DIY Clean Bluetooth Helmets - 1km+ range - BANDARRA

[@cmendezroca]

Just stumbled on your channel and have been totally loving the tinkering! Amazing work. Keep it up. It’s so fun to watch.

[@Wizmoisa]

Pure definition of what an "engineer" is ;) Well done!

[@AndreBandarra1]

Ahah cheers, I do enjoy tinkering!

[@Bob_just_Bob]

I had seen these in a motorcycle shop and thought about doing this myself. Thanks for trailblazing! I'm going to go forward with this though I don't have a 3-D printer. I'll have to look for someone who could do that for me. Great video!

[@toineurlings]

I did approximately the same. And even have possible upgrades for you: I mounted mine with Velcro so you don't need the tape, which is quite strong but still easily detachable (and you don't have any tape or aggressive adhesive). Furthermore, I taped the mic boom to the speaker (to make it one unit). Than cut open the seam of the earpiece so the mic boom stick out of the front. Sew it back up with a blind stich and it looks factory made! And last but not least, from Ali you can buy Bluetooth transmitters for your radio, which makes it possible to use this during courses with you radio as well. Downside of using that with this intercom unit takes a few tenth of a second to connect and gain priority over the intercom. So I switched for the one without intercom function to reduce this slightly so you won't miss out on the first two words all the time. Now I am adding a comment, is the work on the incollapsible wing still going on?

[@AndreBandarra1]

Thanks for all the tips. Work on uncollapsable is still ongoing and there should be an update soon on what I’ve been up to for the last year or so!

[@leighhoyte6230]

Try swapping the antennae for a omni-directional antennae - it will give you much better and longer all round coverage - no weird angles where the comms drop out. Look at FPV drone antennae - they are 5.8 GHz - maybe a circular polarized antennae at each end will reduce reflected single interference - that said there shouldn't be much large lumps of metal up in the sky to cause reflected signals but it may help on the ground with large metal sheds or hangers to bounce off of.

[@AndreBandarra1]

Should be better for coverage as the pattern is roughly a sphere but if I remember correctly the donut dipoles are higher gain so longer range if inside the donut

[@leighhoyte6230]

I agree that the science suggests longer range from a dipole but In my experience omni beats dipole 100% of the time on range and coverage and 99% of FPV drone pilots agree - see kzbin.info/www/bejne/nITSiXynd9Gab68 or kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6jZho2eqcyLq9E

[@finnmillard6564]

Clever and smartly done, looks spot on.

[@coco_barrientos_uy8160]

Very nice job guys! I will make it soon. Regards from Uruguay.

[@SkidzFPV]

This would be great for team flying. But not for relaying information across larger distances, would still need the 2-meter radio for that.

[@bendoherty3129]

Nice one. Looks like you smashed it. Probably dont need any advice as seems like you figured everything out. But im an arborist, and in our industry we use the same system to communicate. Retro fit motorbike bluetooth comms to our helmets. Obviously you want a helmet rated for paragliding. But there is a helmet called pfanner protos that i know guys use for paramotoring and tree work where there is room to fit the bluetooth module conpletely under the helmet. Best helmet ive ever used for anything.

[@AndreBandarra1]

Thanks for the tip! There are some laws here when it comes to what helmets you can use for pg and ppg but it looks like a really nice helmet with the muffs and everything.

[@t.iapsingh5651]

I should get this for my motorcycle ride

[@ikcalB]

gorgeous work!

[@flywithus211]

Great idea guys 👍

[@christophermiller353]

Australian pilot coming to Portugal next year, can you advise the best time in which months to fly some of the coastal sites ? Where would you stay along the coast to fly?

[@patrickgriffin6485]

Nice work guys!! Very slick, amazing how far tech has come. Looks like a great upgrade, I’d like to do something similar. Have you thought about combining with radio for and a ptt button? My airband radio has built in Bluetooth, would make for a kool addition.

[@AndreBandarra1]

Cheers Patrick! That’s a good idea but I didn’t think of it or wanted to make it complicated for my first attempt but might try it in the future

[@JohnHendos]

The Sena 10R works well with my BT enabled radio. Also connects to my phone so Siri calls can be made. Sena also has a pilot to pilot intercom in close range.

[@kostashellas]

👋 there, this is a realy nice project🤙 few tips if I may Try BT 5.x radio instead of 4.x, the range it covers is x5 more; BLE goes even further. Try US version BT instead of EU, delivers 20mw instead of 13mw. longer range. Try this adhesive PCB 3db antenna, instead of the build in, the range will be icresesed even more, it's also easy and convenient to mount it in curved surfaces my 2c worth of advice, cheers

[@kostashellas]

FXP831.07.0100C.pdf Taoglas adhesive flex-pcb antenna

[@AndreBandarra1]

Wow some really good tips there. Really appreciate it!!! Thanks

[@coco_barrientos_uy8160]

Dear Andre, i´m trying to print the cover but i have problems with the file. I can't open it with Cura. Can you check if the files are ok? Thanks in advance. Gustavo.

[@AndreBandarra1]

They are just standard STLs so they should work fine on any slicer. For support you can join our discord, lots of knowledgable people there. discord.gg/eZyPmzhJaF

[@invertedflow]

This is awesome, good job! Couple of thoughts. Have you tried an omni antenna? From my experience with FPV they usually fair better overall than dipole, though I'm not an RF expert. Even if you don't get as much absolute range I believe the range will still be more than enough and you will be less likely to have issues at weird angles. Another thing, I'd maybe print that in PETG (or even TPU if you fancy a more flexible mount) instead of PLA. In a sunny day, PLA will soften quite a lot (glass transition is only in the 60s) if exposed long enough to the sun. Even if that never happens, you'll likely see degradation from UV in a couple of months if regularly outside. It'll become very brittle with continued exposure and you'll risk easily breaking the buttons for example. Keep up the awesome content! :D

[@AndreBandarra1]

Thanks for the tips! We’ll see how they hold up. Was just a test

[@fwkb2]

Slick! Maybe it's time for me to get a 3D printer again...

[@AndreBandarra1]

Ahah they can be useful. But if you just use it from time to time you can always go to a maker space or library. Think 3D printing spaces are pretty common in the us

[@McGyverPilot]

Im confused by all the github folders listed with no descriptions. Will we need them all, or what? Please clarify. Thanks.

[@AndreBandarra1]

What are you trying to do?

[@McGyverPilot]

@@AndreBandarra1 just build the helmet radio enclosure.

[@AndreBandarra1]

@@McGyverPilot just take the STL files to use in a 3D printer

[@MrJdsenior]

Nothing better than keeping your helmet good and washed! 😛 "After freeing it from the case...it's a bit difficult but .... Yeah, as a fellow engineer I think they call that idiot proof and engineer resistant. :-) VERY little is engineer proof. If you want similar MUCH more nasty problem I had to deal with at one time, I got the joyous assignment to analyze some VERY legacy bridge wire initiators for a target missile. The large capacitors and boards were potted in that nasty high density foam crap they used in the 60s, as that hardware came out of stock for a fielded design (Pershing II, in that case). Yuck. At least I had the sense to offload it on the poor tech after the first one or two. The crap always flows downhill. Also I did get to do a couple of clean sheet designs for that program later (thank god, polishing turds is not my favorite pastime). Not particularly interesting stuff, most of it, but better than "OMG, what idiot did this?" level work. Somebody down the line probably has said or will say the same thing about some of my stuff, if it lasts that long. I'm not totally clueless. One advantage you have putzing around with your own stuff compared to working for some big three (the biggest one, actually, not always a good thing) defense contractor. All that assuming that you don't or haven't worked for a large company, anyway. If you have, you have my utmost sympathy. Just one thought (aren't you lucky). I would be paying a bit of attention to bridging the volume filled by the cushy parts with something hard and that could possibly snap with sharp edges (don't know the material, personally) that could go in search of your brain on a heavy impact from that direction. Maybe a dumb thought, maybe not. One of those other problems with designing, you are the one that has to make stuff work or take the consequences of your oversights. Hopefully that will never even become an aspect of use for this project. More eyes and all that, take it or leave it. Pretty good color matching, caught that, too. Aesthetics should always get a hint of a nod, I think. Boy, are quick CAD capture and 3D printers a boon, or what? We had to walk to school, in the rain and snow, uphill, both directions. You kids have it so easy, blah blah blah. That crap used to drive me nuts, so I pass it down to you for the next generation. I laughed at the "oh stink, the piece of junk won't even transmit through a mountain" comment, paraphrasing for effect, obviously. I love it when a plan comes together. You can almost see the pride beaming for your 'baby'. 🙂 If you don't you might want to consider a "the designer makes no warranty for the operation, suitability, yada yada type disclaimer on your plans. Better safe than sorry, and unscrupulous lawyers can screw you over good. Remember, no good deed goes unpunished.

[@jjouh]

Why not use your phone with airpods and use siri to make hands-free call (in case it hands up). Unlimited calls are free in most countries now.

[@MattnUska]

I don’t have cell signal most places I fly.

[@AndreBandarra1]

Yeah there’s a few complications like that, having to have signal and battery on your phone, and the wind noise etc

[@patrickgriffin6485]

Wind noise is a big one, I use my AirPods on calls and always find the person on the other end struggles to hear me.

[@jjouh]

@@patrickgriffin6485 yes but if you put the earpod below the helmet ear protection (see helmet in video) it should protect from wind noise, also you could dig a hole in the ear protection to let room for the earpod. i have not tested myself...

[@hekamteam]

use baofeng R5 and you can get 30km range

[@AndreBandarra1]

You have to take turns when talking, have to push to talk, and you’re broadcasting your whole conversation to the world on a frequency that in most countries you need a ham license for (and most pilots don’t have)

[@hekamteam]

@@AndreBandarra1 i solder button and ekstand to my gloves and it works FM is licence free in most countries

[@AndreBandarra1]

@@hekamteam what frequency do you use?

[@hekamteam]

@@AndreBandarra1 on baofeng 444.000

[@AndreBandarra1]

@@hekamteam on most countries in europe that frequency is not license free. Paragliding pilots use it under the knowledge they are "breaking" the law, hence it gets used as little as possible

[@alexandredacosta3236]

os teus oculus sao um desastre :)