Can you share the list of everything you used to build this? I’m thinking of making my own.
Florian said:
Can you share the list of everything you used to build this? I’m thinking of making my own.
This isn’t a quick project, and the costs can really stack up depending on what features you want (like cellular bonding, Starlink, or running multiple streams). I had to compromise on some components to keep costs down and still afford to live! Here’s what I used:
- Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro
- Uray encoder
- Peplink BR1 Mini 5G cellular router
- Splitters
- Voltage converters
- 30-amp marine battery
- Inverter/charger
- Mini PC
The networking options are endless and super exciting, but they can be really pricey too.
@West
Thanks a ton for the breakdown .
@West
I’m really curious about the case you used.
Reagan said:
@West
I’m really curious about the case you used.
What exactly is this, and how can I either buy or make one?
Neve said:
What exactly is this, and how can I either buy or make one?
@West
This design is incredible. Great work and good luck with it. Quick question though, is this meant for private streaming, events, or platforms like Twitch?
Neve said:
@West
This design is incredible. Great work and good luck with it. Quick question though, is this meant for private streaming, events, or platforms like Twitch?
It’s for private streaming. I built it as a fun challenge.
How much did this cost you to put together?
Nash said:
How much did this cost you to put together?
If you’re starting from scratch, including tools, it’s about $4-5k. My build cost around $3.5k because I made some mistakes and broke a few things along the way. If I were to do it again, it’d be roughly $2.5k for just the hardware. Adding cellular bonding or a better switcher would push it to about $4k.
The real investment was time, though. I spent countless hours on this, especially trying (and failing) with Raspberry Pi. Windows was just easier. I also spent time modifying the motherboard for a power button I wanted—definitely could’ve planned that better.
@West
If this is unique, you could patent it. With those costs, it sounds like something investors might back. High-end businesses like construction or mining would spend $10-15k easily if it helps management monitor things remotely in real-time. This could be a must-have for them.
@Vic
The unique thing here is the ability to show multiple live views, charge from a normal wall outlet, and work with drones that use HDMI or a phone/tablet. I’ve seen expensive software for handling multiple streams, but they mostly use RTMP, which has more lag. My setup uses SRT for lower latency.
It’s designed to be viewed on a phone or PC from anywhere with internet. So far, it’s working well, and I have ideas for future upgrades.
This is seriously cool. I love the work you’ve done.
This is amazing. My job in news media would definitely be interested in something like this.
Vanya said:
This is amazing. My job in news media would definitely be interested in something like this.
Thanks! I originally built it for emergency services to monitor incidents remotely and securely, even in places with no power, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet. Sadly, most use RTMP and prefer pricey commercial solutions. I wanted a cheaper way to live stream from drones and ended up creating this.
It’s not limited to drones, though—that’s just my passion. I even explored live 360 streaming from drones, but reducing latency without high-end hardware is tricky. It’s possible, but I don’t have the resources to finish it right now.