Cheap Remote Cameras

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I notice that ToysRus is selling a Revell drone with a live phone link camera for £70 and Morrisons are doing one for £60.

I'd dearly like a camera like that which I could fit on my loco RC boats etc. but despite some searching I'm struggling to find one.

Surely if they can fit one for £40 drone for an extra £20, it ought to be possible to buy a stand alone one for ,say, £30?

Or is the cheapest route to cannibalise a drone?

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Hmm I may have found an app that lets me use a cheap android smartwatch…

Arrrgh!

I got the watch to display the phone camera view…

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Might be worth trying here, Neil

**LINK**

https://cheapdrone.co.uk/drone-parts/spare-drone-cameras

The URL contains some apparently relevant words.

MichaelG.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

It's possible to get a camera, and even a module … but it isn't clear if/how these can be sued as a standalone.

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

How about one of these ***action-cams*** plenty others about.

John

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 25/11/2017 14:28:27:

It's possible to get a camera, and even a module … but it isn't clear if/how these can be sued as a standalone.

.

Then canibalising the cheap drone is beginneing to look cost-effective.

MichaelG.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 25/11/2017 15:25:50:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 25/11/2017 14:28:27:

It's possible to get a camera, and even a module … but it isn't clear if/how these can be sued as a standalone.

.

Then canibalising the cheap drone is beginneing to look cost-effective.

MichaelG.

I think what you linked to is the most promising … about £45 for camera and standalone screen but I cant find any information on how the drone controls the camera – it isn't just switch on and receive (I guess there are things like channel selection).

I found acouple fo (expensive looking) plug and play solutions for boats but both 'out of stock' and no price.

I might take a punt on this, but I have one of similar to these which are only £9:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-Smart-Watch-Bluetooth-DZ09-For-Android-Samsung-Phone-With-Camera-SIM-SlotUK/272235819771?hash=item3f6284f2fb:m:mEVN_ergIjopezqaY-i0QZQ

The watch displays the phone camera over bluetooth, if Ican find an app that works the other way that MAY be good enough, at least for short-range experimentation.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 25/11/2017 16:09:54:

… I have one of similar to these which are only £9:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-Smart-Watch-Bluetooth-DZ09-For-Android-Samsung-Phone-With-Camera-SIM-SlotUK/272235819771?hash=item3f6284f2fb:m:mEVN_ergIjopezqaY-i0QZQ

The watch displays the phone camera over bluetooth, if Ican find an app that works the other way that MAY be good enough, at least for short-range experimentation.

.

Is the 240×240 display good enough to be useful ?

… Curious that the watch camera is 2.0M

… presumably Bluetooth streaming is at much lower resolution !

Do please show some results when you get something going.

MichaelG.

.

P.S. as you will have already guessed; I haven't played with any of this stuff yet.

'though I do have an iOS App that does a reasonable job of sharing cameras over WiFi.

 

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 25/11/2017 16:45:55

[Brian GParticipant @briang]

Plenty of cheap camera/transmitter combos on "a popular auction site" starting at about a £12 **LINK** but I guess you would also need a reciever to view it on your phone **LINK** which would bring the total to about £30.

Brian

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Is it possible the cameras in the cheap drones don't downlink the video but just take a shot on command and store it to a memory card ? I would be interested to know how good the pictures are from cheap drones. It may be worth buying one just to see if the gutters need cleaning out.

Les.

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Les I know when the gutters need cleaning, the rainwater does not get to the down pipe, it just cascades everywhere!

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Suggest you go to the Hobby King web site.

Loads of FPV stuff there for model planes & drones which can be used.

[paul rushmerParticipant @paulrushmer83015]

Hi Neil

I have all the equipment to do what you want for my class O8 but not done it yet! Most of it came from flying tech, it will use 5.6 MHz to transmit the picture back to a Lilliput monitor which has picture in picture capability so I can see in front and behind at the same time.**LINK**

hope this helps Paul

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Les Jones 1 on 25/11/2017 17:03:40:

Is it possible the cameras in the cheap drones don't downlink the video but just take a shot on command and store it to a memory card ? I would be interested to know how good the pictures are from cheap drones. It may be worth buying one just to see if the gutters need cleaning out.

Les.

The two I mentioned are FPV – first person view, they use an app to link to your phone and you fly them with your phone in goggles or on top of the controller.

Most cheaper drones just capture video/stills

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

It seems the best value combo is 5.8g camera and wireless transmitter for about £13 and a 5.8g receiver monitor for about £33.

They will both have a button to page through 40 channels.

Not quite a throw-away price, but a possibility.

This is more with experiments in FPV RC in mind than any definite project.

Neil

[doubletopParticipant @doubletop]

Neil

Sam suggested Hobby King. Here's their FPV page **LINK**

However, be aware that if you go over to the website you are guaranteed to buy something and it probably won't be what you went there for in the first place.

Pete

 

Edited By Doubletop on 26/11/2017 06:44:04

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

TBH I think Hobbyking shoot themselves squarely in the foot because unless you know what you want to buy their tiered menu is almost impossible to navigate.

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Anything you could cannibalise from the Maplin CCTV 'Spy' section?

[doubletopParticipant @doubletop]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 26/11/2017 13:16:32:

TBH I think Hobbyking shoot themselves squarely in the foot because unless you know what you want to buy their tiered menu is almost impossible to navigate.

Neil

Hopefully you'd have some idea why you were on the site?

If you click the top level of the tiered categories menu it takes you to a page with the sub menu items laid out. If you sort of know what you want (say) a camera go to the top right search box and enter 'camera' ignore the popup selection it provides and select search (magnifying glass icon).

If you are suggesting you are spoilt for choice on 'say' FPV transmitter systems 1.2Ghz, 2.4Ghz or 5.8Ghz and then whether you want 10mw, 20mw ….800mw then you'll have to resort to Google and do your homework.

Surely not much different than searching for something on Radio Spares or Element14, you do need a starting point.

As I said before you'll probably get distracted, after my posting last night I end up wandering around the HK site and found myself looking at a gyro stabilised unicycle for only $300 and then remembered how old I am………

Pete

 

Edited By Doubletop on 26/11/2017 19:42:59

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Go on the RC& ME forum

http://www.modelflying.co.uk/forums/

& ask for advice

It is what forums do !!!!!!

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Doubletop on 26/11/2017 19:39:53:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 26/11/2017 13:16:32:

TBH I think Hobbyking shoot themselves squarely in the foot because unless you know what you want to buy their tiered menu is almost impossible to navigate.

Surely not much different than searching for something on Radio Spares or Element14, you do need a starting point.

Well I was looking for a complete system – you would think those would be listed somewhere obvious, but I can't find them.

The obvious choice seems to be a 5.8g system as (they seem to be cheap and 500m range is more than enough for me. Presumably a 5.8G camera will work with a 5.8G receiver/monitor IF they both share one of PAL/NSTC/1080 HD…

Trying to find cheap (as all I want to do is play about…) HK seem to have a camera for ~£10 but look elsewhere for cheap monitors.

[doubletopParticipant @doubletop]

Its interesting that when you google FPV systems you get very few complete systems but lots of components. Probably one of those geeky areas of tech where plug and pray is the norm.

Beware of using a monitor if you plan to use it outside, the screen could well washout in the sun. The only problem with the mobile phone control of 'Dynobox' is seeing the screen in sunlight. There again I'm in sunny NZ and you are in the UK so it may be less of a problem.

Pete

[Danny M2ZParticipant @dannym2z]

Neil, I found that this screen is ok for viewing in flight video, it also has an onboard recording SIM facility and a sun shade. **LINK**

As for cameras, this little Sony works quite well. **LINK**

These are just typical examples, shop around!

As for the RC&ME forum forget it! Too many bossy old farts and legends in their own minds although there are many great contributors just a few people drag them down and some are overzealous moderators. I once commented on the mass build 'Lemmings' and was immediately struck off the forum. No warning. Even complained to the editor, no reply after almost 2 years!

Have much more fun here **LINK** and lots of fvp advice.

* Danny M *

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Posted by Danny M2Z on 27/11/2017 08:28:53:

As for the RC&ME forum forget it! Too many bossy old farts and legends in their own minds although there are many great contributors just a few people drag them down and some are overzealous moderators. I once commented on the mass build 'Lemmings' and was immediately struck off the forum. No warning.

But that happens on many forums & if you start insulting them then rough justice will prevail. I expect that the average age of this forum is greater than that one, so perhaps one might be careful how one describes one's fellow forumites.

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