If somebody says that it can’t be done, somebody else may have the solution.
The cost of this hobby is expensive. That keeps the reckless, thrill seekers out of the picture (pardon the pun.) However, cheaper drones are now on the market. That worries me and should worry all of us.
Firmware and software upgrades: Epson seems to be doing everything that they can. Remember that there are several company relationships at play, i.e., DJI must work (in a way) with Epson, who may have to work (in a way) with Google, and Google’s approval prosses for 3rd parties. Alas, they all have to make a profit to get ‘er done.
I don’t use my BT-300 any longer because it was stolen. I loved it so much I was about to replace it; then, along came the BT-350. Does anybody have any thoughts about the BT-350?
George Gilmer, is a retired sergeant after serving 23 years with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, just north of Houston, Texas, having worked in patrol, narcotics, as a major crime scene investigator (including forensic photography), and as a training instructor teaching career officers and police cadets the techniques of crime scene investigation, emergency driving techniques, firearm’s shooting techniques while conducting qualification drills and instructing narcotics and dangerous drug investigation techniques and traffic interdiction techniques. Please visit his website at
www.TacView.com or contact him at
[email protected]