On the Smart OSD, there are four screens -- I have the fourth screen set so that it doesn't add any icons and therefore I can see the video signal without any clutter -- if that's the same thing that you're describing above. I use a rotary control on the Tx to select the Smart OSD screen. The OSD data is a bit fuzzy -- and it was tough to get the two potentiometers on the SOSD just right so that there wasn't chroma bleed around the OSD. I'm using two "box" cameras -- 700 lines -- one looks forward and slightly down, the other looks straight down. Andy.
Hi Andy QC set me up to cycle screens too, but only two screens: on and off (no data). With box camera this is fine. But even when "off" after HDMI conversion I got interference. When on it was very, very fuzzy. It was this way from day one when I picked up the RTF. They could never resolve it, so I just unplugged the wire when using NEX-5N to HDMI converter and did a physical bypass via a jumper board that I plug into their JP 4 video cable. I tested the OSD with this new converter and still, the data is very, very fuzzy. You just can't read it. So logic says its something other than the converter. This is actually my second Smart-OSD board and camera. The first OSD burnt out as a result of my box camera going defective - on the bench; right in front of me. (Honey, what's that smell?) One can only imagine my ire. I got the camera replace no-charge from Ready Made RC, but not the board from QC. I just ordered it direct. To add insult to injury, I was excited when the CX760 came out because of the SD output. I figured great, no more HDMI conversion problems. However, my glee was short lived. Come to find out the SD video output wouldn't transmit. I got nothing but black. Thinking it was the transmitter I replaced it with a like one (Lawmate). Well, guess what? Now I have two transmitters that won't pass the SD output. They pass the HD converted output just fine, but not the straight SD output from the CX760. I think there is a Country and Western heartbreak/money pit song here... Anyway, onward and upward. Colin
Edit: Is that because it was just assigned to a two position switch? If you have a spare rotary control you can easily get to all four screens. Check out the second video in message #27 on this thread. It shows a same of SOSD data that I recorded -- it was for a different purpose that showing the SOSD output, but is what you're seeing worse than this? If so, there is something wrong with the SOSD setup (or perhaps the SOSD). Did you tweak the adjustment potentiometers on the SOSD -- they can make a huge difference to the quality of the SOSD display -- it's worth getting a glass of good wine and hunkering down with the SOSD on the bench and getting it set up right. That's too bad -- and very uncharacteristic of QC in my experience. Yeah. My money's on the setup of the SOSD, but then what do I know? Oh. That makes it a bit harder to return. That's very strange. You plugged into the Sony D-shaped connector? I tested mine by wiring the video from that directly into an SD monitor to verify the CX760 was emitting SD video, then I tested it with the video transmitter. Not a Lawmate, I grant you, but one of those "Made in China" variants -- works fine. That makes me deeply suspicious of the CX760, but that's, of course just based on the description. You may well know better than I do. You mean: "Definition: Aircraft. A hole in the sky into which you pour money."? Hmmm. "Anyway, onward and upward." That's almost the quotation from The Lysistra of Aristophenes, as I recall (wherein the women denied themselves to their menfolk until they stopped fighting a war). Hopefully this plot is not commingled with the SOSD saga. Let me know if you try any of the experiments above (not the Lysistra one please). Andy.
Hmm. I use a single DX8 for flight and camera. I'm not unhappy the way it is. Oh, much worse. We did mess with pots while I was at QC, but its worth a shot to try again. No comment. Yup. Tested it the same way. Video direct to monitor is perfect. Too funny. No commingling here . I associate Lysistra with "Make love, not war" and "Onward and Upward" with an Abe Lincoln post Civil War speech, but what do I know.. BTW - I did take your suggestion on the antennae and bought a set for TX/RX. There are times I do get interference so its probably worth the 60 bucks. Cheers - Colin
So I've got this Transmitter I will connect the FF to: http://www.dronesvision.com/5-8ghz-500mw-wireless-av-transmitter/ As you can see in the photos (scroll down a tad - the green,white, red, yellow, black) it has a 5-wire connection that I could attach the FF HDMI converter to, but I no longer have that 5 wire connector available, as I've got it soldiered to a smaler FPV camera I use when I need to take stills. Can anyone tell me, or provide a link to one of those 5 wire connectors? I need that to get from the HDMI converter to my transmitter, but I don't know what to call that kind of connection.
Oh -- in which case you don't have any rotary controls nor any spare two position switches, I infer? Definitely worth a try. I have three SOSD board and they all work well. Uhoh. Feel free to PM me. (Click on my name above the icon and select Start a Conversation.) No reason why you should have to put up with a crappy downlink then -- if it's clear going directly into a monitor it should also be clear on the ground (but do check that "overdriving" issue above). Aristophenes was a little before Lincoln's time. The quotation is here (near the end of the chorus' speech): "Onward and upward, just the same." You're still getting interference with the Bluebeams? Hmmm. What do you think might be causing that? Antenna placement on the Cinestar? Andy.
Correct. I use the only rotory control on the DX8 for tilt servo (which is MK controlled). Just tried = same result. When there is no camera video / just the color bar screen I can get the OSD data fairly clear. But turn on the camera and it goes unreadable fuzzy. What "overdriving issue above"? I could not find the reference. Can you be more specific? Good find Andy! I guess Lincoln copied it. Sorry, I should have said "just ordered". They are not here yet. Colin
Oh...I misunderstood. I thought it was always clear with camera and SOSD when you feed it direct to the monitor and fuzzy when you feed camera and SOSD to the video downlink. From what you say it's the superimposition of the SOSD on the camera video that's the problem. Hmmm. Well, in that case, do you happen to have any other camera you can try -- it seems very odd that the presence of the camera signal would make the SOSD go fuzzy. If another camera produces the same result, then it's the SOSD board. If another camera works OK, that would point at the camera -- although it could still be worth tinkering with those pots. Ooops. I thought I had written I paragraph about adjusting the pots previously. I realize now that I did not. Overdriving is where, in this case, you tweak the SOSD pots to the point that they're generating an "illegal" (under broadcast) rules whiter-than-white signal. This sounds contradictory but video "white" is actually grayer than computer "white" -- so it's possible that the SOSD is "overdriving" the white signal -- that can make the white lines of the SOSD display look fuzzier than they should. "Overdriving" is my term for it. I've also heard is as "illegal white," "blowing the white" and similar kinds of terms. I wonder where he stole the "four score years and seven years ago...." part from, eh? Sounds like may have used other sources. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address , "Lincoln sources." Oh well, sorry to divert the thread....never mind! Gotcha. Let me know what you think of them when you've installed them. For me, the occasion glitch with the whip antennae just flat out stopped. Andy.
It works just fine with a box camera. Superimposition is clear. The problem occurs with both the NEX-5N and CX760. I wonder if it's related to why I cant get Sony SD to transmit. Is it a Sony signal thing? A Lawmate thing? A Sony signal + Lawmate thing? A ground wire thing? Ideas anyone?
Now I understand. I've not tried a SOSD with anything other than a box camera, I confess. But that said, composite video should be composite video regardless of where it's coming from. Let's just focus on the CX760 as I do have one of those (but not the NEX-5N). I presume that you have an adapter cable that fits into the D-shaped connector by the strap handle on the right hand side. Can you describe your setup please? Which wires are connected to what and using what kind of connector? Thanks Andy
I tested the OEM supplied D-connector and also the LANC controller D-connector. Neither worked. Connection is: CAMERA D-connector RCA video out (male yellow) > female jack connector > RCA video input (male yellow) > OCD > TX. This RCA video input was supplied on my RTF. It was the plug used to connect to the output of the original HDMI board. Colin
Hi Colin OK, thanks. It sounds like you have a common "ground" connection between the camera, the Smart OSD, and the transmitter. That eliminates that as a possible source of the issue (I fret when I see even composite video being sent via unshielded wires....) Moving, down the chain, is there a chance you can take an image of the video monitor with the camera on and SOSD data on it -- just using an iPhone or something like that? I'm grasping at straws here a bit -- just wondering whether actually seeing the image might suggest something. Andy.
Colin / Andy If it adds any clarity: I am sending video from the cx760 D connector to one of those china transmitters with very good image quality. I do not have osd at this time - but at least I can say it is not a problem with the sony output. Joe
I'm also using a CX760 and 5.8Ghz Mondo Stinger -- it works fine with both composite video and Tabb's FF HDMI converter -- with the exception of the issue with the HDMI output not apparently being transmitted when the camera is recording -- I need to revisit that latter situation when I can to find out more about the specific circumstances where the HDMI video goes to black. I'd still like to see what you downlink video monitor is presenting if you have a moment to take a screen shot, Colin. Where I'm going is to ponder whether the OSD imagery is suffering from chroma crawl or chroma bleed or what.... Andy.
Did you try the settings I posted above? They're working for me. Two photos of the transmitted image attached: before and after the camera is on. - Colin
Hi guys, So I just received my FF HDMI Converter and the DC--DC power converter to step down power from 12v to the 5v the HDMI converter needs. Question 1: Where do I plug in the 12v - 5v converter? I don't see an obvious place to connect, and no mention in the instructions. I plan on taking the 12v power wire from my Transmitter running off the LiPo that powers the craft (see small photo) running it through the 12v-5v converter and powering the HDMI converter. Question 2: (See Large Photo) There is a small black piece that was floating around in the packaging. I'm not sure if it came off, or comes like that normally. What is it and where should it connect? Thanks a lot guys! I'm really excited to get my NEX-5n image into my Fat Sharks!
Hi Chad: There is nowhere that the Traco "plugs in" -- you have to construct a wiring harness that takes the LiPo voltage, feeds it to the Traco, and takes the output of the Traco and connects it to VCC and GND. It's something that you'll have to solder up and cover the joints with heat-shrink tubing, I'm afraid. You're probably going to want to know the pinout for the Traco TSR1-2450, so I did a Google search and found this data sheet. The last page shows the pin-out. The small black piece is a jumper that shorts out two pins to permit the HDMI converter to handle the Phase Alternating Line standard (PAL) used in Europe as opposed to the National Television System Committee standard (NTSC) used in the USA. (Also known as Never The Same Color by its detractors). If you need NTSC, leave the jumper off. Hope this helps Andy.
Oh....that's goddawful, Colin. Even without the camera that's goddawful..... There is something very badly wrong with the SOSD board and/or the way it is set up. I don't remember even being able to induce that level of timing error (which causes the horizontal "spikes") by tweaking the potentiometers on the board. Did QC try a different SOSD board? That would be the first thing that I would try.... Andy.