The Ultimate 1K Target Viewing Idea

[22BRGUY]

Here's one I looked at a while back. I'm not a "techy" on this so not sure how it compares but it seems these are only around $500 but do your own research. On Amazon, I saw the ad for it at Best Buy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUpmPUcnuBY&feature=youtu.be&autoplay=1

Here's a comparison vid also

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPNwqru-7QU

The comparison is for the Phantom that does not have it's own camera. It has a GoPro Hero 4 mounted to it which costs an additional $500. The newer Phantom 2 versions and the newest Phantom 3 have their own 1080pHD or 4K HD cameras built in that transmit to phones and tablets like the Parrot. But as you can see, even the older original Phantom 2 has much higher quality features. The 11 minute flight time on the Parrot is what really scares me. You'd be lucky to fly 1000 yards to the target, take pictures and video of a few strings of shots and make it back. 11 minutes just isn't enough time on a battery.

The new Phantom 3 models are even more stable with even better video and have an extended range of 2000 meters (about 1.25 miles)

Thanks for clarification on those finer points

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Went online today and bought an Apple iPad Mini 2 with Retina Display, A7 processor, and 64GB of memory for top notch performance and ultra clear in flight viewing on the Phantom 3 controller. It mounts right on the flight controller. Can even mount an iPad Air with the 9.7" screen, but I got the iPad mini to keep things a little more compact. Now just have to wait for the battery bundle packs to come out......

 

[dmoran]

Ledd Slinger -

Not sure what your all hoping to accomplish with your drone and Apple miniPad, but for "live viewing" from my experience the bigger the monitor the better. I have had my setup on a 9", 11" 15.7" and 21" and can honestly say for 1000yd target viewing "bigger is better" bar none.

Here is a IBS-1000 target being received on a 15.7" Samsung panel:

Here is the RC receiver, battery pack and cables:

That transmitter & receiver cost me $169, and have used it to 3/4-mile (no doubt would work further yet) with no high-gain.
With a high-gain antennae they claim up to +4-miles.

My 2-Cents
Donovan

 

[Joe R]

Hi guys,
this drone and video thing is interesting.

There is a guy at my range that has a video system that includes software that records the impact of each strike and creates a transparent overlay and numbers the hits so that with each hit you can see the new overlay as well as the previous one. That in effect enables the user to see where each shot goes and their order. He also displays it on a phone or laptop.

Sounds like if the software was adapted for your drone you'd have the ultimate target video system. As usual all of this is pretty cool, but all those features add up and make it pretty costly, for now. On the other hand Donovan's system is economical and functional and here now.

Kindest regards,

Joe

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Pretty sweet setup Donovan. That's along the lines of what I was going to buy. Definitely more cost effective for sure, but not much versatility with a single stationary ground mounted camera. The drone doesn't need a big screen because I can zoom in with the tablets own functions if I want a close up of the video or picture

Started researching the drone idea because I could set up multiple long range targets at various ranges and fly around to view them all. Set up for the drone is much quicker as well. Pull it out of the case and let it rip.

Also planning on using it for other applications such as pre-hunting season scouting in areas I am not familiar with. There are many areas in the mountains that I have often wondered about. They look good on Google Earth, but sometimes when you spend all day to get up to the areas, they turn out to be something quite a bit different than you thought. With the drone, it should save me a lot of leg work by not spending a bunch of valuable scouting and hunting time hiking into areas that don't pan out. Lots of other applications too. Could use it for hunting varmints like coyotes and gophers. If hunting in a spot that is slow, you could launch the drone up to 500 or 1000 feet, fly around and scan the area. Can't do that while hunting big game animals, but it's legal to do that while hunting varmints in Montana. The versatility of the aerial photography and video is very extensive. I'm sure others can come up with numerous other ideas for the drone's applications as well.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Joe R, you can buy the drone I want right now, I'm just waiting for the bundle pack to save a little money on an extra battery. There are also other cheaper Phantom models with built in cameras that would be more than good enough for target viewing. Look up 'DJI' on the internet, the drone I want isn't the only one they make. It's just one of the nicer and more advanced models they make. They make models that are $3K-$4K if you really want to get serious about it

 

[Ggmac]

Dmoran , nice I made mine awhile ago , used all componets from Amazon . Total including batteries and a 7 " monitor is about $160-175 .
It goes to 1000 Chinese meters ,clear sight range . I say Chinese meters as all componets are chinese and I've only tried to 600 yds .

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Ledd Slinger -

You started out in your OP asking opinion for 1000yd Targeting. But now you have pretty much absconded it to multi-target, hunting, scouting, aerial photograph, etc., etc. usages (which does show great potential to all those aspects).

But as to 1000yd target viewing itself, I strongly feel you would be better served with stationary cam transmitting back to the bench and receiving "live feed" and learning something from your POI's, wind reads, accuracy, shooting, group size and scoring.

Have fun with it and make us some video's when you get it !.!.!
Donovan

True. I believe that the stationary camera is probably a superior option for single target viewing. Battery life is much longer and its pretty fail-safe with cinstant on-target viewing.

The drone is just an idea I was cooking up. Thought I might be able to get effective target viewing at long range and still be able to use it for other things. Should be pretty cool just to mess around with if anything. My son will probably end up using it more than I do I've never been one for high tech gadgets and gizmos, but this drone has me pretty excited. I'll be sure to share some videos when I get around to buying it and putting it to use. Take care

 

[BenPerfected]

Donovan,
Now that you have done all the work, it would be great if you would list all the components you would buy today to set up a camera system up to 1000 yd. Buying a drone looks like another journey down the road of "bad habits" 8)
Ben

Ledd Slinger -

Not sure what your all hoping to accomplish with your drone and Apple miniPad, but for "live viewing" from my experience the bigger the monitor the better. I have had my setup on a 9", 11" 15.7" and 21" and can honestly say for 1000yd target viewing "bigger is better" bar none.

Here is a IBS-1000 target being received on a 15.7" Samsung panel:

Here is the RC receiver, battery pack and cables:

That transmitter & receiver cost me $169, and have used it to 3/4-mile (no doubt would work further yet) with no high-gain.
With a high-gain antennae they claim up to +4-miles.

My 2-Cents
Donovan

 

[Killshot]

Donovan,
Now that you have done all the work, it would be great if you would list all the components you would buy today to set up a camera system up to 1000 yd

I'll second that request! Donovan, your setup looks perfect.

(now if only I hadn't taken those two 19" screens to the electronics recycler.... )

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Bigger might be easier see, but my eyes arent old and worn out yet. I still like the compact aspect of the drone idea. One small pelican case thats easy to transport to and from the range and only a fraction of the time to set up a drone vs a camera system.

 

[OIF/OEF]

could you have a small table close to the target...land the drone with camera active while firing?

 

[Ecomeat]

Donovan, Could you please show us some photos of how you set up the camera at the target ? I have started to shoot 1000 yd BR at Belmont Rifle Range here in Qld, Australia where we have vertical sliding, counterweighted target frames protected by a fairly normal "butts" set up.
Your basic fixed system looks like the "ducks guts" to me for cost effective close up view on a good range with under cover benches. I would really like to see whats involved in the safe placement of your camera and transmitting device if its possible, please.
Also is there some way that your monitor can take a snap shot of the screen view, or do you just use a camera/phone when you want to take a record ?
Thank you.

 

[C Valentine]

Went online today and bought an Apple iPad Mini 2 with Retina Display, A7 processor, and 64GB of memory for top notch performance and ultra clear in flight viewing on the Phantom 3 controller. It mounts right on the flight controller. Can even mount an iPad Air with the 9.7" screen, but I got the iPad mini to keep things a little more compact. Now just have to wait for the battery bundle packs to come out......

How can you guys see the screen on an iPad or iPhone when you are outdoors? I can't see squat on mine at the range,especially on a sunny day! Are you using some sort of screen cover or sun screen? If so, what?

 

[Warren Dean]

Bigger might be easier see, but my eyes arent old and worn out yet. I still like the compact aspect of the drone idea. One small pelican case thats easy to transport to and from the range and only a fraction of the time to set up a drone vs a camera system.

That is a great idea. I own a 350 class quadcopter but the range isn't anything near 1000 yards. The ones capable of that kind of range are really expensive....as in 1K plus. Typically the camera is the first signal to weaken at distance versus aircraft control. And many of those use a smartphone as a monitor.

I built a camera system from a home surveillance system with its own monitor. I added a high gain yagi antenna to the camera and have full signal at 800 yards. The receiver is still only running the Omni directional antenna, so if signal strength becomes an issue, I'll put a yagi on the receiver.

I am looking into an HD camera to give me better resolution since the current one is pretty fuzzy up close. No amount of focusing will clear it up to an acceptable level. The camera sits on a photo tripod and the antenna is on its own tripod...both are garage sale items.

All of this runs on a couple of small gel 5AH batteries and will run the camera for over 8 hours. The monitor, with a broken screen, is powered by my laptop and runs at least 4 hours. It is a cheap and pretty effective system that didn't cost much and is pretty versatile.

 

[themayor]

any update on this i really like the idea n would love to see a video of it in action on the range

 

[Ledd Slinger]

No i didnt purchase the drone yet. Been pretty busy so not much time to do much of anything with shooting. Might do it this next spring.

 

[themayor]

i ordered one tonight ill try n let you know what i think

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Nice. Ive seen them in action. One if my friends has one. The picture quality is amazing. Looking forward to hearing what you think