Which Frequency/ Goggles ?

[aburn09]

I was planning to use 5.8mhz for my fpv 250 quadcopter as my spektrum runs on 2.4mhz but I want to be able to use my fpv ultimately for racing which may be through trees and behind objects however I now read that 5.8mhz can';t go behind buildings/trees etc as you will lose picture ? Before I invest in a 5.8mhz system can anyone confirm this and give me a solution as most systems seems to run on 5.8mhz.......I was looking at the Fatshark range I know the dominator goggles do have the facility of changing frequency but how legal and practical is that in the U.K ? Does anyone race 5.8mhz and finds it okay through trees etc?

[Slobberdog57]

Most if not all are running 5.8ghz and if you look at fpv Scotland they race in a disused factory, fly behind walls and through rooms so should be ok,

that being said you will need good quality antennas to do this!

[aburn09]

Thanks for that I';ve seen a deal from hobbyking for the Fatshark  attitude v2 kit which comes with the upgraded spironet antennas so thinking this is the deal I';m looking for ?

[Slobberdog57]

Attitude V2';s are good, can get a bit of blur on the corners but it has the biggest size screens of all the range, with exception of the now obsolete Dom HD';s

wont be a bad choice at all.

[bazzerh]

i think you';ll find with any racing in the future that you';ll be limited to 5.8 systems so dont worry about that. i think at the moment you';ve got 2 good choices in goggles, the skyzone 01 or the dom v2s. both have plus points over the others. skyzones have the full 32 channels available built in plus diversity, dom v2s have the slightly better screen and dvr on the newest ones.

for flying in difficult circumstances like lots of leafy trees or through buildings then you';re going to need top drawer antennae like a crosshair, pepperbox or helicals. all of which would be better mounted on a separate receiver and pointed in the best direction. something thats very hard to do with goggle mounted antennae. most people have their heads pointed at their feet when fpving!

[aburn09]

Thanks bazzerh for the input.......I still haven';t decided definitely on the goggles but the attitude v2 for a kit wasn';t too bad around £285 from hobbyking the skzones I was put off a little as some reviews said the screens were a little wavey compared to the fatshark attitudes the dominators again yes I like especially as you can record the flight through the goggles but as some have said recording away from the model you can get breakup where as using a mobious type recorder on the quad will be much better so there are pro';s and con';s with everything ? The Attitudes just seem to sit in the middle not the best but not the worst but if anyone can persuade me otherwise I still have a few more days before I';ll push the buy button ?

[ched]

Not used any goggles yet but from what I have read the ability to record and I think playback on the fatsharks means that in the even of a crash you can replay the footage to help locate the quad. Not sure recording via goggles would be in high def. Think it';s only SD quality.
Would be great if you could try both options. Maybe you could meat up with someone near you who has one or other?

[Slobberdog57]

I have used the Predator v2';s the Attitude v2';s and the Dominator v2

I personally went from the predators to the dominators and my friend has the attitudes,

the attitudes as I said above have the biggest screen out of the fatsharks, but the corners can get a bit blurry and they are not quite as sharp as the dominators, the predators are an entry level set and are good for a beginner not wanting to put lots money out for their first try of fpv, and the Dominators well what can I say, they are superb, crystal clear and sharp, the best point is as well you can change the RX module so your not restricted to 8 channels,

Not seen or tried the Skyzones but they do look the business and they have huge screens,

[bazzerh]

the skyzone screens are little quirky, they take a 4:3 image and stretch it to 16:9(ish), that combined with a 2.8mm lens can look a bit odd first time you don the goggles. i hated it in fact, but then i used them some more and now it just looks normal. i think your mind gets used to the image being received and starts accepting it as normal after a while. bit like if you watch a movie in the wrong ratio, looks odd for 5 minutes and then you tune in.

[xxpitt]

built in diversity is a big plus for 5.8 if you want to be going behind trees and stuff. a patch and clover leaf together is a great combination

[aburn09]

So are we doing the attitudes complete for £285 to replace with the skyzones or dominator v2 possibly for all in just under £400 ?

[benno]

if you intend to fly with many others, or attend events then the fatshark channels start to become a bit of a limitation - endlessly needing to check whom is on what channel.

coming soon though, a new module for the DOMs which extends the number of channels available to fatshark users to the full 32 I believe.

http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbyking/store/__83195__Fat_Shark_Raceband_5_8GHz_Module_PRE_ORDER_.html

There is a suggest that there will be an equivalent for the attitudes coming too.

Worth considering, if only for the future.

[aburn09]

http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbyking/store/__50228__Skyzone_FPV_Goggles_5_8GHz_Dual_Diversity_32CH_Receiver_With_Head_Tracker_V2_.html
Or
http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbyking/store/__49419__FatShark_Attitude_V2_FPV_Headset_System_w_Trinity_Head_Tracker_and_CMOS_Camera.html

Getting more confused but I believe the skyzones will work with fatshark equipment ?

[benno]

correct, the skyzone would be able to tune into the fatshark 8 channels.

most cheap vTX';s normally cover all 32 channels, so the skyzones would support these 32 channels out of the box.

Attitude';s are limited to just the 8 fatshark channels.

I';ve got attitudes, had them for a year or so (not sure if they are V2s) - nice kit, low weight which is nice if your out all day flying.  only issue I have had is sorting out the channels when flying with a bigger group to avoid conflicts, only real downside being I';ve had to wait when all 8 channels are in use.

if I was to purchase again, I might go for the DOMs for the local recording and option to change out modules later.

The attitude link you provided looks like a better deal compared to the skyzones as it includes a fairly good camera and standard vTX. Plug and play too (just connect to balance lead and your away)

[aburn09]

Thanks benno I don';t plan on going to big race meetings yet these would be my first fpv goggles the hobbyking attitudes are a good price i';d only change the antennas to cloverleaf ones so for £285 delivered including the upgraded antennas it';s a plug and play as you said that';s the plus point......... The skyzones I';d probably have to add another £100 to get the same set up as the attitudes but the extra channels the front camera and twin diversity antennas are a plus for the skyzones........ Long term would I be more likely to want to upgrade from the attitudes or skyzones ? Which one will have the longevity ?

[aburn09]

Thread Starter



Join Date: Dec 2007

Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, UK

I think overall the skyzone';s are the better goggles with the features they have but the version 2 were missing a few vital extras which would have made them perfect....... However Skyzone 3D have addressed the issues and these would be my first choice if they sold just the goggles as I think as a kit the tx and dual camera might be a struggle to fit into my 250 racing quad ?
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__79292__Skyzone_3D_5_8GHz_FPV_Goggles_With_32CH_Receiver_And_Head_Tracking_V2_.html

[bazzerh]

like most things rc a little modification is needed at times. the 3d cam could certainly fit in a lot of 250 frames - with some mods. maybe some 3d printed arrangement that does away with the front standoffs most frames have. ideally i think these cams would go in a 300+ fpv rig, something like the armattan fpv ship, qav400 or a whitesheep as a cheap option.

another route would be to try and find a buyer for the cam and tx, banggood are selling them seperately for £110 so if you could find a buyer you might get a really nice set of goggles for £250ish.

[aburn09]

I did think of selling the camera and tx but it would be a limited market I think might be able to get around £50 on ebay........ But then I';ve got top buy another camera and tx which would cost around the £80-100 mark it';s just a shame they don';t sell them separately now ........ I';m sure they will in time but it doesn';t help me now I either go for the skyzone v2 which doesn';t quite reach my mark or go for the 3d and try go modify to fit the 250 quad or sell the camera and tx that comes with the kit ?

[JT]

When it';s windy we fly in the woods all the time with 5.8GHz, it';s fine unless you are going a long way away, which you really don';t need to do

An example, just using skew antennas on the quad and fatsharks 
http://youtu.be/0FJZ5Aha56Q

[bazzerh]

which bit of the skyzone v01 doesnt hit the mark? if its the dvr then I bet you would hardly use it. the only upside to them is if you lose your machine you might be able to rewind the footage straight away and work out where it went. for general playback and uploads the quality is pretty poor and unenjoyable.

if you go 3d then ive got a mate who might be interested in the cam/tx

[aburn09]

Thanks for the video JT proves it is possible to race in the woods on 5.8mhz 
Bazzerh the v2 skyzones don';t have in built recording admittedly it might be a gimmick but it';s still nice to have I know I could put a seperate ';sd dvr'; on the v2';s but that';s extra leads etc... and apparently the buttons on the 3D aren';t as easy to push by mistake as they are with the v2';s .......I think I';m going for the 3D';s and once they arrive I can see if the camera or tx is going to be a problem to fit on my 250 quad if it is then I will contact you to see If you/friend wants to buy them off me 

[bazzerh]

If you buy the 3d stuff send me a pm as my friend said he';d buy them from you

[aburn09]

I';m leaning back towards the Attitude v2 purely because it';s a complete kit I can use straight away wheras the skyzone 3D I';ve got to break the kit up just for the goggles.......When skyzone releases the 3D';s just as goggles I';ll sell my attitude goggles keep the kit then just put the skyzone 3D goggles with it ?