Hi all,
I just posted this in another thread (where I was asking about FPV setups before I had bought anything). I thought it might be helpful to anyone considering a similar setup.
For a little background, I had the P1 for a while and loved it. Got the P2 with Zenmuse kit and loved it as well (minus the **** "J hook/drift" issue). Then I decided it was FPV time. After checking around, I went with the equipment listed in the subject line. The main draw for me about the Black Pearl is that it's self-contained (battery, receiver and screen all in one). I saw several reports of it not working well with the IRC 600mW but a lot of the posts contradicted each other. I decided to take the "risk" anyway. Turned out not to be so risky. Everything worked fine.
So, finally, the initial review...
---
Just came in from my first flight with the IRC 600mW transmitter and iOSD with Black Pearl screen. I am thoroughly happy with this setup!
Using just the stock whip antennae on everything it was pretty crap. After about 40-60m, there was a fair amount of static.
I then changed just the transmitter to an IRC/FatShark skew planar antenna. Picture was great until about 200m but still decent to about 300m.
Then I put an IRC/FatShark skew planar antenna on R2 of the Black Pearl (still just the stock whip on R1). Great picture to about 600m then it got a bit iffy.
Finally, I put a Circular Wireless helical axial antenna on R1 of the Black Pearl and that took me out to 1000m without much static! When the P2 was headed directly toward me there was a bit of static but still not that bad.
I was hoping for 500-600m of good picture, so I am more than happy with the 1km! I'm not trying to break any distance records. I just want to be able to see what I'm shooting for better footage. 1000m is great for my needs.
I had Tx and Rx on band F, channel 1 (5740Mhz), by the way.
The sun had set and it was getting dark so I didn't get to play with the "ideal" antennae combination for very long. If the wind is minimal tomorrow morning I'll give it another go and see what happens!
Best,
I just posted this in another thread (where I was asking about FPV setups before I had bought anything). I thought it might be helpful to anyone considering a similar setup.
For a little background, I had the P1 for a while and loved it. Got the P2 with Zenmuse kit and loved it as well (minus the **** "J hook/drift" issue). Then I decided it was FPV time. After checking around, I went with the equipment listed in the subject line. The main draw for me about the Black Pearl is that it's self-contained (battery, receiver and screen all in one). I saw several reports of it not working well with the IRC 600mW but a lot of the posts contradicted each other. I decided to take the "risk" anyway. Turned out not to be so risky. Everything worked fine.
So, finally, the initial review...
---
Just came in from my first flight with the IRC 600mW transmitter and iOSD with Black Pearl screen. I am thoroughly happy with this setup!
Using just the stock whip antennae on everything it was pretty crap. After about 40-60m, there was a fair amount of static.
I then changed just the transmitter to an IRC/FatShark skew planar antenna. Picture was great until about 200m but still decent to about 300m.
Then I put an IRC/FatShark skew planar antenna on R2 of the Black Pearl (still just the stock whip on R1). Great picture to about 600m then it got a bit iffy.
Finally, I put a Circular Wireless helical axial antenna on R1 of the Black Pearl and that took me out to 1000m without much static! When the P2 was headed directly toward me there was a bit of static but still not that bad.
I was hoping for 500-600m of good picture, so I am more than happy with the 1km! I'm not trying to break any distance records. I just want to be able to see what I'm shooting for better footage. 1000m is great for my needs.
I had Tx and Rx on band F, channel 1 (5740Mhz), by the way.
The sun had set and it was getting dark so I didn't get to play with the "ideal" antennae combination for very long. If the wind is minimal tomorrow morning I'll give it another go and see what happens!
Best,