Hey!
I've just had my first dalliance with an FPV camera, and was wondering about the FPV camera's video transmitting frequency.
Do enlighten me regarding the most penetrating frequency available (legal too) which can penetrate through building and has a high range (at least 400-500 meters).
The area in which I'm operating the FPV setup is dotted with mid-rise buildings, interspersed with a regular number of trees. The area is quite gentrified, if that helps. It would help if you could suggest such a video transmitting system too.
Any light over this situation shall be very gratifying.
The lower the frequency the bigger things have to be to block the signal.
However that will not help you much because you can't transmit video on these low frequencies because, there is not the bandwidth and it is not permitted.
So in practical terms you have no realistic choice to make.
Hey!
Is there any way to overcome this constraint?
Will moving to a frequency in the range of 1200-2000 MHz suffice?
I've heard about the 900MHz frequency, which has a high penetrative power. Could that be implemented?
It may vary depending on where you are in the World, but in a lot of places your not allowed to fly RC planes or copters near buildings or people or over built up areas.
Sounds like that is exactly what you are planning to do.
Higher frequencies are less efficient (antenna is smaller cross-section), unless you have a gimbal mount
devoted to steering a directional antenna on your craft.
Use the lowest legal frequency. Of course very low frequency would involve too large an antenna, but
that's not available legally.
You can afford more antenna gain at the ground station since that's easy to keep pointed in the right direction.
Helical polarization is a good idea if the relative orientation can change.
adeelshams:
Hey!
Is there any way to overcome this constraint?
No, that is what I was trying to say.
Will moving to a frequency in the range of 1200-2000 MHz suffice?
No
I've heard about the 900MHz frequency, which has a high penetrative power. Could that be implemented?
No - it is not permitted to transmit video in the 900MHz frequency band.
Have a read of this:- Wireless free band
Sounds like that is exactly what you are planning to do.
You're partly spot on. But the part about the RC copter is wrong. I intend to use that frequency to transmit the video from a land-based rover.
Thank you for your feedback, guys. I'll see what resources I have at my disposal.
At the frequencies used for FPV Video its really line of sight only, a single building or even wall in the way can kill the signal.
Its easy to get carried away with the examples of FPV used in copters and planes, take the same systems and use them at ground level in a built up area and the useable range can drop by a factor of 1000.
Its easy to get carried away with the examples of FPV used in copters and planes
It's quite uncanny, but that precisely served as my inspiration.
Do you have any alternatives in mind which could achieve what I intend to do?
Do you have any alternatives in mind which could achieve what I intend to do?
Fly a relay drone above.
Use a mast?
The two suggestions I would have made, have been posted already.
Height is king in an application like this.
There is a short series of 3 articles on the use of a relay for 434Mhz comms, as you will see the key to range is height.
The same principles will apply to Video frequencies.