No, rolling your own video system with a rando CCTV camera plugged into an RF modulator and hand-built amp is exactly what I'm referring to when I say:

"So without an open signal standard and products that use that standard, you would need to roll your own video transmission system. I'm a Ham and I can tell you it's possible, but it's not a compact system, again, especially in the mid-90's timeline.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_television

Now we are starting to need two skill sets: RC modeling and HAM radio Amateur TV expertise to kludge something that might be useful."

Again, I'm not saying you couldn't do this, but it's going to require much effort and a more specialized skillset (along with that nearby Radio Shack you mentioned) than slapping a running camera on a drone and retrieving the footage later.

I'll also point out that there's likely an opportunity cost if you do have the skills to pull this off and raid the Radio Shack for everything you need to do it. A working remote video system has numerous security uses. While it wouldn't eliminate the need to patrol, having a camera or two monitor the most likely route of enemy approach/your cantonment's main or secondary gates/high value stores (armory, food, ammo, etc.) could be highly useful. Also, miniaturization and weight would be much less of an issue with these uses, than with a drone. The UAV, which is likely used only a few hours each day, would need to offer a higher ROI for the use of the video subsystem, than could be obtained otherwise, especially given that the risk entailed in lofting that video system into the sky, as opposed to a static emplacement (where it's much less likely to suffer damage due to catastrophic deceleration - i.e. crashing).

A non-military, hand-built, UAV in the TW2K timeline capable of transmitting video would be very much a rare unicorn indeed for all the reasons cited in this thread (obtaining parts, fuel, EMP effects, expertise, etc.). However, if a Ref feels that having one of those flying around doesn't strain credibility to the breaking point and impact verisimilitude, I say go for it.

Personally, if I wanted an OPFOR or PC group to have a UAV with real-time intelligence capability in the classic TW2K timeline, I'd do it with a military drone, because I believe that's more believable and simpler than the alternative. If I wanted survivors of either NPC or PC persuasion to have access to non-real time intel via UAV, I'd likely do it via an RC airplane.