Ok so having waited patiently for 3 months from reserving an order for the new Epson Moverio BT 300 I returned from recent trip to Australia over Xmas all excited to find my new pair of augmented glasses waiting for me……………………..
Firstly, when I reserved my BT 300’s there was no option given to me for the DJI version which I understand differs from the standard pack in that in comes with a set of dark shades, DJI App pre-installed and a receptor for holding the Android based controller in the DJI Controller Device receptor.
Ok so I fired up the Android unit, connected the glasses and downloaded the DJI APP. The first thing I noticed is that I am slightly short sighted so everything in my vision was slightly blurred – not enough to be a problem for watching a video steam but enough to make typing on the projected keyboard for things like your password difficult. I decided to take it for a test flight anyway with my Phantom 4. It was a bright sunny day ideal for flying. First big problem I came across was that I could not see the projected screen against the back drop of the blue sky. The only way I could get any kind of sensible vision of the screen was to put my hand in front of the glasses for a black contrast or look at my black bag on the ground. Even when I attached the plastic shades provided by Epson it was still not possible to see the bird flying ………..hmmmm this is not good. So, I remembered that in one of the promotional videos on YouTube the Asian guy from Epson who was with some Drone enthusiasts out in the desert in the USA testing the BT300’s pulled out a set of custom made shades from his pocket that mount on the front of the glasses – these were made by Rochester Optical in USA. Rochester Optical can also make bespoke prescription lens that will fit into the Epson glasses with a bespoke mounting. Ok so now I get on the internet and I order both the Rochester shades and prescription glasses. Within 5 days they arrive in the UK. Really impressed with Rochester Optical – quick turnaround, nicely packaged and the goods look quality – well done them.
So now back out to testing the Epson BT 300. Firstly, the Rochester shades were a big improvement for me It made the projected video much more visible against the back drop of a bright sky – but expectations I think still need to be tempered in a bright environment. The prescription glasses made everything in focus so now I can read the letters on the screen and type in passwords for the various Epson Apps such as the one for the DJI.
So, everything good I hear you say, unfortunately no…………. It would be no overstatement to say that my initial flight experience with the BT 300 is the biggest disappointment I have experience with new technology. Allow me to explain. Having spent additional monies on glasses and shades I find the big problem is with the quality of the project screen. Firstly, let me make it very clear My P4 works just fine, I have just returned from Australia have flown it out there for nearly month using my iPad tablet no problem. Back in the UK it works just dandy with the iPad. When I connect the BT 300 I am experiencing all kinds of issues, such as:
1. Video lag – this can vary from a few seconds to 10 – 20 seconds
2. Pixilation – picture break up
3. Reduced screen size – this occurred when navigating from different menus.
Before anyone comments the area, I was flying in was free from the usual suspects such as power lines that may affect picture reception – in any event when I swapped back to the iPad no issue in picture quality.
The pixilation and time lag does not necessarily happen immediately it appears to kick in at random times but when it does the picture is truly awful…….. and I mean awful.
The problem I am having here is I can’t believe anyone would try and market these glasses for use with a Drone when, from own personal experience, it is unreliable and beset with what appears to be bugs. I am no expert but I suspect the issue is with the Epson / DJI APP. The Epson Android driven module works perfectly well with all the other EPSON APPS and there is nothing to suggest the Epson BT 300 unit or glasses are faulty. If it is an APP issue WTF are DJI and Epson doing releasing something that is so dire it clearly does not work.
It is still early days to get feedback from other users however I have found similar comments from other users through the net………….
I am puzzled by the chasm of what appeared to be Drone enthusiast on the internet who had raved about this product at various pre-launch trials before its official launch and the reality I have discovered…………….time will tell if this is another case of the Emperor’s New Clothes or just new technology bugs that will quickly be addressed by the manufacturer.
I will hold off binning the BT300 until I get some answers from Epson / DJI
Firstly, when I reserved my BT 300’s there was no option given to me for the DJI version which I understand differs from the standard pack in that in comes with a set of dark shades, DJI App pre-installed and a receptor for holding the Android based controller in the DJI Controller Device receptor.
Ok so I fired up the Android unit, connected the glasses and downloaded the DJI APP. The first thing I noticed is that I am slightly short sighted so everything in my vision was slightly blurred – not enough to be a problem for watching a video steam but enough to make typing on the projected keyboard for things like your password difficult. I decided to take it for a test flight anyway with my Phantom 4. It was a bright sunny day ideal for flying. First big problem I came across was that I could not see the projected screen against the back drop of the blue sky. The only way I could get any kind of sensible vision of the screen was to put my hand in front of the glasses for a black contrast or look at my black bag on the ground. Even when I attached the plastic shades provided by Epson it was still not possible to see the bird flying ………..hmmmm this is not good. So, I remembered that in one of the promotional videos on YouTube the Asian guy from Epson who was with some Drone enthusiasts out in the desert in the USA testing the BT300’s pulled out a set of custom made shades from his pocket that mount on the front of the glasses – these were made by Rochester Optical in USA. Rochester Optical can also make bespoke prescription lens that will fit into the Epson glasses with a bespoke mounting. Ok so now I get on the internet and I order both the Rochester shades and prescription glasses. Within 5 days they arrive in the UK. Really impressed with Rochester Optical – quick turnaround, nicely packaged and the goods look quality – well done them.
So now back out to testing the Epson BT 300. Firstly, the Rochester shades were a big improvement for me It made the projected video much more visible against the back drop of a bright sky – but expectations I think still need to be tempered in a bright environment. The prescription glasses made everything in focus so now I can read the letters on the screen and type in passwords for the various Epson Apps such as the one for the DJI.
So, everything good I hear you say, unfortunately no…………. It would be no overstatement to say that my initial flight experience with the BT 300 is the biggest disappointment I have experience with new technology. Allow me to explain. Having spent additional monies on glasses and shades I find the big problem is with the quality of the project screen. Firstly, let me make it very clear My P4 works just fine, I have just returned from Australia have flown it out there for nearly month using my iPad tablet no problem. Back in the UK it works just dandy with the iPad. When I connect the BT 300 I am experiencing all kinds of issues, such as:
1. Video lag – this can vary from a few seconds to 10 – 20 seconds
2. Pixilation – picture break up
3. Reduced screen size – this occurred when navigating from different menus.
Before anyone comments the area, I was flying in was free from the usual suspects such as power lines that may affect picture reception – in any event when I swapped back to the iPad no issue in picture quality.
The pixilation and time lag does not necessarily happen immediately it appears to kick in at random times but when it does the picture is truly awful…….. and I mean awful.
The problem I am having here is I can’t believe anyone would try and market these glasses for use with a Drone when, from own personal experience, it is unreliable and beset with what appears to be bugs. I am no expert but I suspect the issue is with the Epson / DJI APP. The Epson Android driven module works perfectly well with all the other EPSON APPS and there is nothing to suggest the Epson BT 300 unit or glasses are faulty. If it is an APP issue WTF are DJI and Epson doing releasing something that is so dire it clearly does not work.
It is still early days to get feedback from other users however I have found similar comments from other users through the net………….
I am puzzled by the chasm of what appeared to be Drone enthusiast on the internet who had raved about this product at various pre-launch trials before its official launch and the reality I have discovered…………….time will tell if this is another case of the Emperor’s New Clothes or just new technology bugs that will quickly be addressed by the manufacturer.
I will hold off binning the BT300 until I get some answers from Epson / DJI
