RC Planes

saitrix said:
Just need to wait for someone to make a 459mhz UHF then at least you would be able to use 2.4ghz for the video, which is better than 5.8ghz. It's a shame, if only we could use 900mhz, would make long distance FPV much easier.
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I know, such a pita.
 
So if you made a drone, connected it up to the mobile network and sent the video and controls via the internet to your laptop, as long as you can see it in the sky you're allowed to fly it around town?
 
Radiation said:
So if you made a drone, connected it up to the mobile network and sent the video and controls via the internet to your laptop, as long as you can see it in the sky you're allowed to fly it around town?
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Not a great idea if you lost control and it came down and hit someone.

best to go and fly out in the country. Why is everyone so obsessed with FPV at the moment. Go fly a RC plane like we have been doing for 35+ years.

It is fun, there is skills involved, weather plays a huge part on landings. Plus nothing better that coming in for a nice approach and doing a gentle touch and go then shooting round and coming in for a nice landing.
 
900mhz video systems do exist for video tx/rx. They're actually even recommended, for the lack of interference. 2.4ghz / 5.8ghz seem to be about the worst, due to heavy interference. They are the cheapest though.

UHF is the best for long range R/C, ignoring video transmission, but i think you actually need a provisional ham license for that. It might be better to not discuss legalities and other confentious stuff here, as it will dwarf all other inferesting chat in no time. Rcgroups seems better for that.
 
Magic_x_uk said:
Not a great idea if you lost control and it came down and hit someone.

best to go and fly out in the country. Why is everyone so obsessed with FPV at the moment. Go fly a RC plane like we have been doing for 35+ years.

It is fun, there is skills involved, weather plays a huge part on landings. Plus nothing better that coming in for a nice approach and doing a gentle touch and go then shooting round and coming in for a nice landing.
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From reading lots about this, I think it's just because the technology has increased rapidly in the past few years, and the thought of controlling planes remotely via video link is appealing to pretty much everyone.
 
Ok well I made an order with HK, lots of stuff, but no planes ! I bought a Turniky 9CH radio, lipos, chargers, testers and all kind of kit... and I refrained from buying a plane because I need to order it separately anyway (battery shipping regulation)

Oh, I also ordered a carbon quadcopter frame and a few bits and bobs :-)

But I'm still on the quest for "the" 2m wide electric glider...
 
alexthecheese said:
900mhz video systems do exist for video tx/rx. They're actually even recommended, for the lack of interference. 2.4ghz / 5.8ghz seem to be about the worst, due to heavy interference. They are the cheapest though.

UHF is the best for long range R/C, ignoring video transmission, but i think you actually need a provisional ham license for that. It might be better to not discuss legalities and other confentious stuff here, as it will dwarf all other inferesting chat in no time. Rcgroups seems better for that.
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Yes 900mhz is made but they are also illegal in this country. Best to go onto a uk fpv website to find out what you can and can't use.
 
Ah 900mhz is illegal, right.

That tx on the rcgroups forums was said to have backorders of 4 months of stock. Maybe that's wrong, but you might have to wait a while for your other bits to arrive if that's the case. :p
 
the turnigy 9x isnt as good as the flysky version anywya you should hunt around other sites like ehribo or whatever its called.

on the turnigy 9x the aerial is physically attached to the module card while on the flysky one its not
 
Didn't realise there was a difference between them, that's worth remembering! Though I can see myself more likely to just modify my 6EXA to 2.4ghz.
 
on the turnigy9 the aerial has a wire that goes into the module card itself while on the flysky the aerial is actually on the module card, theres more mods and firmwares for the fkysky to
 
arknor said:
on the turnigy9 the aerial has a wire that goes into the module card itself while on the flysky the aerial is actually on the module card, theres more mods and firmwares for the fkysky to
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They seem to be very, very similar tho, and I didn't see the point of having an unused antenna port anyway.. I do a /lot/ of AVR development so that looks ripe for hacking to me! I already plan to rip the voltage regulation and install a switching dc-dc with a lipo -- that should last a few weeks of use on each charge..
 
Desperate to build something for ages now so I've opted for a simple balsa glider.
Just need something other than looking at a pc screen all the day long.

Going for this...

http://www.westwings.co.uk/orion.htm

Haven't built a glider for many, many years (last one had doped tissue wings).

I understand that you use a heat shrink film these days. Seems like I need a small iron and a heat gun.

Any experience of this stuff would be appreciated indeed.
 
Seems you went a bit mental in the burglary thread, so you might not be able to respond for a while :P, but Taggart seems to be someone to ask about how to build planes.

What I want to know about buildng planes is how you sculpt the profile of the wing? Is this an exact science, or you just just layer some foam and it kinda just does the trick?

Both my orders have now shipped! Finally. 3 weeks after ordering! :p My batteries will arrive after my plane, but the charger comes with the planes so I'll just order a stand-in battery for the meantime from Giantcod so I have something to play with when I arrive. :cool:

Still need to modify my FlySky 9x so I can flash it and have a backlight, and my server PSU for charging should now also be on its way. Something else I can tinker with. :)
 
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Read up on wing theory, it will take you a while. :p You can still get lift from flat & symmetrical wings. For example my flying wing is totally symmetrical with a total of 3 layers of foam. Other ones you shape it to a printed profile much like a 'normal' aerofoil, though that will create more lift with more drag.
 
Yes I imagine it will take a while. :p I didn't realise you could make a wing so easily, I thought they had to be a very precise shape, a la big planes and the like.

Are they sturdy enough to carry decent batteries and props and all that? I saw that one guy on rcgroups uses a glue to harden the surfaces, is that what you do?

At lunch I thought I'd have a go at modifying my FlySky 9x with the Smartieparts board, thinking that I wouldn't be able to finish it, as I have the V1 board.

Turns out I have V2 board, so was able to do it all. I have the backlight installed and a USB connector now hanging out of the battery compartment. Unfortunately I have to find a mini USB lead now and do some work, so I can't flash it yet, but will be giving it a go tonight.

Looking forward to the backlight most of all at the moment, and the potential to turn off the sodding beep. And swap the +/- buttons round, as they're back to front. :p
 
http://www.youtube.com/user/RCSuperPowers#p/u/7/7cc7a4qrCUI


That utube channel has everyhting you could ever want to know about park flyer planes, its what I used to get info when i started. Its progressed quite well now so LOADS of information. I dont buy his plans but they are very good. I use RC groups for plans as they are free.

The thing with rc planes is u can get away with a lot more in the aero department. KF aerofoils are amazing for rc and they are really simple to make.



Edit: Radio wise, I bought an old 35mhz Futba T9CP and stuck a 2.4mhz module in it.. turned out to be around 180 for a 9 channel setup with a load of receivers.. Once u get ur head around how to program the damn thing, its great.
like this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FUTABA-T9...ntrolled_JN&hash=item35b9293988#ht_602wt_1297
 
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