Tablet and FPV screen chest harness review

At the time I started my journey in the world of quadcopters I didn’t have thought about the utility of such a device as this tablet harness.

Later, when I evolved to FPV quadcopters and more intelligent drones, it became clear that I needed something to hang my FPV LCD or Tablet (ground station) on my chest. Mounting my Samsung Galaxy Tab on top of the Phantom 3’s transmitter makes it very heavy. Also, the tablet holder is limited to 9″ models.

Checking the manufacturer’s website, I found out that they produce not just hands-free harnesses for tablets but also selfie sticks and other mounting accessories. They even have a dog harness that allows you to mount a smartphone on your favorite pet :).

The ReadyAction tablet / FPV screen mount is available in two variants (sizes). While the “Regular” is suitable for smaller tablets (6.5″ to 8.5″ – opening height), the “XXL” is suitable for larger tablets (8-1/4″ to 9-3/8″ – opening height). Note: the dimensions do not represent the screen size.

ReadyAction Office tablet chest harness review

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Dave, the inventor of the “READYACTION Office” chest harness for tablets. Although I usually ignore requests to promote Kickstarter projects, I accepted his offer to review his product because I found his email friendly and honest.

Dave immediately dispatched the package, and it arrived from the US in 14 days.

The harness comes in a transparent zipped bag and includes a short product description and instruction guide.

ReadyAction includes in the package a second pare of longer thumbscrews which allows you to mount larger tablets. Basically, those screws make the difference between the “Regular” and “XXL” versions.

ReadyAction Office tablet harness highlights

• Fits most of the popular tablets (with or without case);
• It can be used for FPV screens;
• Chest harness securely and comfortably fits most body types;
• Locks in up or down position;
• By removing the harness can work as a desk stand for tablets;
• Can be used attached to your car seat (for kids to watch cartoons).

The base plate has three mounts. The two side ones are used to attach the tablet holder and the middle one’s utility is an enigma for me. At first impression, I thought that these mounts were compatible with GoPro accessories and I would be able to use the harness as a GoPro chest holder too. Although they adopt the same attaching technique like the GoPro mounts, they are a bit narrower.

To prevent scratching the edges of the tablet, touching parts are lined with some kind of rubber.

The angle of the tablet can be adjusted from vertical to horizontal by releasing two tightening screws (similar to those with GoPro accessories).

Besides the “main straps”, two shorter straps (~20 cm) which offer extra security, are included. They are very useful in the case of heavier tablets / FPV screens. Unfortunately, these extra straps can easily lose the hook. This minor design error can be eliminated if the hooks would be oriented upside instead of downside.

By removing all the harnesses, the ReadyAction Office can be used as a tablet desk stand. I know there are much cheaper and nicer products for this purpose, but in case of an “emergency,” it does the job well.

Tablet chest harness review – First usage

As I just sold my Eachine LCD5802S FPV screen (I need a new one with built-in DVR) I was able to test the harness only with a Samsung 9.4″ Tablet (Galaxy TAB T550).

Usually, I use this tablet together with my Phantom 3 Advanced. As I previously mentioned, the transmitter becomes very heavy with the 450g tablet on top of it.

Everything became much more comfortable using the RA Office tablet harness. If you perform fully autonomous flights, you can enjoy the view while you have a free hand for a cold beer. Unfortunately, in the case of the P3A quadcopter, there is an inconvenience:  the transmitter must be linked with the tablet using a USB cable.

I found the harness also very useful in setting up home surveillance IP cameras. Working on a 4m high ladder, it is very difficult to adjust the angle of the camera with one hand because the other needs to hold the tablet in order to have a real-time view.

When mounting the tablet horizontally, I had to set the mount to the narrowest position. Just for curiosity, I tried to mount it vertically (later format) but it proved to be higher than the maximum opening of the tablet holder.

The harness proved to be very comfortable, you can wear it all day long. When the tablet is unused, you can switch the holder in a vertical position.

I am 180cm and 75kg, and the harness fits perfectly. Thanks to adjustable straps, it also fits for people with more “character”.

Updates on 2/20/2017

I just got an email from David regarding that he solved the hook issue by adding a tiny piece of Velcro.

“We did find a great solution for the straps slipping off the tabs of the tablet holder. That is we stuck a heavy-duty piece of Velcro onto the top of both tabs as pictured below! This prevents the stability straps from coming off the tabs when the harness is stressed by tablets. We shall now include this Velcro on all our tablet products going forward.”