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T-Bone225
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Need a recommendation to input video to Pi 2

Tue Mar 22, 2016 1:09 am

Since there is no direct path of inputting video to RPi, I am wondering what the alternatives are? What would also be the best currently available option?
I heard there are some experimental boards which do input Analog or HDMI when connected into CSI port of RPi too. Just not sure of the current state.

My project is Drone with FPV functionality.

1. I am considering to create a long range system.
2. Video quality on the receiving end shouldn't be a problem to me, I will look on the receiving video through 5 / 6 inch display on the RPi #2

See the attachment
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Last edited by T-Bone225 on Tue Mar 22, 2016 1:25 pm, edited 4 times in total.
"It's not the hardware that is slow, it's lazy and effeminate programmers! Remember back in the days when hardware resources were limited, but systems still worked snappy enough?"

ghans
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Re: Need a recommendation to input video to Pi 2

Tue Mar 22, 2016 7:20 am

Can you use WiFi instead your exisiting RF setup ?


ghans
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T-Bone225
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Re: Need a recommendation to input video to Pi 2

Tue Mar 22, 2016 12:34 pm

ghans wrote:Can you use WiFi instead your exisiting RF setup ?


ghans
No, I am considering making a system with long range for Video and Data Channel (at least 1 KM) in mind with the ability to swap video sender and receiver with 1.3 Ghz ones when needed to go even further.
"It's not the hardware that is slow, it's lazy and effeminate programmers! Remember back in the days when hardware resources were limited, but systems still worked snappy enough?"

fruitoftheloom
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Re: Need a recommendation to input video to Pi 2

Tue Mar 22, 2016 1:04 pm

T-Bone225 wrote:
ghans wrote:Can you use WiFi instead your exisiting RF setup ?


ghans
No, I am considering making a system with long range for Video and Data Channel (at least 1 KM) in mind with the ability to swap video sender and receiver with 1.3 Ghz ones when needed to go even further.
Composite Out is limited to NTSC 480lines or PAL 576lines, not good resolution for video: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_video

?? Composite Input https://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Easycap ??

HDMi Senders appear expensive !!!!!
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T-Bone225
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Re: Need a recommendation to input video to Pi 2

Tue Mar 22, 2016 1:21 pm

fruitoftheloom wrote: Composite Out is limited to NTSC 480lines or PAL 576lines, not good resolution for video: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_video
It's alright, I will be looking through 5 / 6 inch display, not TV (It's FPV for a drone) :D
fruitoftheloom wrote: ?? Composite Input https://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/Easycap ??
Thanks, I will check it out
fruitoftheloom wrote: HDMi Senders appear expensive !!!!!
Which ones are you having in mind?
But I guess that won't be required, as I said, it's not a big TV which is my display.
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PiGraham
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Re: Need a recommendation to input video to Pi 2

Tue Mar 22, 2016 1:43 pm

Watch out for latency.

skspurling
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Re: Need a recommendation to input video to Pi 2

Tue Mar 22, 2016 1:52 pm

I played with an EasyCap a while back. It's okay. I think I got it working with the pi fairly easily, as it's a V4L device. There's a little latency, but not too bad. Just watch the USB commitment, as storage and Wifi can make it start dropping frames fairly quickly. It can also be obtained for a reasonable price on eBay. (my primary guage for purchasing decisions ;-) )

I'm interested in this thread, as it would be nice to bypass the USB and use the camera port for video input... or audio input... or anything that might be analog and needing input when not using the camera module.... Would that be possible? I have not investigated the details of that port and what it has to do to work the camera module, so I'm asking more from the frame of can it be done?

fruitoftheloom
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Re: Need a recommendation to input video to Pi 2

Tue Mar 22, 2016 2:09 pm

skspurling wrote:I played with an EasyCap a while back. It's okay. I think I got it working with the pi fairly easily, as it's a V4L device. There's a little latency, but not too bad. Just watch the USB commitment, as storage and Wifi can make it start dropping frames fairly quickly. It can also be obtained for a reasonable price on eBay. (my primary guage for purchasing decisions ;-) )

I'm interested in this thread, as it would be nice to bypass the USB and use the camera port for video input... or audio input... or anything that might be analog and needing input when not using the camera module.... Would that be possible? I have not investigated the details of that port and what it has to do to work the camera module, so I'm asking more from the frame of can it be done?
Did you miss this post in your searches ??? viewtopic.php?f=38&t=120702
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T-Bone225
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Re: Need a recommendation to input video to Pi 2

Tue Mar 22, 2016 2:20 pm

skspurling wrote: I'm interested in his thread, as it would be nice to bypass the USB and use the camera port for video input... or audio input... or anything that might be analog and needing input when not using the camera module.... Would that be possible? I have not investigated the details of that port and what it has to do to work the camera module, so I'm asking more from the frame of can it be done?
From what I ve seen is, you can input HDMI via CSI camera port on RPi

Option #1
B101 HDMI to CSI-2 Bridge
Image
http://www.auvidea.eu/index.php/theme-s ... 32-06/b101

Just that it costs 70 Euros (70 MOTHER.... No swearing, trying to stop... it's even 80+ when not on sale)
That's like 3 brand new Raspberry Pi 3's

Option #2
TVP5150 board (based on Texas Instruments TVP5150AM1) to input analog video via CSI
Image

Ideally, this is actually about what I need, as I will not be inputing digital signal to my RPi anyways, just that I am not sure it will work with RPi as this particular board is made for Virt2real
Last edited by T-Bone225 on Thu Mar 24, 2016 2:04 am, edited 2 times in total.
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skspurling
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Re: Need a recommendation to input video to Pi 2

Wed Mar 23, 2016 2:23 pm

I like that last board, but can't find much on it. Also, Alibaba has it listing for $99. That's nuts.
Another thing, the components look to all be in the sub $10 area retail. If, say for instance, Spark Fun Ada fruit or Seeed Studio had a CSI-2 connected composite video input board in the $30 range, it might sell very well. I can get the little surface mount chip for $5 off ebay, but then I have to have some kind of pick-n-place SMD reflow manufacturing set up to try playing with it.

It would also be nice if the Pi camera had an audio in... It would be nice if there was a good audio in option that didn't involve the over used USB port, or a $100 sound card with questionable drivers. I need to stop whining. Sorry.

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T-Bone225
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Re: Need a recommendation to input video to Pi 2

Thu Mar 24, 2016 2:11 am

skspurling wrote: I can get the little surface mount chip for $5 off ebay, but then I have to have some kind of pick-n-place SMD reflow manufacturing set up to try playing with it.
Just buy a sockets for chips like these in any electronics store, sockets themselves are a lot easier to solder to custom boards. After you done just insert your chip into sockets.
SMD resistors don't have to be SMDs, you can get around with regular striped ones, just of a smaller size.

But if you like tiny and your hands are steady enough, get soldering tweezers.
skspurling wrote: It would also be nice if the Pi camera had an audio in... It would be nice if there was a good audio in option that didn't involve the over used USB port, or a $100 sound card with questionable drivers.
Weird that they at all stuck AV into an audio jack... Not sensible really, better would be with separate AV out.... and maybe some day AV and HDMI in. They could use mini HDMI or mini Display port to not sacrifice the sizes of the board.
"It's not the hardware that is slow, it's lazy and effeminate programmers! Remember back in the days when hardware resources were limited, but systems still worked snappy enough?"

henninghov
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Re: Need a recommendation to input video to Pi 2

Wed Jun 10, 2020 1:16 pm

@T-Bone225 did you find a solution for your project. I am looking at the same as your Option #2 but I have not been able to find a complete board.

fruitoftheloom
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Re: Need a recommendation to input video to Pi 2

Wed Jun 10, 2020 2:12 pm

henninghov wrote:
Wed Jun 10, 2020 1:16 pm
@T-Bone225 did you find a solution for your project. I am looking at the same as your Option #2 but I have not been able to find a complete board.

Seems like you are requesting help from a User who has been absent for 4 years:

Joined:Tue Mar 15, 2016 3:12 am
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Probably best as so much has changed in 4 years to start a new post !
Rather than negativity think outside the box !
RPi 4B 4GB (SSD Boot)..
Asus ChromeBox 3 Celeron is my other computer...

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