Wanting to go long range come spring, what to get!

[jgullo53]

as the title says, i want to go long range. been reading up alot on here and looks like i need to go UHF to get the distance i am craving. i just cant find everything i am looking for to get answered. i just would like to know exactly what i need to get to ensure everything is on the right page and everything i have would be compatable. i have...
Orange RX Mode 2 6CH Tx
Fatshark RCV922
Immersion 600mw Tx for headset

Just would like to know if i need to start from scratch or what, as in start out with new radio, headset etc etc. thanks!!!

[Dusty]

It all depends on what you personally consider to be long range.

for me, anything over 5k is long range, 2-5k medium range, <2k "close in"

with your 5.8 600mw, you can probably get up to 5km with a decent directional antenna such as a helical on the goggles and CP omni on the model.

But the 2.4ghz transmitter is your weakest link here. I'd say reliable up to 2km max, so I think you're right when you say you need UHF.

I curently have Rangelink which is great, ask anyone.

but the best UHF system in my opinion is EZUHF

once you're on UHF control, you can probably change your video frequency to something more like 1.2GHz for more range, but then you'll need to actually build a groundstation rather than just flying from your goggles.

[MrBen]

as the title says, i want to go long range. been reading up alot on here and looks like i need to go UHF to get the distance i am craving. i just cant find everything i am looking for to get answered. i just would like to know exactly what i need to get to ensure everything is on the right page and everything i have would be compatable. i have...
Orange RX Mode 2 6CH Tx
Fatshark RCV922
Immersion 600mw Tx for headset

Just would like to know if i need to start from scratch or what, as in start out with new radio, headset etc etc. thanks!!!

Start with a big pair of balls!!!

[brodjackella]

and a Storm OSD..lol

[mark1975]

knew that was coming brod lol storm ftw

[MrBen]

Yes storm if u are on a budget and don't fly a delta or wing rvosd if you want the best!

[brodjackella]

I like budget!!

[jgullo53]

ya i just wasnt sure how everything worked with the equipment i had now. i would love to just get everything now but with race season for RC cars just starting and winter upon us, well me anyways, i figured i could build it up til the spring. so was looking to get something in the 5km range (3-4 miles) for now then try to go crazier as time goes on. and i figured my 2.4 radio wouldnt be the best but thats why i figured i would post on here, gives me something to do over the winter when i cant get my FPV fix on haha. so, since i would be starting new, what is everything that i would need to get? dont really care bout costs, just want good quality! dont wanna be 3+km out and have everything shut down haha. thanks again!!!

[jgullo53]

ya since i am reletively new to FPV i dont need to be going 25km just yet i would like to stay where i was saying, say around 5-6km just to test the long range idea out. i been working crazy hours the last two weeks and i was just wondering how i could go about having all my equipment work together i guess. as in i didnt know how compatable my Orange Rx Transmitter would be to a ezuhf system or how the Tx on the video would work with my RCV922s. just looking for the info i guess!!!

[Dusty]

Well I highly suggest that the first thing you invest in, is a UHF system such as EZUHF or Rangelink. If your transmitter has a trainer port, it will be compatible with both of those systems.

The UHF RC system will give you immediate confidence in the fact that you'll pretty much never run out of range with your current video system (5.8 600mw)

Secondly, I would say get a directional antenna for your goggles. 5.8 helicals are small and light enough to simply mount on there and you can move your head to point the antenna towards the aircraft. I've just recently bought a goggle mountable 5 turn helical with matching VTX skew from bignose on fpvhub, very well made and people have been very far on his antennas.

Those two relatively inexpensive additions to your FPV arsenal should see you to at least 3-4km, some have reported even further on 5.8 with narrower beam directional antennas.

The next step would be an OSD with return to home functionality. This is because you'll be starting to push your video limits, and as I found out during my lighthouse flight, video can be in and out at distance, and it gives you a nice warm fuzzy feeling knowing that should you lose video (when out at the limits) you can switch on RTH and your aircraft will make it's way back to you... if not all the way, then at least back into video range so you can see where it may go down by looking back on the DVR recording etc...

Once you've reached the absolute limit of your video and you've used your RTH a few times, then you can think about changing video frequency for better range. I have been nearly 5km on 2.4 500mw video with just omnidirectional antennas, no helicals or patches... just omnis, and I know people have been further. but changing your video frequency means you'd need to build a standalone groundstation with a receiever of the new frequency... so now you're starting to get a bit bulky in terms of getting to your flying location and setting up.

I would recommend you skip 2.4 video however, simply because you'd already have the control range from your UHF RC, so you could go straight to 1.2GHz and get immediate results in terms of range... well over 5km approaching 7-10km on omnidirectional antennas, and even further than you'll ever need to go when you start to use directional antennas.

[londonguy]

You need a decent UHF control system. Do not get a EzUHF in my opinion, it's not good for 15km reliably in all locations. EzUHF won't go to 3km in London. Lots of EzUHF fanboys but don't believe the hype, I have tested EzUHF and DragonLink side by side in numerous places and DragonLinkV2 destroys it.

I have been flying it now for over a year, have flown hundreds of flights, I have flown in many countries, flown close to high power digital TV masts and radio towers. Never had a single glitch, I know that's hard to believe but even on my super long flights I haven't had my system go into RTH on failsafe not once.

[jgullo53]

since i still new i guess i just a touch confused on what i need. will the dragonlink or ezuhf work with my fatshark goggles? will it work with my orange Rx radio. i not sure what style plug is with the orange Rx i apologize for being a pain i just dont wanna drop a lot of cash and have the wrong thing. i just picked up the Cloverleaf Antennas the other day they arrived earlier this week. again i know i am a total newb to FPV but not to RC like i have mentioned in other posts haha been racing for over 10 years but then discovered the awesome world of FPV while i was in afghanistan and have waited a year to get home and try it out, and have to say since the first second, literally, i know i am going to be addicted for life!!!

[xxpitt]

ezuhf will work with your orang rx if it is this one

http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__28494__OrangeRx_T_SIX_2_4GHz_DSM2_6CH_Programmable_Transmitter_w_10_Model_Memory_Mode_2_.html

the only thing you need to do is find a way to mount the ezuhf or dragon link to your orange rx, think the trainer port is right in the middle on the back with that transmitter which might make it a little tricky.

It wont interfere with your 5.8 fatshark video, but it will out perform it to the point were you may as well not even bothered with uhf in the first place, what most people tend to do is upgrade their video system to run on 1.2 or 1.3 ghz

[Dusty]

the only thing you need to do is find a way to mount the ezuhf or dragon link to your orange rx

why would he need to mount the ezuhf or the dragonlink to his rx? they come with their own receivers

[brodjackella]

yeh that spooked me too.lol