Greetings everyone!

I have been battling with the fpv video footage ever since I got into the hobby and here's the link to the DVR clip to let you know what I'm talking about.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UDgQzwx...p=drivesdk

And here's the link to the HD camera footage

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TqntkUc...p=drivesdk

Video system setup:
Camera : Caddx ratel 2
VTX : HGLRC Zeus
Video receiver : EWRF 5.8GHz OTG connected to an android
Antenna : Foxeer lollipop v4
Goggles: Procus One VR headset

Quad setup:
2205 2300 KV motors
Gemfan hurricane 51466 propellers
Speedybee 50A ESC
Speedybee F405 V3 Flight Controller
Bonka 35C 2200 mAh 3S LiPo battery
FlySky FSIA6B receiver

I've ensured that the antennas are torqued in the optimal range and that the antenna on the quad doesn't vibrate. I'm using fresh new propellers and motors, they're free from vibrations too.

The camera is powered by a filtered 5V pad on the FC and the VTX gets its power from the filtered 9V pad on the FC. I also tried adding an additional LC filter between the already filtered 9V output and the VTX but it didn't seem to help at all. I also tried to power the VTX with battery power but it didn't seem to help too.

I'm running the VTX at 200mw power.

I faced the same issues when I used to use the TS5823 mini 200mw VTX and thought upgrading the antennas would make a difference, didn't cut it. Thought upgrading the VTX would definitely be the solution but it's somehow worse now! Makes me wonder if it's the video receiver that's at fault and not the transmission system...

Any help regarding this would be highly appreciated as my FPV experience is getting hindered by this, it's almost like I'm flying blind just after going 20 meters away from home.

Here's a picture of the wiring.
 

It can be noted that the main power and GPS lines are directly passing under the VTX and even the antenna's pigtail is close to the xt60 connector. I am aware that this can induce noise in the system but the issue existed even when the VTX was mounted on top of the stack itself and I used the stock antenna provided with it. The antenna was pointing towards the right side of the quad so it was completely free of any interference!

that looks like a channel or band missmatch, take care to choose the band and channel manualy - auto scan doesnt work as it should sometimes.

the other option might be a bad video receiver on the goggle as you told you get the same bad imge on another vtx, you might need to add an external module if possible or get another goggle. there might be nice offers gor used highend analog goggles as digital fpv is overtaking common video transmission.

(25-Oct-2023, 02:02 AM)hugnosed_bat Wrote: that looks like a channel or band missmatch, take care to choose the band and channel manualy - auto scan doesnt work as it should sometimes.

the other option might be a bad video receiver on the goggle as you told you get the same bad imge on another vtx, you might need to add an external module if possible or get another goggle. there might be nice offers gor used highend analog goggles as digital fpv is overtaking common video transmission.

Auto scanning put my VRX on B8 at 5866 MHz and it's indeed the best channel and frequency... I tried all the other channels and frequencies available on my receiver and they were just very bad...

What really bums me is that I've seen people comfortably get more than 500 metres of clean video transmission with this VTX at just 25 mW and my video feed looks like garbage just 5 metres away from home position and I'm at 200 mW! :/

Do you have another antenna to try? If not, sometimes swapping antennas on vrx and vtx can help troubleshooting (tx will be much more sensitive to a bad antenna). Also, using autoscan on your vrx is not the way to go because the vrx will often pick a good enough channel that isn't the actual channel you are transmitting on. Use manual frequency configs FTW. On another note, you might try R9 instead, since it's the only raceband freq that doesn't overlap with wifi frequencies.

it m7ght be the video receiver on the goggle than

(31-Oct-2023, 05:01 PM)truglodite Wrote: Do you have another antenna to try? If not, sometimes swapping antennas on vrx and vtx can help troubleshooting (tx will be much more sensitive to a bad antenna). Also, using autoscan on your vrx is not the way to go because the vrx will often pick a good enough channel that isn't the actual channel you are transmitting on. Use manual frequency configs FTW. On another note, you might try R9 instead, since it's the only raceband freq that doesn't overlap with wifi frequencies.

Hello!

Channel/Frequency-
The first thing I did after mounting the VTx on the quad was setting up the frequency, band and power table. I am transmitting on B8 at 5866 MHz at 200 mW, and this is the channel and frequency my VRx picked up during autoscan. So I believe there's no channel/frequency mismatch between the Tx and Rx! Also, my VRx doesn't have R9, did you mean R8 by any chance because I have R8!

Antennas-
I tried using all types of antenna pairs I have (and also swapping them) keeping in mind that they're the same polarization.
I started with basic linear antennas and then those cheap RHCP clover leaves and then TBS triumphs and finally Foxeer lollipops.
Couldn't find any difference between the iterations and all the tests were a disappointment with complete video blackout barely after 30 metres

VTX mounting and power-
I mounted the VTx on top of the stack itself so now it's not directly placed above the main XT60 power line hoping that it would get rid of most of the electrical noise, again, no luck. Also replaced the old capacitor with a new Panasonic 470 uf 35v low ESR which also didn't contribute much towards cleaning up my video feed. I also tried powering the VTx from a "Bat" pin on my FC instead of regulated 9V output, no luck. Added an LC filter between the VTx and power source (irrespective of BAT or 9V) with no luck...

Camera-
I recently found out that for some reason my Caddx Ratel 2 camera pins are making loose contact with the jst connector (when actually plugged in properly such that the notch engages with the groove) going to the flight controller which caused a lot of glitches (entire feed becomes purple and black) in the feed. Barely plugging in the jst connector into the pins got rid of the glitches but I'm sure it'll get disconnected during flight!
To address this I used a different camera and the glitches are gone but the video feed is still garbage

Ever since I started getting into FPV I've always had some or the other issue with the gear I've purchased and I've always kept going. This particular issue is starting to send me into depression as I've already invested way more than my budget into the video system in the hopes of a great fpv experience but I'm not able to cross the 30 metres mark even at 800 mW... I can't invest in a new VRx or FPV goggles as of now so will have to make do with what I've got

(31-Oct-2023, 06:01 PM)hugnosed_bat Wrote: it m7ght be the video receiver on the goggle than

I really wish it's just the VRx because it's something I bought myself. The Cam, VTx and Antennas were gifted to me by my brother and it would really bum me out if I were to find out that they are at fault
Discovering that the Caddx Ratel 2's pins are faulty made my heart skip a beat since my brother had to pay double the price of what it's worth in India to get it shipped to me from Netherlands (the cam wasn't available on any of the Indian stores when I needed it and now there's more than 200 pieces in stock xD!)

i missed that it is a 3d printed quad, make the video test by walk away with the goggle whilethe quad stays - you can sort out frame vibrations as source that way.

autoscan isnt good, you need to choose the same channel manualy. a missmatch would look that way.
choose another channel, raceband is the best choice anyway ;-)

(07-Nov-2023, 05:58 AM)hugnosed_bat Wrote: i missed that it is a 3d printed quad, make the video test by walk away with the goggle whilethe quad stays - you can sort out frame vibrations as source that way.

autoscan isnt good, you need to choose the same channel manualy. a missmatch would look that way.
choose another channel, raceband is the best choice anyway ;-)

Here's what I did today
I dismantled the quad and took the video system components away. I made a simple rig which holds the fpv camera and VTx.
The Vtx is powered by a 3S LiPo through an LC filter and there's also a Panasonic 470uf 35V low esr cap in parallel with the LiPo.
The camera is powered by the filtered 5V output from the VTx.

So this rig is supposed to give me a clear cut conclusion as it eliminates all sources of vibrations and almost gets rid of unwanted noise in the system right?

I manually set the Vtx on R8 and set the power output at 400 mW. I then powered on the goggles and manually set it on R8.
The rig is placed in a well ventilated area outdoor and I'll be walking away from it with my VRx.

Even with this setup I get constant horizontal lines going down the screen like a wave and random patches and glitches in the video feed and it only gets worse after I move just a few feet away from the rig.

I will carry out the same test with a different VTx and keep you posted on the results!