Hi all,
I tried Bruce's idea for longer range FPV by taping my receiver to a long pole, but I found I was forced to stand alongside the pole and almost on tiptoe (allowing for exaggeration). While watching someone on youtube flying from inside a car, I saw they were using an extension cable for their video antenna. This seemed the answer to my problem so I looked up SMA extension leads on ebay and found the 3 metre length I wanted. However, I also saw a 10 metre lead which gave me an idea. A helium balloon to raise the antenna to a great height (i.e. 10 metres). The only problem I could see was the cost as the helium would be a total loss each time. I have a 12volt tyre pump which pumps up to 200 PSI and it occured to me that if I used a plastic bag type balloon there would be no pressure as in a rubber balloon and I could either run a tube to the air inlet of the pump or place the pump inside the bag and pump the helium back into the bottle.
I wonder if I could use a similar lead to raise my radio antenna? This would give me a great range increase.
If you're reading this perhaps you can tell me if this is a pipedream or a real possibility for the video and/or the radio?
John.
P.S. a cubic foot of helium can lift 28.4 grammes which is 1 ounce.
J.