title: RC Equipment
description: My gear and the modifications I did to it
parent: quadcopters
position: 80
date: 2015-10-09
update: 2021-05-28
---

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Over the years of flying quadcopters and other stuff I have grown quite the collection of self-made or customized gear.

## Spectator Monitor

When out flying alone or with a partner, often people walk their dogs nearby or families go on a walk together and see us.
This often sparks a conversation.
For these occasions, it turned out to be very useful to have some kind of second screen and receiver with me.

A friend of mine even has a spare cheap set of FPV goggles with him most of the time.

I decided to go a slightly different route.
For my first experiments, I bought the [Quanum DIY FPV Goggle Set](https://hobbyking.com/de_de/quanum-diy-fpv-goggle-set-with-monitor-kit.html).
I didn't really like the box-style of goggles, so I quickly took the monitor from the set and used it stand-alone.

After I switched to proper FatShark goggles, I used the Quanum monitor again, this time for a spectator monitor.

I built a simple wooden box out of left-over parts and hot-glue, with a large cut-out in the front for the monitor.

Inside is not only a [FR632 Diversity Rx](https://hobbyking.com/en_us/fr632-diversity-5-8ghz-48ch-auto-scan-lcd-a-v-fpv-receiver.html) but also an [Eachine ProDVR](https://www.banggood.com/Eachine-ProDVR-Pro-DVR-Video-Audio-Mini-Recorder-for-FPV-Multicopters-for-RC-Drone-FPV-Racing-p-1061196.html?cur_warehouse=CN), 2x 18650 cells, voltage regulators, a fan and a voltmeter.
The channel can be selected on the receiver, with cut-outs on the back.
The DVR can be controlled using external push buttons.
A power switch, as well as a switch to select either the Rx video feed or the DVR video feed, are on the top.

The batteries hold up for maybe 3 sessions with spectators.
I had to add the fan after the first tests because it simply got too hot inside the box and the first DVR died after a while.

The quality of the Quanum monitor is great and it does not switch to a blue-screen when the signal is fading.
The DVR does not work 100% reliable, but considering my FatShark Dominator v3 has a built-in DVR as well, I'm not really dependant on it.

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lightgallery([
    [ "img/fpv_spectator_screen_1.jpg", "Top view of spectator monitor" ],
    [ "img/fpv_spectator_screen_2.jpg", "Front view of spectator monitor" ],
    [ "img/fpv_spectator_screen_3.jpg", "Charging side view of spectator monitor" ],
    [ "img/fpv_spectator_screen_4.jpg", "Back view of spectator monitor" ],
    [ "img/fpv_spectator_screen_5.jpg", "Fan side view of spectator monitor" ],
    [ "img/fpv_spectator_screen_6.jpg", "Bottom view of spectator monitor" ]
])
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## Customized Transmitter



Also see [the article about my Arduino FrSky Telemetry display](2016_11_05_frsky_telemetry.html) and [the article about my Saitek X52 USB joystick experiments](2016_07_24_usb_host_cppm.html).

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lightgallery([
    [ "img/arduino_frsky_telemetry_2.jpg", "Arduino FrSky Telemetry Photo 1" ],
    [ "img/arduino_frsky_telemetry_3.jpg", "Arduino FrSky Telemetry Photo 2" ],
    [ "img/arduino_frsky_telemetry_4.jpg", "Arduino FrSky Telemetry Photo 3" ],
    [ "img/flysky4.jpg", "MP-26-DT back" ],
    [ "img/flysky5.jpg", "MP-26-DT mod" ],
    [ "img/flysky6.jpg", "MP-26-DT mod near" ],
    [ "img/saitek8.jpg", "Modified RC Transmitter" ],
    [ "img/saitek1.jpg", "Saitek X52 Whole Setup" ]
])
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## FPV Monitor



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## Spectator Monitor 2



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The files for the modified 3D printed case [can be found on my Thingiverse profile](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2003324).