Hello everyone,
I would like to briefly introduce a product that has been in development for more than a year now and is planned to enter production this summer. It's a low latency, long range, glass-to-glass video transmission system.
Remarkable features are a long range operating distance (7 kilometres tested at 100mW using an economic 8 dB patch antenna at the receiver), a glass-to-glass video latency of 80 milliseconds with plans of bringing it below 50 milliseconds, three supported video frequencies (900 MHz, 2.4 and 5.8GHz) and a very small transmitter size of 63x38 millimetres.
Please visit Fpv.Red for more details, send us an email or ask in the comments for any question.
Comments
I didn't understand you were looking specifically for those pictures, sorry you had to search for HDMI with a microscope, it's not there.
I took a look at the design. The trough hole mount of the HDMI connector is in between the best place there is to mount a FPC connector on the other side of the board. The TMDS signals are already accessible from the other side via vias used to route them out from a middle plane, but those vias are in the middle of second best position you would like to use for the FPC connector. Everything is also very close to the step down converter. I sincerely like your idea, but it is not easy. I've put it in my to do list and I will discuss it with the hardware designer. I hope he will come up with something.
Thank you again for your effort in bringing me away from HDMI connectors, I really appreciate it!
I am sorry - i cannot see the board of the transmitter and it's HDMI in connector. Searched the site with a microsope)))
On the transmitter side: If there is space in between layers under the HDMI in connector - it's really easy to via-stitch the HDMI connector side to the other side of the PCB and make the pads(on the rear of the board) for hand soldering the FPC. It wouldn't introduce any large impedance mismatches, and the HDMI interface itself is really resilient for such minor impedance mismatches. Yes, i really do hate HDMI in vibration stress environment.
On the receiver side - On my ground station i personally use only locking type connectors (http://www.globalsources.com/si/AS/RayFast-Technology/6008847415786...) - it gives rigidity in a stress open world environment. Given that the electronics i personally encase internally, routing the interfaces out, and everything what is wired internally - is wired permanently. So if there is unused PCB space on the receiver side - it would be awesome to have the pads(JUST the pads, no need to populate them) for the optional and custom FPC or a such. Everyone whom is in need for such connection - will have no problem soldering on the connector, and making a custom cable for himself, there is no need for you to provide the populated socket and/or the cable - just the pinout - and everyone in need - will help themself out.
P.S. This is my latest ground station(design in progress, made inside a pelican case(all electronics are in the case cover))
2500 pixel wide pictures are available on HD Fpv.Red's website, just click over the figures.
About adding the footprints, I don't think that is possible in the transmitter, in the current layout that would require routing the signals to the opposite side of the board due to a lack of space and that doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Ideally yes, allowing people to just solder a FPC connector would be great, but I'm worried about the space it will take and how it will modify impedances.
There is more space in the receiver, but would you really want to use a FPC cable instead of a (quality) HDMI one? You can hate HDMI all you want and I agree with you, but how is a household solution going to be any better?
Thank you for your answer!
If the final board layout is not finalized - just add the appropriate pads for the FPC. If needed - a hobbyist would solder the connector them self (i'd certainly would do so).
P.S. Is it possible to post high res pictures of the boards? And board dimensions?
I will make a blog post about error recovery.
About HDMI, I would agree with you, but there is no easy solution. If using a custom cable, even FPC, we would need to provide FPC to HDMI adapters and basically hope signal integrity to be verified. Cables would need to be very short, etc. There are many shortcomings. I believe the best option to be using standard HDMI connectors, and maybe offer custom flexible cables if there is demand for it.
The receiver will have mounting holes, so you can just take it out of the case and use it as you see fit. I don't see any reason to have mounting holes in the transmitter (there is one already that you can see in picture, but there really isn't space for a second one!).
Guys, excellent product! Really looking forward for this!
But could you please be more technically specific? How is the transmission done? Bandwidth on the target frequency? Type of modulation? Error correction? Power budget for the HF?
What happens(and it would be great to see the demo), when the transmission is in it's failing point? How fast is the transmission recovery?
I'd personally like to see the transmission board with HDMI in(and NO HDMI connector, please!!! Just JST or something similar, it's way, way more redundant than those dicky HDMI connectors made for home use) and the receiver board with SMA connectors for antennae and HDMI for video out(again - please NO HDMI connector, same thing - something reliable such as JST or FPC connectors). No case, and MOUNTING holes on both of the boards. It would make a great deal for integration into the base station and integration into the flight platform.
Excellent product, now don't let us wait too much and give indicative price.
@The Sun I have not done any precise calculations, only rough estimations of bandwidth degradation. Im using 1W TX power to get the 50 mile range. This red system is very interesting though. The small size is wonderful unlike my setup which weights about 2 pounds
Hi Davide. Yep we can run to 25mW with FM or whatever, it's only above that value that the modulation type is mandated and there is a max spectral power density of 25mW/3khz BW to meet. I've just read a new note that there may be changes to that requirement soon though...
Sorry Martin, I'm pretty sure it won't fit in that regulation. However in Europe it's possible to use any kind of modulation up to 25 mW / 5.8GHz, if there are similar possibilities in Australia you should be fine (albeit with reduced range). Davide
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