Long Range System (LRS) Shootout

by FliteTest | June 10, 2013 | (33) Posted in Projects

For more information about Fat Shark RC Vision Systems: www.fatshark.com 


Alex (iBcrazy) collected the top LRS systems from R/C pilots that sent their privately owned systems to test.

LRS Systems test units include:
Flytron Open LRS 
Rangelink
DragonLink
EzUHF
Sherrer UHF

iBcrazy's helmet was setup to simulate a very bad and extreme R/C airplane setup.

On a his vintage motorcycle, Alex strapped on his helmet and ran a series of tests including stray frequency testing, in-band Interference and more. You can watch the full test and read more in the article here.  

Riding the motorcycle towards and away from the ground station, Alex was able to have relatively consistent testing conditions, matching speed and distance with each system test.

With the help of Jeremiah (Bond jr. of StoneBlueAirlines) Alex was able to test video signals on the ground stations. In total, they spent over 100 hrs. on this project!

 After all of this testing is the Flytron OpenLRS is Alex's favorite. Cheap and hackable.

For a really reliable unit, Alex chooses the EzUHF system.

Along with the the test results, Alex shares some great tips for setting up your own LRS FPV system. We'd like to thank Alex (iBcrazy) for sharing his test results and LRS FPV tips! 

Check out the full test video and read more details in his article linked below!

You can learn more about FPV, antenna's and other Stone Blue Airlines stuff here!

Also be sure to join in the discussion and check out more photos here!

Special thanks to Fat Shark for sponsoring this episode! 
For more information about Fat Shark RC Vision Systems: www.fatshark.com

- Find this article & others like it at www.FliteTest.com -

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COMMENTS

jamiedco on June 11, 2013
awesome video as always
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tramsgar on June 11, 2013
Great video and subject! What firmware was used for the OpenLRS? And doesn't removing the antenna risk damaging the tx?
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ollis89 on June 11, 2013
Acording to a thread on another forum the openLRSng firmware was used on the openLRS. Also, removing the antenna from you tx(be it video or UHF) it will burn out you tx. On your RX on the other hand it does nothing other than cut the range by ALOT. NEVER turn on any transmitter without an antenna, but on the receiver it does not matter that much, except for range that is :)
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RCbacon on June 11, 2013
If you don't have the space for those systems, you can send them to me ;)
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UndCon on June 11, 2013
I use OpenLRSng (Hobbyking 100mw) and also use 1280 mhz for video. I had no glitches /packetloss on OpenLRS or bad video that I could not navigate from. I will try 1258mhz as well on the same route (I use Arduplane for navigation and full RTH if needed)


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Cyberdactyl on June 11, 2013
Thanks for more depth. You guys always give us gold!
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onemoreflite (John Michaels) on June 11, 2013
It's about time Flitetest and IBCrazy got together. Great job, and great to hear from the expert!
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lFritZl on June 11, 2013
I must say Alex is awesome at explaining and has a great nature about him (I am generally confused when it comes to fpv and its technicalities). Great video guys.
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StoneBlueAirlines on June 11, 2013
Great episode guys. Open LRS was with the openlrsng firmwear.

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liveyourdreamsRC on June 11, 2013
Can Alex come back on the show in a later episode? It was great hearing this stuff in an explainable way. Maybe for a long range flight episode?- a how-to episode.
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ollis89 on June 11, 2013
Have you seen these episodes? http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1355327 There's 10 videos for you explaining averything from the very basic to how to fly rong range! That being said I totally agree! I'd personally love to see an episode where more antennas are tested out. Like "how does the signal/video look when flying behind a helical" and "what to choose: video frequency and antenna choise for long range/short range inbetween trees, how long will each UHF system go when in the air, what system penetrates trees the best etc.."
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liveyourdreamsRC on June 11, 2013
Yes I have seen these episodes, FT and ibcrazy work well and it would complete the advanced FPV video in the simple, intermediate, and now, advanced FPV. I don't have a spotter at the moment nor a technician HAM radio license at the moment though so FPV really isn't possible at the moment. Working on finding time to take an online HAM test though... I also agree with the idea of finding the right antennas and frequency choices out there- especially for flying through trees, though I assume a helical and 1.3-1.2 or 900MHz would work fine. Awesome Job FT and keep up the diversity of the different formatting, it's awesome!!!
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Hasersys on June 11, 2013
Ibcrazy reminds me of Billy Maze. "IT SCREAMS" If it wernt for Alex I would have never gotten my fpv gear off the ground. Thank you. Keep it up.
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Good Kebo on June 11, 2013
Thank You! That was great stuff.
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Flitetestrocks on June 12, 2013
Thanks for all your hard work

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Klaus on June 12, 2013
Good stuff but I question the use of attenuators. If you have a poorly shielded receiver, one that is susceptible to RF coming in through the receiver circuitry as well as the antenna, then it seems that even though you cut the signal from the antenna way down that the receiver will apparently work fine because the receiver is in a much higher RF field and receives the signal coming in through its poor shielding instead of through the antenna. In other words, a crappy, poorly shielded, receiver would seem to work fine at low signal strengths but in real usage would bomb out before a well shielded unit that didn't do as well in the same test.

My gut feeling is that I would have more confidence in this sort of testing if it was done over real distances, minimizing the use of attenuators. Even on the transmitter side, a poorly designed transmitter can be spewing lots of RF from its circuitry as well as the antenna output, invalidating the effect of an attenuator on the antenna.
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moonlitnite on February 6, 2014
Klaus, while you bring up good points theoretically, I can vouch that when tests are carefully performed to mitigate leakage issue then indeed attenuators are regularly used for SOME tests. Back at the Fort Huachuca electronic proving grounds, we would test microwave antenna positions on full size jets with receivers located no more than 100 feet away. Of course, most of our tests were to measure beams, side-lobs, reverse rejection patterns, etc. OTOH, shielding would have been a HUGE concern for us for interference tests as you so well pointed out for their tests.
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Renceww3 on June 12, 2013
i have a question, if you (Alex) fly most of the time in between 0.5 and 1 mile do you need a UHF transmitter can't you just use your spectrum/JR/futaba....transmitter wit full range RX?
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StoneBlueAirlines on June 14, 2013
Alex and I (Bondjr ) Fly on 72mhz most of the time. Other than a few long range runs Alex has done. I however just added open lRS to a few planes so we both plane to do some long range missions coming up. If you don't plan to fly far stay on 72mhz its great and gives you a nice long range run without being to far. remember its a long way to walk when getting a downed plane.
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aerosport on June 12, 2013
Hey guys! Just looking at the fatshark googles, they seem to only operate on 5.8 and 2.4ghz. How can you set them up to run on 1.3ghz? Do you have to go with the Fatshark BASE goggles? Are there any recommended 1.3ghz tx/rx systems?

Thanks!

Thanks.
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StoneBlueAirlines on June 14, 2013
You can just take a video input to the goggles from another source.
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proficnc on July 21, 2013
We run a 5.8GHz repeater, that way you can still be wireless, plug your 1.3 RX into the 5.8 TX
The 5.8 here can be just a 10mW unit for the jump.
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StoneBlueAirlines on July 22, 2013
Nice I will have to try that have a 5.8 I am not using so we will see. New Fatshark HD will be the ones to test that out on.
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vjacheslav.tsygankov on June 15, 2013
Very interesting and helpful video. Just about to order one, so for first time Flytron OpenLRS will be best choice.
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StoneBlueAirlines on July 22, 2013
Let me know how you end up liking the system.
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UndCon on June 15, 2013
A new personal best today...1.3Km with perfect image all the way.

100mW OpenLRSng (HK)

http://www.undcon.com/2013/06/15/bixler-waypoint-test-in-strong-wind/
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StoneBlueAirlines on July 22, 2013
Sweet.
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moonlitnite on February 6, 2014
Many thanks for the provocative series of tests. And despite any shortcomings, we should compliment FliteTest and Alex for stepping forward and giving it their best shot within real world time constraints. As a microwave technician, I appreciate all the complexities planning and conducting tests like these with limited resources. The fact that you encourage dialog on YouTube and your website is a testimonial that you encourage open communications. Kudos gentlemen and keep 'em coming!
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Long Range System (LRS) Shootout