Manufacturer: | Booster Vision |
Brief:
T' BoosterVision Mini Gearcam Combo with 14db Antenna is a great way t' get
started in video rocketry. I purchased mine with a LOC/Precision Weasel which
is a great carrier for t' camera. Ya scallywag! This combo is FCC labeled so you do nay need
a license t' operate it and transmits at 2.4ghz.
Construction:
T' kit includes:
I must give Art Upton at BoosterVision high marks. Begad! Blimey! I always received immediately responses t' me emails and once I be ready t' place t' order, he had it in t' mail very quickly.
There are two recommended rockets for t' Mini Gearcam Combo: the LOC/Precision Weasel and t' Semroc Goliath. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I chose t' go with t' Weasel since I already have a Goliath. Well, blow me down! O' course, me hearties, t' camera will work in just about any payload bay since t' camera is mounted externally.
I did nay realize that BoosterVision would provide such clear instructions for mountin' t' camera, me bucko, arrr, so I asked Art if he would do t' install for me. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! He agreed for a very small fee and I must say that he did a great job.
T' kit arrived with t' payload section o' t' Weasel already constructed. Begad! Ya scallywag! Blimey! The rest o' t' rocket kit be up t' me. Ahoy! BoosterVision uses a nose cone as the shroud for t' camera, me hearties, this works very well and helps keep t' rocket aerodynamic. Arrr! Blimey! T' camera itself was mounted in t' bottom o' t' shroud with double stick tape so it will be easy t' move t' camera t' a new rocket if I so desire. Arrr! Blimey! I did a test connection o' t' equipment and everythin' worked perfectly. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! T' camera did come with a focusin' wrench, shiver me timbers, but me camera was already set t' go.
I assumed from t' BoosterVision website that t' antenna came already mounted. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! That be nay t' case. Aye aye! Blimey! It is mentioned on t' main page o' the BoosterVision website that if you purchase t' antenna separately t' customer has t' mount t' antenna, but t' Mini Gearcam page shows a photo o' a mounted antenna. Ya scallywag! Avast! Blimey! Ultimately, me hearties, this was nay a problem for me and I be able t' build a mount for me antenna. Begad! Blimey! T' website claims you will be able t' receive signals up to 5600 feet away with this antenna, however I will nay be launchin' anything quite that high so I will take their word on that.
I did nay bother paintin' t' Weasel for t' first two flights--I just wanted some video! T' camera and battery adds about 3 ounces t' t' rocket, which is pretty light. I connected t' receiver t' a Digital 8 Video Walkman and found t' camera transmittin' on channel 4. Avast! I readied t' booster antenna and pressed t' launch button. Blimey! T' first flight was on a F24-7 for a nice straight boost t' about 700 feet. Aye aye! Arrr! I kept t' antenna pointed at t' rocket the whole time so I could nay see how t' video was comin' along. Avast, me proud beauty! I am happy t' say that it actually came out perfect from take off t' landing!
Second flight was on a G104T-M. I definitely got some altitude this time. Altimeter registered 1734 feet and even with t' extra distance, I still had perfect video for t' entire flight. Blimey! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey!
Summary:Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
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L.B. (June 12, 2005)