rifleshooter

Hey kids! I'm a target shooter (hence the name) who's tired of peering through expensive optics to see a mirage-filled, wobbly target that only shows visible bullet holes when the sun hits just right. I've been looking for a target cam - using wireless video. Now before all you old hands tell me the horrors of wireless video, please understand that I can't exactly unspool 1000 m of wire every time I run out to the range - it just isn't a viable solution for the way we shoot out there. I have found some 2 and 3 watt 2.4 gHz 4-channel TX/RCVRs on eBay. I am planning on buying patch antennas to force some directionality/discipline on the solution. I will purchase a small camera and fit it with as long a lens as possible (some are available with as much as a 25 mm lens), and fashion a V-shaped housing made of AR-500 steel to protect the transmitter, camera, and lithium ion power supply. This assembly will be mounted on a tripod; I will use a light extensible mast on which I will mount the patch antenna (probably 3 m high), fastening that assembly to the tripod - this keeps the antenna out of the line of fire. The tripod/camera/transmitter/antenna unit will be placed 3-6 m in front of the target and left or right of line of fire. Back at the firing line (anywhere from 100 m to 600 m) I will place the antenna, receiver, and a cheap 7"- 10" LCD monitor or DVD with aux in, powered by another Li-ion battery; alternatively I could go Red-Yellow-White into USB to port into my laptop to record and review each bullet hit. Some notes: I've been reading this forum since yesterday and have detected that wireless analog is as popular as Richard Nixon in 1975. My range is in Eastern Colorado. The nearest structure is over 2 miles away. There is an oil tank between shooting lanes that has a Yagi-type antenna which is probably TX/RCVing data, but I couldn't guess the band. Hopefully it's not 2.4 gHz! The Yagi is pointed up-range at a 45-degree angle away from the line. I'm budget limited - $450 US TOPS. I'm aware that the FedGov will become unhappy with me if I don't license this solution. I'm pretty handy with tools and electronic stuff. I won't be manufacturing this solution for anyone else but me, and I only need one camera, but wouldn't mind another if this system works out. So what am I missing here? How can I avoid painful and expensive screwups?

I agree. Wireless isn't always effective, although its improving. You are also going to need a power source down range to hook all of these electronics to. It may just be a better solution to buy a spotting scope instead. Simple, Effective, and proven. The power source downrange is the least of my worries - I can power the lot with a 4800 mAh Li-ion battery combo for hours. The thing is, if the image is ****e, then I will have blown $450 on a non-viable solution instead of a scope, which at least works most days. I guess the best solution would be some sort of an IP-based deal, with PTZ cam. Unfortunately, there's no internet service deliverable via cell at the range, so there'd be no way to control the solution.