From: DMeriman@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 9:46 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: My On-Board Video System as Employed Aboard R/C Submarines (an
update)
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My On-Board Video System
as Employed Aboard R/C Submarines -- Shameless Advertising (an update)
A Report to the Cabal:
The little Swann type
(many names, but this one sticks in my mind) wireless video camera-transmitter
has been updated to the point where I think it appropriate here to inform you
of the new capabilities. I've also learned new tricks as to how to use the
camera under water, as well as on the deck of an r/c model submarine.
Briefly, the system is a
means of getting a 2.4 giga Hertz wireless video camera's signal up from a
submerged submarine to a receiver on dry land -- that receiver either patched
into a classic TV monitor, recording machine, or a set of virtual goggles (or
all at the same time, either patching off of one receiver or using multiple
receivers all tuned to the same channel (there are four available).
What is new is the
introduction of a consolidated video camera-transmitter-battery unit;
eliminating the need to modify the old Swann type camera-transmitter to work
directly off a disposable 9-Volt battery. The new camera-transmitter-battery is
a streamlined integration of the subsystems into a single unit. Channel
selection, battery charging, and the unit on/off switch is all at the back of
the unit through a jack and dip switch's that are clearly marked and well
arranged.
The on-board
Lithium-polymer battery is long lived, rechargeable, and much lighter in weight
than the disposable battery it replaces
A refresher as to how
the video camera system is made to work aboard r/c model submarines,
I refer you to the following site where you can watch a movie of the system in
action:
Now, for the pretty
pictures:
_files/image001.jpg)
This is the new style wireless 2.4
giga Hertz video-transmitter-battery unit. Note that the rear face of the unit
contains the charging port, transmitting antenna, and dip-switches that set the
transmitting channel (four of 'em!) and the on/off switch. This unit is a
straight drop-in replacement for the old Swann camera-transmitter, external
voltage regulator and disposable battery arrangement. A much neater packaging,
I must say!
_files/image002.jpg)
Modification of the unit is a
straightforward crimping in of a length of coaxial cable inner conductor to run
the antenna out of the WTC, up a faring tube, terminating a good eight or so
inches high where the antenna is sure to be out of the water even with the
model well below 'periscope depth'. The low power transmitter can not punch its
signal through even fresh water, so the antenna has to be in line-of-site with
the receiver antenna -- be that receiver antenna located at your belt, atop a
monitor, or next to a recording machine.
_files/image003.jpg)
Once the coax is inserted between
the camera-transmitter-battery unit and mast mounted antenna, your ready to
install the unit within its water tight cylinder. The Electrician's tape is
wrapped around the unit till it makes a reasonably tight friction fit with the
inside of the cylinder -- you don't want this thing kicking around as the unit
is pitched and rolled about.
_files/image004.jpg)
The coax run up its aluminum tube
'fairing', the top end of it is stripped of the shield to a length equal in
length to the portion of the antenna removed from the back of the unit -- some
signal loss is inevitable, but you still achieve nearly the full stated
three-hundred foot range of the unit. Oh yeah, the system also has sound!
The faring is CA'ed within the
cast resin foundation piece atop the WTC. RTV silicon rubber is used to make
watertight the heat-shrink tubing used to isolate the exposed antenna atop the
fairing tube.
_files/image005.jpg)
The outfitted up-periscope WTC
ready for use next to the system receiver. Unlike other units, this receiver
will not only output through a set of RCA jacks to normal
recording/presentation devices, but also features a USB port, permitting you to
output the image straight to a laptop computers hard-drive. Neat! The unit even
comes with a CD containing the software that will permit your computer to
record and display the camera image real time, full-screen or as a window.
Neat!!
_files/image006.jpg)
A screwdriver is used to flip the
dip-switches once the unit is within the WTC. No problem getting the
Lithium-polymer batter charging jack in there either. The only wire in there is
the coax making up between the unit and the antenna high atop the fairing mast
-- a much neater arrangement to install and maintain than the old one were you
had to negotiate around a disposable battery and its voltage regulator.
_files/image007.jpg)
Here's the entire video system:
The up-periscope unit at the upper right containing the
camera-transmitter-battery unit within its WTC. The rest of the system is
housed within pouches in a poncho worn around the operator's waist: the
receiver, battery, virtual goggles, and voltage regulator.
_files/image008.jpg)
Use of a big capacity, 11-volt
Lithium-polymer battery necessitated the inclusion of a 5-volt voltage
regulator between the battery and receiver. The goggles and receiver feed off
this single battery for many hours between charges. The light weight battery is
hardly felt as you walk around with the poncho -- the belt suspended poncho
with its many pockets is comfortable and does not get in the way.
_files/image009.jpg)
The receiver and goggles elements
sitting atop the custom designed belt-poncho. There's even a pocket to hold the
up-periscope unit when its not strapped atop a model submarine, sitting in the
pool atop a tripod or dangling off a broom handle.
_files/image010.jpg)
What the well dressed, fashion
conciouse r/c submariner is wearing this year.
_files/image011.jpg)
You have the option of attaching
the up-periscope unit to a tripod so you can observe and record the models as
they travel on and below the surface of the water. The height of the tripod is
adjusted to keep just the tip of the up-periscope antenna above the surface.
_files/image012.jpg)
Close-up on how I secure the
up-periscope unit atop this medical tripod stand.
_files/image013.jpg)
Ellie showing how the single
battery connector is used as a switch to turn the receiver and
goggles on and off. Simple is good!
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