Drone video not working troubleshoot

[hobbyman885]

Hello everyone, I am currently on my first build and ran into some video issues.
Kit: -MAMBA F405 MK2 Betaflight Flight Controller F40 40A 3-6S DSHOT600 FPV Racing Brushless ESC
-JJA-CM1200 1/3 CMOS 1200TVL Mini FPV Camera 2.1mm Lens 16:9 PAL/NTSC Black/Red For RC Drone - Black NTSC
-Eachine TX5258 5.8G 72CH 25/200/500/800mW Switchable FPV Transmitter Support OSD Configuring Smartaudio
When everything is wired correctly and connected to the goggles I get no video through the screen from the camera. When I trouble shoot by soldering the camera wire to the vtx video wire i get video through to the goggles no issues but without the osd settings for the drone showing up (battery, mode etc). Is this an issue with the flight controller that may need replacing or is it a software issue i am unaware of. Thank you for your help!

 

[wafflejock]

Good testing! So next thing I would verify is that the vtx out from FC to the vtx is working or can work (resolder or continuity test between vtx out from FC and video in on vtx). Even with no camera hooked up should see betaflight splash screen and osd settings. Make sure to enable osd in betaflight configuration with your FC hooked up as well there is a toggle there to turn on OSD if not on probably won't get any vtx out from the FC.

The osd option is in the configuration tab of betaflight configurator.

 

[hobbyman885]

Good testing! So next thing I would verify is that the vtx out from FC to the vtx is working or can work (resolder or continuity test between vtx out from FC and video in on vtx). Even with no camera hooked up should see betaflight splash screen and osd settings. Make sure to enable osd in betaflight configuration with your FC hooked up as well there is a toggle there to turn on OSD if not on probably won't get any vtx out from the FC.

The osd option is in the configuration tab of betaflight configurator.

Thank you for your help! Sorry I'm very new to this and don't have a multimeter to check for continuity. I have checked and ensured that the osd option is enabled. Is there anyway i can check the video out tab on the FC works without a multi meter. Surely it must be the tab that is the issue if when the camera and vtx wires are directly soldered i am able to see video? showing that the vtx and camera both work fine

 

[hobbyman885]

Thank you for your help! Sorry I'm very new to this and don't have a multimeter to check for continuity. I have checked and ensured that the osd option is enabled. Is there anyway i can check the video out tab on the FC works without a multi meter. Surely it must be the tab that is the issue if when the camera and vtx wires are directly soldered i am able to see video? showing that the vtx and camera both work fine

Also checking the osd tab was on still didnt show the osd on the goggles screen

 

[wafflejock]

Yah actually I think the video out on FC should still pass through the vid signal even if it isn't overlaying anything would just triple check the video out pin on the FC (make sure right one not something just above or below or whatever typically I've seen vid in right next to vid out but might not be the case). Also did you flash the FC yourself with betaflight or is it as it was from the factory (assuming factory flashed they should have picked the right board variant so pin mapping from mcu to devices and breakout holes like the video out work correctly, if you flashed then could have picked the wrong board variant)... Basically if came without v-out working would contact seller see if they can support or replace, if it is mega store probably better off just exchange or get money back but race day quads or getfpv will actually talk with you and help resolve issues (and they know quads).

Anyhow will confirm my suspicion about vid still passing through and the osd settings sometime later and post some screenshots.

 

[hobbyman885]

Yah actually I think the video out on FC should still pass through the vid signal even if it isn't overlaying anything would just triple check the video out pin on the FC (make sure right one not something just above or below or whatever typically I've seen vid in right next to vid out but might not be the case). Also did you flash the FC yourself with betaflight or is it as it was from the factory (assuming factory flashed they should have picked the right board variant so pin mapping from mcu to devices and breakout holes like the video out work correctly, if you flashed then could have picked the wrong board variant)... Basically if came without v-out working would contact seller see if they can support or replace, if it is mega store probably better off just exchange or get money back but race day quads or getfpv will actually talk with you and help resolve issues (and they know quads).

Anyhow will confirm my suspicion about vid still passing through and the osd settings sometime later and post some screenshots.

I followed the recent Joshua Bardwell video series to set it up and flash it with betaflight 4.2.0. Come to think of it im pretty sure the camera sent video to the goggles before i flashed it. Once i'd wired everything up i wanted to test it and had the video working. I then went and followed through his tutorial and have had the video issue since. Do you think i may have flashed the wrong target?

 

[hobbyman885]

I followed the recent Joshua Bardwell video series to set it up and flash it with betaflight 4.2.0. Come to think of it im pretty sure the camera sent video to the goggles before i flashed it. Once i'd wired everything up i wanted to test it and had the video working. I then went and followed through his tutorial and have had the video issue since. Do you think i may have flashed the wrong target?

reflashing to BF 4.2.1 to the FURYF4OSD target which i believe is the right one still does not get rid of the problem. Doing the same trouble shoot of connecting the camera and vtx wires directly allows the video to show but otherwise does not seem to work

 

[wafflejock]

Gotcha I think there is a follow up step on newer versions of betaflight when flashing to apply some board specific config (think it prompted me on first reboot of the board after flashing). If can't find any info about that extra board specific configuration maybe try getting the firmware version you used when it shipped (can probably contact seller or mfg support and ask what factory version is).

 

[hobbyman885]

Gotcha I think there is a follow up step on newer versions of betaflight when flashing to apply some board specific config (think it prompted me on first reboot of the board after flashing). If can't find any info about that extra board specific configuration maybe try getting the firmware version you used when it shipped (can probably contact seller or mfg support and ask what factory version is).

Good idea I did think this and looked back on BF for the version but couldn't find it so didn't think that was something people did. Will try and contact them and see how it goes

 

[hobbyman885]

Good idea I did think this and looked back on BF for the version but couldn't find it so didn't think that was something people did. Will try and contact them and see how it goes

Bit of an update. Managed to get the factory firmware from the supplier and flashed this on. Problem still occured and again the troubleshoot of connecting the vtx and camera wires together showed video in the goggles. Have ordered a new stack and so will add in the new flight controller when it arrives as i believe the vid tab is broken.