On-board video transmitter-receiver

Garden Railroading
1

I have a “PlaneTalk” Airborne Video System that I put in front of my Connie. It produced great video and made you feel as if you were riding on the front of the engine. Unfortunately I somehow broke it this weekend. I called the number for tech support only to find the phone number wasn’t any good and I couldn’t find the company on the internet either. I’m thinking they are out of business so …

Does anyone have any experience with on-board video and if so what system do you recommend? I want to put a TV on my front porch and let people watch the train run in real time.

Thanks,

Rex

2

Hi Rex Have you tried getting it repaired? if you go that route use a small company that does that sort of work. hope this helps

3

Hi Two Tone,

Not sure who could work on it up here in the mountains especially without any diagrams or anything else to go on. We do have a TV repair shop that I might give a try. If we were down in Phoenix then I think there may be someone who could work on it. Right now I’m thinking replacement.

Rex

4

Was this the phone number / info that did not work?

http://www.aboutus.org/PlaneTalk.com

Greg

5

Yes and the phone number (714-650-5004) when dialed either never answers or is answered by a non-english speaking lady. I’ve tried it several times. I’;ve also tried the link you sent. It describes the correct business but doesn’t go there when clicked on. Maybe they are out of business because one site says the web address is for sale for $1288.

Are there any other systems that you would recommend?

6

Have a look at the “wireless” home security systems in Hardware at Walmart or Home Depot & Lowes. Cameras are about the size of 5 “9v Batteries” but not too hard to take out of the case and reposition the parts as needed. Receiver can plug into VCR, your Web site, TV with ease.Standard receiver will take 2 camers, “delux” reciver 4 cameras. Son-in-law put one inside his “Air Soft” battle wagon for steering and another lined up to the “main gun” to aim where he shoots the plastic BB’s. Range is about 300 ft for GOOD pictures.

7

Tom,

That’s a fantastic idea. I’m going to check it out. I’ll let you know how it works.

Greg,

I left a message at the PlaneTalk site on Tuesday. Still no reply.

Rex

8

Our Home Depot didn’t have any security systems. The Walmart did but the smallest set they had was dual camera for $180. Went to Lowes a found a GE system with one camera, one receiver, and no monitor for $99. It didn’t come with battery - just the AC transformer so I made up a 9 volt harness with a standard 9 volt battery. It works great. I had the whole neighborhood over watching the TV we setup on our front porch. Many thanks Tom for your great idea. I don’t have a VCR up here in the mountains so I won’t be able to record anything for awhile. I will take some pictures of this low cost system and post them tomorrow.

Rex

9

Find the neighborhood 9~12 year old computer geek and he can patch into your comouter for digital recording.

10

Here are the pictures of the system I bought

This is the box

This shows the receiver and the TV

This shows the camera in the flat car

Rex

11

Here are some more pictures. We mounted the TV up on the porch railing -

We ordered the rechargable battery pack which lasts much longer

The whole setup has become a major hit with our daily visitors.

Rex

12

Just a quick hint of some of the “unused features” of your new system. I talked about son-in-law using his laptop instead of tv. Check the GE website, you should be able to find software that will allow split screen on the laptop, for recording, (I know you oly use one camrea) and then select which screen to send to TV via HDMI output from laptop. Son-in-law sends both video feeds to an external hard drive to share with his RC friends.

13

Here’s the one we use on the club’s layout, http://www.choochoocam.com/ , a little bit pricey compared to some others but picture quality is fantastic and you don’t have to rely on batteries.