From: rbono@necis.UUCP (Rich)
Newsgroups: rec.models.rc,rec.radio.amateur.misc,rec.video,sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Airborne Kreepie Peepie Advice
Date: 2 Oct 92 13:09:35 GMT
Organization: still seeking it

In article <1992Oct1.101827.12142@uxmail.ust.hk>, coggs@Cogwheel.COM (Bob Coggeshall) wrote:
> No, Kreepie Peepie is not some kind of pervert, it is ham-radio television
> transmitter...
> 
> We are about to purchase a (son of) Kreepie Peepie, a TXA5-RC ATV Transmitter > from PC Electronics and a Chinon miniature CCD video camera from 
> High Technology Flight. We intend to attach it to a flying model plane.
> 
> What I know so far is that several places sell these extremely cute little
> CCD video cameras; The board measures 2.2" x 4". It runs on 8-14volts, puts 
> RS170 1VP-P video, and draws 78ma of current. They cost approx $200.
> High Tech Flight also sells a character generator overlay board which 
> places telemetry data on the video signal.
> 
> There are a few choices for the TV transmitter board - the TXA5-RC can 
> put out up to 1 watt.  is also 2.25" by 4",  You need a ham radio
> license to use it (got one), but I heard about there being one that
> doesn't require it. 
> 
> Would anyone care to share their general experiences with airborne video ? 
> 
> Specific q's:
> 
> 	Do cable-ready TV sets receive on the 462mhz frequency used 
> 	by the normal ham-tv transmitter board ?

  Actually, the ATV frequencies tend to be:

    434 MHz, 421.25 MHz and 439.25 Mhz (I may be off a bit on these, but
they are close).  Two of these fall directly on two 'cable ready' channels.
The channels are 57, 58, 59 or 60 (I forget which ones exactly).

> 
> 	The little CCD camera is mfr'd by Chinon. Anyone have a Chinon
> 	data catalog on their shelves ? 
> 
  I don't have a catalog directly, but one vendor (Crimson Tech in Cambridge
MA) send me a photo copy of the Chinon page.  This showed the bare board and
the specs.  They look pretty good (as far as power consumption, voltage and
size).

  By the way, PC Electronics is also selling the camera. I forget the
price.. somewhere in the $225 range.  There is an option to allow the use
of C-mount lenes.  I think that this would be a good option, although it
would increase the weight of the camera a bit.

  PC-electronics also has a small (make that ultra-small) tranmitter board.
1x1 inch (YES, ONE by ONE inch) for $80.  This transmitter board is fixed
frequency (only 434 MHz available) and is a fixed 80 mw (0.08 watts).  Its
other good feature is that it will run on a 9 volt battery.  This transmitter
board along with the Chinon camera will both run from the same 9 volt 
transistor radio battery for a while.  This would be ideal as the weight of
a battery also has to be included when fitting your favorite plane.

  Don't forget to look into shielding your R/C receiver, servo leads, etc.
You may also have to put a low pass filter into the recieve antenna of your
R/C receiver.  This is to prevent interference from the on board TV transmitter
from messing up control of your craft.  Be SURE to perform extended range
checks BEFORE trying to fly your model with the TV transmitter turned on.

 I have been looking into this for a while, and basically have to make the
decision between the TXA5-RC and the other 80mw unit (I forget their model
number).  The tradeoff is size, frequency agility and power requirements
(I beleive that the TXA5-RC requires 12 volts).  After I make my descision
(I am leaning towards the 1x1, 80mw board.  It is too qute to resist), I
just have to commit and spend some bucks!

 By the way, some of the small hand held TV's will directly tune these
amateur TV frequecies.  Usually the units with the manual tuning (not the
ones with the electronic 'scan' type of tuning) will work.  I know that
one of the Radio Shack models work fine (a friend has one), sorry I don't
remember the model number.  It is easy to find out though.... Just set
your transmitter and camera in your car and turn on the transmitter.  Then
go walking into the store and as the salesman to show you the handheld TV's.
It can be fun when you tune into your signal, and your camera is pointing
at the outside of their store.  They start asking all kinds of fun questions.

  Let us know how your flights go....

  Rich
-- 
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 * Rich Bono                     IMRICH         UUCP:rbono@necis.ma.nec.com * 
 * (508) 635-6300                 NM1D          AMPR: nm1d@nm1d.nh.usa.noam * 
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