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best wireless solution for long range(1-3 miles) able to stream video from 420 — Parallax Forums

best wireless solution for long range(1-3 miles) able to stream video from 420

rob4709rob4709 Posts: 7
edited 2006-10-08 04:06 in General Discussion
I’m trying to make a long range remote control that outperforms what can be gotten by using a standard radio control. It needs to be able to do the following
Long range communication 1-3 miles
High data transfer rate (able to transfer 420 lines of video as well as a steady stream of commands
Reliable connection with obstructions such as trees
Relatively inexpensive <$300
Able to interface with some common microcontroller without a huge headache in programming

Comments

  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2006-10-07 01:03
    Oh, is that all?·

    Dream on.
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2006-10-07 01:32
    To give you an idea of what's realistic, for hobby use, if you had an amateur radio license, you could use fast-scan TV for the video with a power of 1.5-20 watts in the 430 MHz band. You could include an audio channel that could carry tone information for the commands (relatively low speed). There was a 1.5W transmitter with audio and video for $300 and a converter (to channel 3 or 4) for $99. You get better range for a given power with a better antenna.
  • Jared5755Jared5755 Posts: 26
    edited 2006-10-07 01:40
    Dream on?? Come on!

    Rob, one thing you need to be aware of is that there are laws regulating output power of transmitters.· I think anything capable of transmitting that distance will require a permit.· But, check out the following links:

    Video transmitter (2 miles):

    http://www.aeropix.ch/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1&zenid=cb84671140068c345440041d2fabf89d

    Serial Data Transfer (1.5 miles):

    http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=559

    And, it's right around $300 too.

    If you're using a basic stamp (or pretty much any other microcontroller), interfacing the serial modem is incredibly easy.· You will need to buy two of them, and antennas.· As far as the video, I'm guessing you don't need that to interface to the microcontroller.

    Hope this helps,
    Jared
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2006-10-07 03:02
    rob4709 said...
    Reliable connection with obstructions such as trees
    aeropix device/s = 2.4 GHz =·strictly line of sight, unobstructed

    It's OK to dream; just don't drool on the pillow, that's all.

    Maybe try a cellphone.

    Post Edited (PJ Allen) : 10/7/2006 3:07:20 AM GMT
  • rob4709rob4709 Posts: 7
    edited 2006-10-07 14:03
    what is the bandwidth needed for a 420 line camera to run smoothly
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2006-10-07 14:32
    I'm assuming it's the same as a standard broadcast signal ... about 5-6 MHz
  • rob4709rob4709 Posts: 7
    edited 2006-10-07 14:33
    and how many Kbs
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2006-10-07 15:42
    TV is an analog signal, so talking about KBs may not make sense. If you have a 420 line camera that puts out a digital bitstream already, you would have to provide other information about frame rates, horizontal resolution, etc. I had assumed that the camera puts out a standard video signal.
  • terahertzterahertz Posts: 55
    edited 2006-10-07 16:33
    Rob4709,

    I'm working on a similar project, except I need to transmit High-Definition megapixel real time video tongue.gif and have two way control. I've done a lot of research and I'm about to start buying parts. For the radio link I'll use a Linksys wireless N with a set of high gain antennas. Wireless G doesn't work, I've tried, it doesn't have the neccesary bandwith for the HD video stream, the wireless N should work though. For your application G·will work. For the software, I've been experimenting with Microsoft Remote desktop and VLC media player, MS media encoder may also be involved at some point. Of course this setup requires two computers.

    I've been playing around a lot with controlling my BS2 projects across my wireless network using remote desktop. I just connect my BS2 to my laptop, open a remote desktop session on my desktop and view/control my cameras and motors from wherever I want.

    Oh yea, the computer that is sending the video and receiving the commands must have the XP-pro OS, XP-home wont work, the computer you're sitting in front of can use XP-home edition though.

    Post Edited (terahertz) : 10/7/2006 4:41:13 PM GMT
  • rob4709rob4709 Posts: 7
    edited 2006-10-07 17:37
    Ok, I guess I should explain the entire project.
    I’m trying to make a replication of kit in this link
    http://www.rc-tech.ch/web/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=68&category_id=18&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26&lang=en

    with the following modifications

    on transceiver
    -better gyro 5 degree drift per sec
    -longer range 1-3 miles(if i can figure out how to use a cell phone in the years to come I will)
    -integration to a custom made transceiver instead of an airplane transmitter

    On plane
    -better camera 420-480 lines
    camera tilt+pan servo assembly
    GPS recording of route (altimeter/coordinates) to memory accessible by onboard microcontroller with auto return if there is a break in communications (I’ve already coded this in java to test the concept) microcontroller then reads the data and outputs of GPS to determine its flight path.
    -sensors for fuel level and signal strength will be fed into microcontroller as well as displayed on a small LCD within the sight of on board camera

    Budget=$3000
    max plane load =6 lbs

    and i await a P J Allen remark

    Post Edited (rob4709) : 10/7/2006 5:47:36 PM GMT
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2006-10-07 18:06
    The camera and viewer look like they're standard video devices so you're talking about a 5-6MHz bandwidth. I would suggest an off-the-shelf video transmitter and receiver for R/C use given the weight and power restrictions and the fact that it's line of sight. Jameco (www.jameco.com) has some devices in their catalog and there are various R/C suppliers that carry similar units better suited for model aircraft use. You could probably get away with low power (50-100mw) transmitter given the direct line of sight (mostly). You're better off with a separate digital control link since that wouldn't require much bandwidth. You might consider the high power (100mw) version of the MaxStream XBee devices. Martin Hebel (www.selmaware.com) sells a nice interface board to the Stamp or any microcontroller that talks serial TTL levels. They're rated at 1.5 mile range line of sight, but you might do better with a better antenna. They work at 2.4GHz so you wouldn't want a camera transmitting on the same band at the same time. Alternatively, you could use a separate 433 MHz link like Parallax's, but a bit higher power with a better antenna. You'd need two pairs of devices on separate channels for bidirectional communications. As you get into higher power, you start requiring licenses and expensive equipment.
  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2006-10-07 18:08
    Rob,

    I think PJ Allen's comment was probably based on your initial post's budget of <$300, not $3000.

    You should still look into amateur radio for something like this. As long as you stay within FCC regs, you can do a lot more than you realize.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2006-10-07 18:38
    Kevin is quite right about HAM radio.

    Not only is it better to comply and learn to do things right, other HAMs often have equipment or resources for equipment that are quite reasonable.· Many work in electronics and get surplus or discounts from work.· Others just scrounge and share the wealth.· HAM swap meets can provide a lot more than what you can find on EBay.

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    ···················· Tropical regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
  • ALIBEALIBE Posts: 299
    edited 2006-10-07 22:27
    re long range serial commn, I am using AeroComm 4790. Not cheap. But, their dev kit is well priced for what you get.

    my project here:
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=608765


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    ALIBE - Artificial LIfe BEing. In search of building autonoumous land robot

    http://fstop.crosscity.com/
    http://icar.crosscity.com/
    ·
  • terahertzterahertz Posts: 55
    edited 2006-10-08 04:06
    Wow ALIBE,

    That looks great, good design, nice and clean execution, gj on your solder work too. We'll have to talk. I'm trying to do something a little more complicated than "normal" too.
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