RCCanada - Canada Radio Controlled Hobby Forum

FPV First Person View RC flying.

Thread: Broadcasting the callsign on audio channel Reply to Thread

Title:

Message:

[QUOTE=Florin;1957858]Thanks for the reply guys, but I need to clarify one thing: [B]I do have the setup to display my callsign in the video channel [/B] by tilting the camera to the  callsign that is printed on my airframe. Whenever I want, I activate the tilt servo for few seconds from the Gear switch to point the camera to the callsign. In the past I had a fix camera, the callsign printed on the servo arm and when the gear switch was activated, the servo was moving the callsign in front of the camera.

Now I want to setup another plane which is [B]not FPV[/B] and I want to use the  FPV video/audio transmitter for telemetry only and all the information will be audio, through the audio channel. I do not want to send video signal, nor to install a camera in the plane. Worst case scenario, I will put a small OSD to generate a video signal, but [B]no callsign through video[/B].

On the ground ,I will listen to the audio channel of the FPV receiver and I will not even have a video monitor. The audio transmission will start with my callsign in morse, then it will transmit from time to time my battery voltage (the lowest cell voltage) like this:

9 short beeps for 3.9v
8 short beeps for 3.8v
7 short beeps for 3.7v
.......
3 long beeps for 3.3V  
2 long beeps for 3.2V

This way, I can use my FPV transmitter/receiver to monitor the voltage without using a camera (so no callsign) on the video channel, as I really don't want to install a camera in the plane, neither to pay for an OSD with callsign capabilities.

I do not care if anybody will tune on the audio channel and if anybody will understand morse, all I am interested is [B][COLOR="Red"]if it is legal to transmit audio/video and broadcast the callsign in morse and only on the audio[/COLOR][/B].[/QUOTE]

Additional Options
Miscellaneous Options Automatically parse links in text Automatically embed media (requires automatic parsing of links in text to be on).

Topic Review (Newest First)

10-11-2014 04:00 PM

bcsaltchucker

Re: Broadcasting the callsign on audio channel

Quote:

Originally Posted by Florin

how can you shoot them down?

'shoot them down' This is FPV jargon, commonly used.

If you turn on your own video transmitter on the same freq, this has the risk of overpowering their received signal from their plane. It can have the effect of causing them to crash when they lose their video link (ie get 'shot down'). Now that we have multiple FPVers flying together at our RC field, I have experienced this first hand (haha, but no crash, just switch to LOS with spotters help). Hence the first rule of a FPV meet is to always turn on the receiver first and check for others' signal. At larger meets they will impose a strict quarantine of equipment to prevent shoot-downs.

Callsign broadcast on FPV, like HAM license, is rarely if ever enforced. The regulations are there, but not enforced outside of a MAAC field by other FPVers. But that could change. Any of us HAMs could take it upon ourselves to ensure anyone non compliant is reported and possibly charged. I would not do so unless the FPVer in question was acting significantly dangerously. I would not complain about callsign or not, but I would first try to talk to them about the importance of HAM licensing and knowledge.

10-11-2014 03:37 PM

Florin

Re: Broadcasting the callsign on audio channel

Quote:

Originally Posted by buffythesaint

Who is going to listen or watch our transmissions? A lot of FPVer's don't even use audio.

Buffy, are you saying that we shouldn't bother about transmitting the callsign because nobody is going to receive it? I hope I am misinterpreting it.

10-11-2014 03:27 PM

Florin

Re: Broadcasting the callsign on audio channel

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcsaltchucker

always turn on the GS before turning on the plane (might shoot them down).

how can you shoot them down?

10-10-2014 03:42 PM

buffythesaint

Re: Broadcasting the callsign on audio channel

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcsaltchucker

most likely .. other FPVers.

I have heard of guys turning on their ground station then seeing someone else's link from across town. Also very good reason to always turn on the GS before turning on the plane (might shoot them down).

Good point. I'm lucky as I am the only one doing FPV in my area

During the NAFPV meet, GS's were to be turned on first and see if someone was on by accident.

10-10-2014 01:48 PM

bcsaltchucker

Re: Broadcasting the callsign on audio channel

10-10-2014 12:42 PM

buffythesaint

Re: Broadcasting the callsign on audio channel

Who is going to listen or watch our transmissions? A lot of FPVer's don't even use audio.

10-08-2014 04:40 PM

bcsaltchucker

Re: Broadcasting the callsign on audio channel

hey got it. This is a great thread, made me think about it a lot more.

With all these ideas, I am changing my way of doing callsign. Going to Sharpie it on the props of my scale FPV planes for starters. Might research the CLOSD more and flash like 10 of them at once with my callsign. Maybe someone like me should stock up on $15 EOSD and flash them custom for people who want call sign on their OSD, sell for $25. Would folks want to have such a product?

10-08-2014 01:42 PM

Florin

Re: Broadcasting the callsign on audio channel

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcsaltchucker

the callsign only needs to be broadcast every 10 minutes. If you fly 5 minutes or so like I usually do, then you cna fly without displaying callsign.

I considered one flight from the moment you turn the FPV on until you turn it off. You considered a flight from the takeoff to landing. Then we are both on the same page here. If you broadcast the callsign after you turn the FPV on, then every 10 minutes, then once again before turning the FPV off, you are indeed legal. In between, you can take off, fly, land...

10-08-2014 12:48 PM

bcsaltchucker

Re: Broadcasting the callsign on audio channel

Quote:

Originally Posted by Florin

I will never use the words FPV when I ask permission for anything

In fact, my setup is not FPV at all. Maybe a FPA - first person audio

For your first question, I know the answer. Yes, it is illegal to fly FPV in Canada without broadcasting the callsign.

Indeed, the second question is the tough one.

this is not certain

for starters, the callsign only needs to be broadcast every 10 minutes. If you fly 5 minutes or so like I usually do, then you cna fly without displaying callsign. You just point the aircraft at a card with callsign on it, then launch and have zero need to broadcast it at all while flying .. so 'no callsign while FPVing' essentially. I would guess most FPV aircraft can't fly over 10 minutes, especially not most multicopters. I have 2 aircraft (have osd with callsign shown) that can do 40 minutes, but 20 that can't do over 10 minutes.

Also, if you are the type to insist on the callsign, then you probably are the type to stick to the letter of the the FPV rules and have no need for most aircraft that fly longer than 10 minutes, since you will never be flying beyond about 500m and 400 ft high (visual range). Exception being perhaps FPV gliders or some specialty purposes like SAR.

10-08-2014 12:27 PM

Florin

Re: Broadcasting the callsign on audio channel

I will never use the words FPV when I ask permission for anything

In fact, my setup is not FPV at all. Maybe a FPA - first person audio

For your first question, I know the answer. Yes, it is illegal to fly FPV in Canada without broadcasting the callsign.

Indeed, the second question is the tough one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcsaltchucker

ask is it illegal to fly FPV without broadcasting the callsign? And if so, then does it become legal once you add morse-on-audio?

This thread has more than 10 replies. Click here to review the whole thread.

Posting Rules
You may post new threads You may post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts BB code is On Smilies are On [IMG] code is On HTML code is Off Forum Rules

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:40 AM.