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Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 4:19 am
by Derek
Over a year ago, one of the guys that I'm sub'd to on Youtube bought a 19" flat screen tv and has been using it as his FPV viewing monitor. I never really considered it until my local department store got some of the same tv's in stock. Then I got curious... Shortly thereafter, I got my 1.3ghz video system. I began to get more and more curious about using the same tv, so I began talking with him about his setup. Now, I have my 1.3ghz video system on my FPV plane and a 5.8ghz video system on my mini quad. Hmmm...maybe I should really consider getting the tv. This way, my wife or my Dad, or whoever is with me can also see what I see from the air.
FPV Monitor.jpg
FPV Monitor.jpg (82.32 KiB) Viewed 6517 times
So...for $108, with a 2 year warranty, I bought the tv and I have it here. I'm very excited to get this wired up and put it to use. This tv has the A/V hook ups in the back and it can also run on a 12v (3S) battery. Check out this video of my friend and his tv:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h_P1JLVzBw

In the following video, he demonstrates how he runs his entire ground station of a 3S 4500mah pack for more than an hour:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pgEgN-WMxQ

Too cool!!!

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 7:44 am
by Lee
I would like a similar setup :)

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 7:47 am
by Derek
I am really impressed with what he did. The only thing that I'm missing would be a decent, but inexpensive, DVR to keep from getting a blue screen in the event of signal loss. Still shopping around for that.

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 7:59 am
by Tony
That's pretty cool, 2 hours is ample time for flying even with breaks between packs... Pretty awesome setup

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 8:14 am
by Derek
Yeah, I'm going to put this TV and my other ground station bits into a camping cooler. That way, everything will be protected and still very portable. I was happy to see that the department store finally had this tv in stock. I've looked at other, smaller FPV viewing monitors (7-9") and they are $70+. So...I have a viewing monitor that is MUCH bigger than those monitors and I only paid a few dollars more....still has the A/V hook ups and also runs on a 3S pack. Too cool!!!

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 8:17 am
by Tony
Do you think you will fly fpv using the monitor too or just use it for a second person to watch?

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 8:32 am
by Derek
I have no doubt that I will be using both. Primarily the goggles, but yes, I'll use the monitor, too.

I imagine the viewing monitor would be nice to look at, instead of the goggles, if a spectator has questions or so that I can simply share the experience with my spectators (wife, parents, niece and nephews, curious passerby, etc.)

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 8:39 am
by Tony
I can just imagine them all swaying from side to side as you fly around.. I let my daughter wear the goggles as I flew LOS the other day and she fell over twice... Mind you I was going some speed doing banked turns, was funny though. She loved it....

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 8:49 am
by Derek
:lol: nice!!!

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 9:30 am
by danhampson

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 1:24 pm
by wolfman76
That is too cool Derek have fun

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 6:46 pm
by Derek
danhampson wrote:heres a cheap dvr mate. http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__ ... ouse_.html
Thanks for that, Dan!!!
wolfman76 wrote:That is too cool Derek have fun
Will do, Kyle!!! :D

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 10:35 pm
by wolfman76
I have a Ian connection with my fpv that allows me to use my 17" lappy as the screen

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 1:28 am
by Stambo
That looks like a nice monitor Derek.
I can hook my video rx to my 42" TV but the picture does not look as good as through the goggles.
I have an external aerial I can hook to my TX so I can fly from my recliner chair in the lounge. :)
Not very portable though. :)

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 8:04 am
by Derek
I started a new thread, earlier today, about the adapter for my FPV monitor. I did find a different adapter that measured exactly the same size as the adapter plug that came with the tv. So, instead of snipping the plug off the original adapter, I snipped the plug off the other one that I found. WOW...I'm glad I did that because when I went to plug in the tv to see what kind of view I would have, the tv wouldn't power up. That's odd! I got the adapter that came with the tv and plugged it into the wall and tried to turn on the tv. No power either. Major bummer! Thankfully, I didn't cut the cable that came with it so I can take it back to the store for an exchange. Yes, I bought the tv in the beginning of April but because I have everything, the original packaging and all the protective film and stickers on the tv, I should be able to take it back to the store and exchange it out for a different one.

Bummer!!!

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 7:30 pm
by Graham Lawrie
Unlucky Derek:)

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 7:31 pm
by Derek
lol, very unlucky. I'll take it back and get a replacement and we'll try again.

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 3:53 am
by pvolcko
You got the polarity right on the battery connector right? Would hate to see something happen to the replacement too. :)

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 4:06 am
by Derek
pvolcko wrote:You got the polarity right on the battery connector right? Would hate to see something happen to the replacement too. :)
Yep. Before plugging anything in, I broke open the secondary adapter plug and I looked at the circuit board...looking for the + and -. I found those, so I was certain I was correct.

Re: Derek's New FPV Viewing Monitor

Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 8:22 am
by Tony
Usually monitors and other dc supply stuff have a small symbol on them near the socket that shows polarity of the plug needed. Generally the centre hole is the positive. Just plug the adapter in the mains and get a digital volt meter, stick the positive probe on the centre hole and negative on the outside. If the meter reads a positive voltage you know the centre is plus volts, if meter reads a negative voltage then the outer metal is positive.... That probably sounds complex but it's easy...lmao