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ATV on 6cms - It's Cheap and Easy on 5665MHz

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 8:02 am
by G8GKQ
G8GTZ and I have been experimenting with ATV on 6cms using the Tarot FM ATV Modules intended for First Person View (FPV) imagery for drones. These modules are available from eBay for under £17 (inc airmail delivery) with the title "Tarot 5.8G 600MW Telemetry TX/RX Combo for FPV Image Transmission TL300N"; I bought eBay Item number 302267860682, but realise that this will change.

The bandplan is not helpful in choosing a frequency, but we have settled on 5665 MHz as the preferred ATV frequency. Please make sure that any gear you purchase covers this frequency.

We had beginner's luck in the contest, but managed 80km using dishes of 60cm and 45cm!

Dave, G8GKQ

Re: ATV on 6cms - It's Cheap and Easy on 5665MHz

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 9:17 am
by Wolfie G8VAT
Hopefully we'll get some activity on this band, I've started "tooling up"..

Re: ATV on 6cms - It's Cheap and Easy on 5665MHz

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:15 pm
by G4KLB
Just got mine, picture quality was better that expected.
As mentioned before, video was on the red phono.
TX will need heat sinking.

Re: ATV on 6cms - It's Cheap and Easy on 5665MHz

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 4:50 pm
by G7JTT
Just received my Rx today and although advertised as a 32ch it's actually a 48ch happy days. Works well (thanks Dave) and arrived in just 7 days, only draw back its just been reduced !

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-New-Styl ... 2749.l2649

all the best John

Re: ATV on 6cms - It's Cheap and Easy on 5665MHz

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2017 1:59 pm
by G8GKQ
Initial experiments between G8GTZ and myself used some ex-commercial 27 dBi HyperGain HG5727G aerials bought at the Frome Rally. As supplied, these aerials were set up for vertical polarisation. Following wider discussion at the FRARS Hamfest, we have decided to standardise on horizontal polarisation. The aerials are easily reconfigured by disassembling the 4 bolts at the feed mount point.

The advantages include potentially better propagation, and wider (9 degrees) horizontal beamwidth (for easier dish alignment). The narrower 6 degree vertical beamwidth is easy to judge (or measure).

These 2 photos show the correct configuration of the surplus aerials for horizontal polarisation. Note that the "Vertical" arrow on the front of the feed needs to be aligned horizontally!

Frequency remains 5665 MHz despite the confusion I spread by an erroneous post.

Dave, G8GKQ

Re: ATV on 6cms - It's Cheap and Easy on 5665MHz

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 3:24 pm
by M0SKM
Some weeks back Arthur G4CPE suggested we organise a test with our 5GHz kit; just locally to allow us to make adjustments. Unfortunately due to illness in the family I had to call it off. Finally today we managed an outing; Don G0WFT went along to assist Arthur and I enlisted Ted 2E0EAZ.

Thanks to Ted who helped me carry the equipment 200 yards down a gated road.

As this was to be our first proper test we decided to stay fairly local and chose a path of approximately 6 kilometres. Ted and I were located in Upper Sundon and Arthur and Don at the GB3TZ repeater site. You'll see from the pictures below that M0SKM chose the short straw and ended up with the stinging nettles and ants nest.

We were lucky with the weather and results were excellent both ways; I think we're good to go on the next activity weekend.

My setup is the Tarot RX/TX and a 65cm Cassegrain dish with a Quad Patch Antenna feed (WA5VJB).

Arthur did take some pictures of the setup at his location and may post some up later.

Looking forward to some contacts on 6 cms. :D

73
Steve

Re: ATV on 6cms - It's Cheap and Easy on 5665MHz

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 7:11 pm
by g8gtz
Looks good Steve,

There's a path from the car park on the main road up to the DD visitor center over to the Ridgeway near Didcot - 63 KMs but should go on 5.6GHz with about 15 dB in hand....

Let me know and we'll give it a try sometime.

73 - Noel G8GTZ

Re: ATV on 6cms - It's Cheap and Easy on 5665MHz

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 7:38 pm
by G4CPE
Very successful 5GHz tests today from GB3TZ site to Upper Sundon, only 6km but it enabled us to try out various aerial arrangements.
I was so impressed with the results that we have decided to add a 5665MHz input to GB3TZ

73 Arthur

Re: ATV on 6cms - It's Cheap and Easy on 5665MHz

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 8:01 pm
by M0SKM
g8gtz wrote:Looks good Steve,

There's a path from the car park on the main road up to the DD visitor center over to the Ridgeway near Didcot - 63 KMs but should go on 5.6GHz with about 15 dB in hand....

Let me know and we'll give it a try sometime.

73 - Noel G8GTZ
OK Noel I'll work something out with Arthur and contact you.

Did you have to elevate the antenna to clear any local greenery; we only have tripods to a couple of meters max?

Steve

Re: ATV on 6cms - It's Cheap and Easy on 5665MHz

Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 9:05 pm
by G8GKQ
G8GTZ and I attempted a 137 km path on 5.6 GHz today. Results were P4/5 both ways. Equipment was FPV transmitters with PAs giving 2W output.
Receivers were stock FPV receivers. Aerials as illustrated in my post above. The Dunkersley to Cleeve Common path was amazing.

Images below captured using the new Portsdown analog capture feature.

10 GHz digital worked well over the same path. MERs of 23db at 2MS.

Dave, G8GKQ