Digital HD video downlink! (Interview with FPV Blue, long range low latency)

We're waiting for some serious HD video transmission now for a few years. Connex prosight was promising and is still the most used? - ok Lightbridge and Occusync from DJI are market leader - but they have very high latency...
For "real" FPV usage we need lower latency, reliability, range. All being promised by a small, dedicated company - FPV.Blue.

Join me in the hangar for a closer look at this new system, check out the menu options, see the latency measured, and see me interviewing Davide from FPV.Blue.

!DISCLAIMER! - FPV.Blue sent me this product for review, you can buy it here
●▬▬VIDEO INDEX▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬●
00:00 FPV Blue - system overview
01:30 Receiver (diversity)
03:04 CLOSEUPs
03:32 SD Card recording?
04:55 Transmitter
06:02 HD Cam
06:52 Transmitter closeup
07:19 Antennas
08:08 Spectrum Analyzer
08:34 MENU OPTIONS-----------
08:50 - Video input
09:44 - Modulation (transmission settings)
11:19 - Display settings (Bluesync)
12:30 OSD
13:50 LATENCY (Eachine Goggles 2, Black Pearl, DJI Goggles
15:32 INTERVIEW with Davide from FPV.Blue
16:01 - background, company...
16:37 - shipping times
18:03 - Antennas
18:19 - Goggles tested...
18:47 - 2.4Ghz and 5.8Ghz Versions?
20:15 my conclusion
21:16 some short footage clips (more in next video)

●▬▬LINKS/INFOs▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬●
Thread on RCG: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2703512-fpv-blue-720p-HD-FPV-50-ms-latency-7km-range/page24
FPV Latency compared to other systems: https://fpv.blue/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/latencyComparisonV1.png

Antenna recommendation: https://goo.gl/7H93iu
why CP antennas are not neccessary: https://goo.gl/Lh4Hmn

Groundstation Recordings (a bit troublesome to work with as of 16.Oct.2017 - should be improved with next firmware):
can be played back with MPLAYER  
there's also a GUI version (SMPLAYER)
Recordings do not get corrupt when power is lost

Bonafidepirate: 14km flight
first video, thoughts
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Runcam Split 2 - firstlook

Runcam sent me the NEW version of their popular SPLIT cam. They changed some bad things to the better!
- New SD Card mount - yay!
- larger VOLTAGE RANGE (5-17v)
- FC integration!
- Lens
- WIFI stick instead of board with 90° angle it's now a horizontal one
...

I will make a more indepth video for sure - but this will take a few days or weeks. Give me feedback on what you want to be tested!

Red Bull DR.One drone race and e Mobility fair at Spielberg (Austria, Styria)

Electric cars, the chance to drive on a Formula one track and drones? What more can you ask for :)
Sorry that I couldnt spend more time there at the drone races - should have camped there for the whole 2 days...

Links to other videos from there:
Official Redbull flight video of the track
Drone doing one lap on the racetrack
FINALS here filmed from Herve

Runcam SPARROW and Sparrow micro - WHY?

Every other day a new cam appears on the market! Which one should you buy?  The Sparrows are VERY fast and have high image quality!

!DISCLAIMER! - Runcam sent me these cams for review.
You can get them here: Normal Sparrow and Sparrow Micro

●▬▬VIDEO INDEX▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬●
00:54 Latency
02:04 closeup of oszilloscope
02:42 RESULTS (many cams)
03:55 IMAGE Quality!
04:31 Swift Micro2 vs Sparrow Micro (CCD vs CMOS)
04:53 Latency measurement with PHOTODIODE
●▬▬Latency setup▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬●
PHOTODIODE PIN FLAT BPW46 SIDE-VIEW
(from conrad electronics in EU 597107)
and 100kΩ resistor
Settings for Oszilloscope:  10 Megasamples/Sec on the horiz axis
RED: 12v probing the LED, DC, 2v/Division
YELLOW: 9V Battery to PHOTODIODE, AC, 100mv / division
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Why you shouldn't buy Eachine EV100 FPV Goggles!

ignore my review and buy here 20% off for FPV Gears, ext DVR, 15$

Claimed FOV: 28°  but from my measurements it's rather 24°!
see my math here on my GoogleDrive (ALSO FIND A VIRTUAL SCREENSIZE Calc.XLS there!)

Jumpmarks:
=========
5:23 FOV
6:40 Goggles AND Lens of FPV Cam should match!
7:50 Comparison of screensize

Kabab FPV indepth review: https://youtu.be/FWfnQzaPApk
UAVFutures (positive review): https://youtu.be/aXBiKreCbJQ
AliShanMao: 2 thumbs up  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeT2SjaUOls
Bardwell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW3Go490OyM

nice teardown and closeup pics of all the electronix: http://fishpepper.de/2017/09/18/eachine-ev100-99-fpv-goggle-disassembly-components-pcb-pictures/

Runcam Micro Swift 2 (Review, testflights, compared with Foxeer Micro Arrow 2)

Videoindex:
00:52 testflight Foxeer Micro Arrow2
02:11 flight footage RUNCAM Micro Swift2
04:16 closeups, menu walkthru
06:30 box contents (kind of)
06:44 short intro of micro VTX
07:24 latency testing - almost NO latency!
08:00 other cams (soon the Sparrow series)

Why do you need "normal" sized cams at all if those micro FPV cams are THAT good? How does the Foxeer Micro Arrow2 compare? Find out in this video! Runcam Micro Swift 2 micro VTX

Sestri Levante - Bella Italia with the Mavic

We spent a week in this wonderful town, authentic Italy, great Hotel "Dei Castelli" and a nice view from the hill down to the harbour! Of course I had my drone with me...

Filmed with:
DJI Mavic Pro + ND16 filter
SJCam SJ7 Star (timelapse, slowmotion, snorkeling)

Drone Dive Paradise!!! (Vortex250 with Runcam Split at awesome location Höllental / Hells Valley)

This is the best spot for drone dives in my region. 30mins drive, 5min walk, 2 massive walls (250 and 300m high), not too far to fly, awesome scenery... I've had some issues first (uncalibrated gimbals on my modded taranis....) but enough time to burn 8 batteries there.
Split worked ok there - still some jello but the ND Filter on it + new props do good. Split is good for my setup here because it reduces weight and increases flighttimes a bit...

If you like this kind of flying - check out my drone dives playlist - I've done a lot (even at this spot, with some major problems...).
►Mountain DIVES Playlist

Foxeer Box 4k Action camera review - watch this before you buy a Gopro Session!!!

If you search a really good DICE style actioncam (like the Gopro Session5) but dont want to spend over 300$ then consider this "BOX" from foxeer. and their shop: (NO AFFILATE Link)

Video jumpmarks:
==============
01:24 Comparison Box vs Legend3, sample shots, quality
04:02 closer look at the box
04:08 angled mount for copter
06:11 Runcam3 vs Box? Sample flights
09:20 1080p50 Supervision mode (superview)
10:08 2.5k50 (my fav mode)
11:03 2.5k50 stabilized and modified in post
11:33 Downsides? Batterylife, chargetime
12:22 access settings only with Wifi app...
13:24 Upgrade from Legend3 to BOX?

Tech specs:
===========
CPU: Ambarella A12
Sensor: Sony IMX 117
Lens: 155° FOV

Recording Time:
56min with 2.5k50fps
54min with 1080p60 (in a second test)

Charging Time: 2h:17!    on a good USB charger (2amps available per slot)

USB/Servo cable for liveout: the red/black part (power) MUST be 5Volts according to Foxeer!
Dont power/charge your cam with 12 or more volts directly off your flight battery!

Bitrates:
4k25/30 (~60mbit)
2.5k50  (~41MBit)
1080p50 (~34MBit)

►Samples (NOT recoded, just split the file - with MKV Tool)
Files around 140-260mb, please download them from there and view locally - DONT view the Preview there (that is recoded by google).

▼Music▼
High Hopes - Johan Borjesson
Furious 3 - Niklas Gustavsson

Fixedwing dives and cloudsurfing at the same time!

These were some "once in a lifetime" conditions! Not too much winds, enough time and FPV gear working flawless (almost). Had a cloudbase just above the ridge of my favourite wall so I could cloudsurf and mountaindive at the same time. FPV doesnt get much better than this I think!