Custom - Two pole system + camera/mount/downlink

mytach · #1 02-03-2010, 01:42 PM

Hi all,

Well, a little while back I decided to throw in the towel on my AP business. My consulting business (design engineering) was suffering too much. I sold most of the RC and airplane equipment on RC Groups, but my Camera Pole system never sold. So I thought I would post it here. I think I'll try to keep it as a single package at first, but let me know if you are only interested in parts.

I created the pole system as I needed it. It started with the 30' pole and custom wood mount and just grew from there. The 40' pole came later as did the video downlink. The camera mount fits both sizes of poles that I used (thus my reason for keeping it together if possible). All that you'll need is a radio system (not 2.4GHz, that's what the video downlink is on) and battery. Includes the following:

- 40’ WonderPole & Wheel Stand - This is 8’ collapsed. It weighs about 14 lbs. I usually extended all but the top section if I was in a hurry. If I had time and needed the extra height, I would use the custom guy-lines.

- 3 custom guy-line reels - I'm not including the 10 lb weights, you can buy those at Walmart. These will hold the 40' mast just where you want it. I only used these on windy days when I needed to extend the entire 40'.

- 30’ Pole (Previously 33’ MFJ Telescoping Mast) - I removed the top section which was useless for holding a camera mount. Also, I have a second mount-threading part that can be inserted in the third section from the top when it is too windy to have it fully extended (top 2 sections can be easily removed by unscrewing the bottom cap). So the two configurations on this pole are 30' and 24'. This pole also fits into the Wheel Stand for the 40' pole, although it is hardly necessary. I would always just hold the pole with my hand. It is even light enough to carry while extended (just watch the balancing act

)

Here's the 40' pole with mount. Sorry I didn't want to take the time to set up the guy wires.

And a shot with the 40' pole system.

And here's the 30' pole with mount.

And a shot with the 30' pole system.

- Nikon Coolpix L2 - I created a custom interface part to correctly position the servo over the shutter button. It can be held in place with a rubberband. I'm selling the camera as part of the set because I hacked/spliced the USB cable to interface with the video downlink.

- Wireless Downlink (2.4 GHz) - The video downlink TX was hacked out of a video-link baby monitor, so it isn't elegant, but it works. The RX is convenient, because it is the handheld baby monitor receiver with the LCD unit built in.

- Camera Mount - This is a custom made mount. Again, not originally designed to be pretty, but it is very light and functional. Both poles have been fitted with the threaded piece to accept this mount.