Sabre: Camera Switcher Update, Belly Camera

I realized that it would be very easy and straightforward to add a third camera to the Sabre. The camera switcher is 3 position, I have a 3rd FPV camera, and the Sabre already has a spot to put a camera in the belly. I used my Runcam PZ0420H CCD camera in the recess in the belly of the Sabre.

To do this, all I had to do was make a small hole to route the wires up to the electronics section, to plug into the camera switcher.

I used Velcro to secure the camera.

Paper towels were used to snug the fit to help prevent vibration or dislodging.

I made a simple cardboard cover. Packaging tape holds it in place.

Updated Ground Station Schematic

I updated the ground station schematic to the most recent actual configuration.

I also added dashed lines to indicate where there are options.

Equipment as it is Presently Configured. Dashed lines indicate optional connections.

Sabre Airborne Equipment Schematic, Updated

This version reflects the following changes:

1. Change BEC power input from main battery balance lead to Micro Deans, tapped off of main discharge lead.
2. Addition of camera #3.
3. Rewire camera switcher to receive power from Vector.

1.2/1.3 GHz Ground Station Complete

Updated 3/7/18: Added V2 picture with labels.

I now have installed the latest round of equipment on my ground station, and set it up for diversity. With the latest changes, I now consider my ground station done and ready for use for flying in the spring. I can still add the Lumnier monitor somewhere on the tripod, but it is just as easy to use as a standalone unit.

All of the gear is mounted to back the Crosshair antenna with Velcro. It took several iterations to get everything to just fit without interfering with the tripod.



V1: Component Labels

 

V2: Some Subtle rearranging and neatening of the layout.

 

tBeacon Complete and Installed

I now have finished final "assembly" and installation of the tBeacon. You can't see it, but in order to route the tBeacon's antenna as vertically as possible (for maximum signal), I put inside a straw and routed it down the start of the wire channels in the tail boom. The antenna is probably about 30 degrees off from vertical now.

I soldered the wire harness that I planned out by the previous post.

I had to solder the tBeacon's included 50mAh lipo battery to the circuit board terminals. I then put shrink wrap over the assembly.

Custom Harness

tBeacon with Battery Soldered

Completed with the Shrink Wrap

Installed. In this picture, the tBeacon's antenna runs down and to the right.

tBeacon Progress

I've made some progress with getting the tBeacon GPS tracker ready to install. It's not particularly laborious, I just haven't spent much time on it.

I was able to upgrade firmware, set parameters to maximum battery life, and calibrate it to my HAM radio's calling tone.

I am now ready to solder the wire harness to connect it all together with the Vector (which is also connected to the Dragon Link receiver). I made this crude (not to scale) diagram with correctly colored wires so I don't have to re-figure it out when I am soldering.

Taranis Progress, Custom Sounds and Images

I've been spending a lot of time researching resources and learning the Taranis. I was able to update to Open-Tx 2.2.1 and flew my Vortex 230 for 3 flights a few days ago.

Since then, I've spent some time adding custom sounds and custom images.

Here's the custom image set up on the model screen.

It is pretty neat and rewarding, because it takes some discipline to understand it well enough to get it to work.

Here are some of the links (not exhaustive) I've used along the way so far:

Video Playlist: Project Blue Falcon's Taranis X9D Videos

Video: Upgrading Firmware

Video: Upgrading Bootloader

Video: Binding XSR Receiver

Open-Tx Online Manual

Written Instructions for Setting Volume Control on a Knob

Written Instructions for Playing Music

Written Instructions for Custom Sounds

Download Link to TTSAutomate

Video: Instructions for Using TTSAutomate for Custom Sounds

Video: Instructions for Creating Custom Spalsh Screen and Model Images