Batboard

We have a Bullard Thermal Imaging System in our main engine.

We have 1 camera that transmits back to a permanent installed TV/VCR with built-in reciever.

We are also using a permanent mount antenna.

According to Bullard, we should be recieving at the truck with that camera 300-350 feet away. Well its only getting about 25-30ft away from the truck and it cuts out. So we put the portable antenna up and tested it same results. To me that rules out the possibility of a bad antenna.

So now we test the reciever with no antenna. Same results as before WITH an antenna. This now tells me that there is a problem with the reciever.

Bullard is telling us our mobile radio antenna is too close to the cameras antenna, but I dont see that even being possible because we get the same results if the radio is off.

Alot of the guys think that the transmitter in the camera is burnt up.

I just dont want to have to pay $$$ for a new camera/transmitter when it is just probably a connector or reciever issue that I could probably fix or have someone else do it for less than a new unit.

Any ideas or history in this??

Thanks...- Nick



*** Edited for spelling and addition ***

The simplest thing would be to check the chassis mount antenna connector on the receiver. It could be broken off the board.

Sounds like either the antenna connection is busted inside the receiver, or the receiver's front end has been blown.

First of all, try another receiver - if nothing else see if you can get ahold of an Icom video scanner, and try that (I don't know what frequency you are sending on - you MIGHT be able to use a normal TV depending upon the frequency).

Secondly, inspect the receiver's antenna connection - it may be busted.

Assuming a second receiver shows a reasonable signal, and the first receiver's antenna connection doesn't look broken, then I'd say you have a blown front end on the first receiver.

You *might* be able to profile the receiver by doing a sensitivity test - if you can get a sig-gen that will make video, use that. Otherwise, take the video transmitter, run it into a 20 dB pad of sufficent power rating, then into a variable attenuator, and then into the receiver. See how many dB you can dial in for a clean picture, and that should give you an idea of how sensitive the receiver is.

If I am remembering correctly the camera transmitters work in the 2Gig range. We have a MSA evolution 4K and it is in that range. We get about 2-300 feet out of it with the receiver and the monitor mounted inside a heavy duty shipping crate.

N2ZPY
BCFD

Don't feel bad, ours done the same thing right out of the box. Whole deal went back to Bullard checked out fine so they said, got it back reinstalled it. All is fine untill a month later we take it out to use it and the think won't focus no matter what the settings. Back to Bullard a second time. Sent it back with a new boot and glass. Still wouldn't focus. Back a third time. Now they are saying it will cost $6500 to fix. WTF. I doubt we will ever make such a poor investment again.

Good! This is all good news. Hopefully all of this will be proof to the equipment officer so he wont go buy a new camera.

I'm hoping that if I take that TV apart I will find a cold solder joint or loose connection on the antenna connector.


Thanks,

Nick