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[Brian H]

Two of the pots adjust the highest and lowest frequency.
The switch adds different 1% resistor combinations to the VP voltage.
What resistors are on the board is determined to which frequencies are allowed for the country in question.

Ch 1 VP=1.6V
Ch 4 VP=4.6V

No crystal. Voltage variable capacitor diode in the oscillator.

The Baseband adjustment takes the 1Vpp Video/Sync from the video sensor board and lowers it to .4 Vpp for the modulator.

[dave w]

No xtal uh?
So do you think they are just using an L-C oscillator to develop their fundamental? Doesn't really matter, the fact that users making the mod to an omni antenna has not lost their video transmission indicate to me that TX freq is stable (continuing the WAG). I'm still looking for that naked antenna pix.

[dave w]

I've never cracked one of the paddles open, but would be interest to know if there's a "Fractal Antenna" plate inside. 

Found a pix.

http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=17716.0

The plate looks solid to me.

[Brian H]

Yes it does.
Some of the construction plans on RC-Cam also seem to show the antenna as a solid plate patch antenna.

http://www.rc-cam.com/index.htm

[dave w]

Yup, I think the Knight was giving too much credit to X10 when thinking X10 might be working with fancy high tech antennas. That would take extra parts and cost a few cents more.   

[Knightrider]

Darn.  The Sad thing was that Chins and I worked over email on that mod before it was posted.  I should have known. 

You are right.  Hi-tec thingies like fractal antennas excite me, and I was giving too much credit to the company.

[tom j]

And why can't x10 make improvements like this it would only result in INCREASED sales, heck I would have bought more cameras if the antenna on the receivers were multi directional.

Tom j.

$0.02
I think X10's original design called for the paddle antenna because their camera transmitters are VERY low power out, and a directional antenna (the paddle) provides signal gain in the direction the paddle faces. Maybe when they decided to get in the video business they didn' invision the Ninja, so they did not contemplate the effects of the pan when the camera is mounted to a Ninja P&T unit. I think us old "RF geezers" has many times scratched our collective heads, wondering "why did they do that".

If me, I would try the router antenna on the video receiver first. Receivers are less sensitive to antenna mismatch that transmitters. Then move on to the camera mods if the receiver mod does not fix your problem. Several regulars have modded their cameras with great results (i.e Dave X10).

Thanks Dave! say why do you think the reception is better just seems like a piece of plastic and wire.Apparently it worked but I'm curious as to why the reception actually improved., And it would be nice if X10  could update thing now and try to improve the reception when you have have multiple cameras it's very difficult to adjust that directional receiver so everything comes in clear.

Tom j.

[dave w]

And it would be nice if X10  could update thing now and try to improve the reception when you have have multiple cameras it's very difficult to adjust that directional receiver so everything comes in clear.
Tom j.

If both camera and receiver paddles were aimed exactly at each other, then I would think the paddles would produce a slightly stronger picture than the "Omni" stick antenna. These paddles at 2.4 GHz *begin* to resemble the directional sensitivities of microwave dishes. Even a few degrees off center will degrade the signal.

As far as X10 switching to omni antennas, Yeah, it would nice, but to change the antenna design would force X10 to go through a new "Type Acceptance" with the FCC. That costs a bunch, so I don't expect to see it unless they come out with a new camera and would have to go through testing for the new design.

[tom j]

And it would be nice if X10  could update thing now and try to improve the reception when you have have multiple cameras it's very difficult to adjust that directional receiver so everything comes in clear.
Tom j.

If both camera and receiver paddles were aimed exactly at each other, then I would think the paddles would produce a slightly stronger picture than the "Omni" stick antenna. These paddles at 2.4 GHz *begin* to resemble the directional sensitivities of microwave dishes. Even a few degrees off center will degrade the signal.

As far as X10 switching to omni antennas, Yeah, it would nice, but to change the antenna design would force X10 to go through a new "Type Acceptance" with the FCC. That costs a bunch, so I don't expect to see it unless they come out with a new camera and would have to go through testing for the new design.

Oh I see I was wondering why they hadn't changed the design, and I agree completely just a minor shift in direction can make a significant difference. Think it would be a worthwhile project if you're using multiple cameras? Thanks

Tom j.

[troll334]

I think we need to put our heads together and build a 2.4GHz yagi.
20dB gain... let's end this problem 
relax, I'm just kiddin'

[dave w]

I think we need to put our heads together and build a 2.4GHz yagi.
20dB gain... let's end this problem 
relax, I'm just kiddin'

Ya know troll....I have a bunch of Roomba's (another story for another day) and at least two ebay vendors have made a nice little cottage industry out of reworking the Roomba brush box to install shielded ball bearings to help prevent dust and hair from gumming up the brush box gear works (the main weak link in the Roomba...a vacuum cleaner who's nemisis is dirt, go figure).  Maybe one of us should consider the "X10 Video Camera Rework Shop"...or team up, after todays snow and tomorrows sub zero cold, I am ready to be your neighbor.

"Have Weller - Will Solder".  (nobody will get that.. I don't know why I said it).   

[HA Dave]

"Have Weller - Will Solder".  (nobody will get that.. I don't know why I said it).   

What? You mean someone might not remember Richard Boone's greatest part as Paladin. Paladin was a gun slinger and his biz card read "Have gun will travel". Also the name of the show. This Video should jog a rusty memory.

And of course Weller is the name [brand] of soldering irons.

[dave w]

What? You mean someone might not remember Richard Boone's greatest part as Paladin. Paladin was a gun slinger and his biz card read "Have gun will travel". Also the name of the show. This Video should jog a rusty memory.

And of course Weller is the name [brand] of soldering irons.

Way cool!! But Dave, we are both dating ourselves as "old geezers". As far as jogging a rusty memory...mine is past rusty...more like petrified.

I pulled this thread way off course, but it was closing anyway.

So who came first, Festus or Chester? 

[Knightrider]

First of all, I'm not a geezer, but I well know "Have Gun Will Travel".  I'm not a fan of the Weller guns for electronics though.

Darn, now how am I going to get that song out of my head?

[HA Dave]

So who came first, Festus or Chester? 

I can't remember when  Dennis Weaver [playing Chester Goode] finally decided to leave the show. But I may have graduated high school by then. Festus was Chesters replacement.