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QUADIFYRC Quadcopter reviews

Skyzone-Eachine Cobra X Goggles review: Box goggles I'd Actually use

4/2/2021

8 Comments

 
Working with Bangood's Eachine brand, Skyzone have release a new range of box goggles; The Cobra S and Cobra X which differ only in resolution (800 x 480 and 1280 x 720 respectively). In this review I take a close look at the Eachine Skyzone Cobra X goggles and show you why I think they are head and shoulders above any other current box goggle
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Let's get the Eachine thing out of the way first. This is simply a Banggood House Brand - they are just marketing and nothing to do with the manufacture. Manufacture is 100% up to Skyzone. Their brand is also on the line here and they won't release a rubbish product to mar the excellent name they have at present off the back of their excellent SKY03O goggles (reviewed here) and their stunning new SKY04X goggles.

Box goggles have traditionally been the realm of the beginner - Big and bulky with frankly ugly designs that were awkward to transport but they did have an advantage in that they had one massive screen. My first goggle were the Hobbyking Quanam Cyclops V1. They were a pain to carry, were heavy, looked ridiculous and were fairly uncomfortable but not since I have started using the DJI FPV goggles have I had such an immersive experience thanks the the large screen. The other benefit is that you can often wear prescription glasses with box goggles.
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These were my first box goggle. Had a great screen but thank goodness we've come a way since then 
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The Eachine EV800D has been probably the best box goggle for the last 4 or 5 years.
Given the benefit of the huge singe screen (which is cheaper to make than 2 small high res screens in binocular goggles) I'm surprised a premium box goggle hasn't been released sooner. In fact the 4+ year old Eachine EV800D is still considered to be the best option even though user interface, reliability and receiver performance are badly dated.
This is where the Skyzone Eachine Cobra S and X come in - a premium box goggle with all of the features that are usually reserved for much more expensive binocular goggles. Enough preamble, let's crack in to it.

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Diatone Roma F4 LR REview and Diatone's attention to detail

18/1/2021

1 Comment

 
The Diatone Roma f4 LR is the most recent full release in the new category of 4 inch micro long range quadcopters following on from releases by Flywoo, Iflight, GepRC and Eachine. It is available in a version with the DJI Caddx Vista and a cheaper version with analogue video Basic specs are similar to the others but I'll get into the detail in this review which separates the good from the great.
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The 4 inch micro long range market is well established now with a solid Formula that has been developed by the very clever Dave Cledon (his youtube channel is here). In this review I am looking at Diatone's offering - the Roma F4 LR of which mine is equipped with the DJI-Caddx vista and Nebula V2 camera although most findings will be applicable to the analogue version as well. Diatone have always had great attention to detail including a solid tune (as I found recently with the larger Roma F5 here) so keen to see how this translates on the F4 LR.

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The best Budget FPV Goggle strap is only $8

4/1/2021

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Banggood have recently listed a new budget goggle strap that offers a nice wide 1.5 inch (38mm) band that is suprisingly well made and comfy yet only costs $8. Read on for the full review
Update 5 Jan 2021: Originally this strap was listed at $5 but has gone up to $8 apparently due to shipping costs? Apologies if some of my notes still mention the $5 price point. Use code BGAFF10OFF to get the price down a little.
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For some weird reason there has always been some sort of mystery around premium goggle straps and people have not flinched when dropping $15-$25 on a glorified piece of elastic that holds your goggles to your head. Don't get me wrong, they massively improve comfort but I just don't see where they are worth that kind of money. Exceptions to this are the iflight DJI goggle straps I recently reviewed here which include a new buckle and the Pyrodrone straps which are more fairly priced at $6 but largely limited to the United States.

Now there is a new option that ships internationally via Banggood and they are only $8. Like the other 'premium' options they have a 1 inch (25mm) mounting strap that tapers out to 1.5 inches (38mm) to decrease pressure on your head while moving around less. Terrible name, great product:
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​Head Strap Headset Wearing Band 38mm Width for DJI Fatshark FPV Goggles

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EACHINE SHADOW Fiend 4 inch long range Setup, review + Crossfire [Solved]

15/12/2020

24 Comments

 
The Eachine Shadow Fiend is a lightweight 4 inch quadcopter designed for long range flights. This version I have reviewed comes with the CADDX vista which is for the DJI HD FPV system. It is also available with the CADDX Nebula and analogue versions.
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Like with all products they make, the Eachine brand is never the first to invent or innovate a category but they are more of a "me too brand" where they look to provide a comparable product to the market leader at a lower price. I'll be very clear here and say that Eachine is a brand only and not a manufacturer. Thus they can have very good products and very poor product depending on which manufacturer is used. Make no mistake though, this category was made possible by the development work completed by Dave C and then picked up with his blessing by Flywoo. Check out Dave C's excellent channel Youtube, I have been a long time fan.

The Eachine Shadow Fiend is a 4 in long range lightweight quadcopter designed for endurance and effciciency rather than power for racing or freestyle and is heavily inspired but the Flywoo Explorer 4 LR, the Iflight Chimaera LR 4 and the Diatone Roma F4. All are based around a lightweight deadcat or squashed x frame, lightweight electronics, efficient 1404 motors that range from 2750 - 3500kv with lightweight 4 inch biblade props. Additionally all are available in digital FPV and analogue versions as you can see below:
At time of writing I have a 15% discount code for the digital versions of the Eachine Shadow Fiend 4" LR for the first 15 people making the Nebula version $238 and the Vista version $255 - only $100 more that the Vista itself. Code and links in the conclusion at the end.
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Eachine Shadow Fiend Analogue $154 at time of writing
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Flywoo Explorer LR 4 Analogue $159 at time of writing
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Iflight Chimera4 LR Analogue $179 at time of writing
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Diatone Roma F4 LR Analogue $169 at time of writing
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Eachine Shadow Fiend Digital HD Vista $280 at time of writing ($260 for nebula V2)
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Flywoo Explorer LR 4 Digital HD Vista version $319 at time of writing
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​Iflight Chimera4 LR Digital HD Nebula v2 version $299 at time of writing
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DIATONE Roma F4 LR Digital Nebula V2 version $279 at time of writing
I think this is a wonderful category because long range flight was previously limited by large, heavy and expensive 7 inch rigs which although lovely to fly, can be very expensive to lose on a failed long range run. Yes these smaller rigs are more susceptible to wind more than their larger and more powerful brothers but the lower cost and the bind and fly nature of these 4 inch version has popularized this area of FPV that was previously a little mysterious and hard to attain.

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JHEMCU GHF420AIO Review: Probably time to stop buying 20mm stacks now for micros

27/11/2020

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The JHEMCU GHF420AIO is an All In One (AIO) board that combines a F405 flight controller with a 20A BLHeli_S ESC that is specced to handle 2-6s. A board like this will allow you to greatly simplify and lighten builds with less space required and this is exactly what I have done to improve my 3 inch Flex RC komori.
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JHEMCU is not a catchy brand name but they did do themselves proud by releasing the first AIO board with 25.5mm mount (whoop boards) that were truly reliable, namely the GHF411AIO and GHF405AIO which were successfully used to power quads up to 5 inch. They've built on this success by making and releasing more products, including the GHF420AIO as I'm reviewing here. 20mm mount boards have had little attention since the rise and rise of the whoop board but they are still highly relevant in 3 and 4 inch quads where it is still the most common mounting pattern. It's not the first time there has been an AIO 20mm board - The original HGLRC Zeus was released 2 years ago but this was plagued with faults, and was expensive meaning even a single burnt ESC (which was common on these) meant you $60 spend was down the drain. Well the good news is with JHEMCU here the cost is down to $35 before discounts applied and quality is well up.

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HappyModel Crux3 Review and Setup: Way over 6 minutes flight no sweat

12/11/2020

2 Comments

 
The Happymodel Crux3 is an ultralight 3 inch micro quadcopter capable of running 2s and 1s batteries. It ships with multiple on board and external receiver options including FRSKY, DSM and now TBS crossfire as well. 
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Happymodel have been quiet recently with their own brand so it is good to see them with a release again in a evolution of the ultralight micro class. This started with the Sailfly-x and Larva-x which were both in the 2.5 inch / 65mm class. The Crux3 steps up to a full 3 inch blade and uses all of their past learnings on making things lightweight in what I feel is more of a finished package. 

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Budget Cinewhoop from Tyro79 / CLOUD 149 Build, TUNE and Review:

29/10/2020

3 Comments

 
The Eachine Tyro79 is a low cost FPV drone with 3 inch propellers which is sold in kit form to be made up by the user. The price point and decent performance has meant this has been very popular, my Tyro79 build, setup, review article and subsequent ultimate upgrade guide have been some of my most popular articles to date. Ever since the craze of cinewhoop 3 inch ducted quadcopters had started though (like the Eachine CVATAR I reviewed here) I've thought the Tyro79 would make a great donor for a budget build, but I wasn't expecting the result to be quite so good. Spoiler: It flies better than the much more expensive Eachine Cvatar
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Build Components
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Eachine Tyro79 Kit
 So the goal here was to create a cheap and easily accessible cinewhoop. Rather than going piece by piece I instead decided to use the Eachine Tyro79 kit as a starting point because is so cheap. I strictly remembered the included 1607 2800kv motors being oversized and under kv'd from my first tyro79 build so thought they would be perfect for a cinewhoop build. Avoiding the tyro79 frame is not a bad move either 😅. They Tyro79 can typically be had for $70-$85 UPDATE: I have a working coupon code at time of writing: BGAFF10OFF to get it for $73
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Reptile Cloud 149 Frame
For the frame I've chosen the classic Reptile Cloud 149 because I really like that the ducts are injection moulded rather than printed which should make for better efficiency. The Cloud 149 frame typically goes for $25-$30. Note I've avoided the Full Reptile Cloud 149 BNF because I don't rate the motor spec (1407 4000kv) for a cinewhoop. UPDATE: I've been given an exclusive discount code for this: BG149FRAME to get it for $28
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Foxeer Razer Micro Cam
This means that all up $95-$115 will be enough to get you cinewhooping however I'd probably recommend a camera upgrade to something cheap like the Foxeer Razer Micro at $17 because the stock camera is STILL awful in anything but perfect conditions.
Let's get on to the build! Click to embiggen pics for more detail

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Diatone Roma F5 Review: The best out of the box 5 inch I've flown

23/10/2020

2 Comments

 
The Roma F5 is a new 5 inch freestyle quadcopter from longtime quad maker Diatone. Diatone have launched with a number of configurations that differ mostly by video system:
  • Diatone Roma F5 with analogue video in 4s or 6s motor kv
  • Diatone Roma F5 lite with lower cost camera and F4 flight controller in 4s only
  • Diatone Rome F5 with DJI Air Unit
  • Diatone Roma F5 with DJI Caddx Vista Unit
In this review I will cover the Diatone Roma F5 (analogue) with 6s but findings are mostly applicable across the range. 
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It's been way too long since I last covered a Diatone quad, 2 years in fact since I looked at the GTR249+ here, a very well put together 2.5 inch micro. With the Roma F5 they have developed and all new frame, all new motors and VTX and ESC/FC combo under the Diatone Mamba Brand. They have gone top shelf with the camera on the analogue version too, the Runcam Phoenix 2 being one of the best currently available. I'm glad that Diatone and the other premium manufacturers are focusing on freestyle oriented ready to fly rigs rather than racing rigs as I think this is where the market is - Those who are genuinely interested in racing will tend to build them up from scratch to get the exact feel they want. Freestyle rigs on the other hand a more forgiving - for the most part frames, motors and other trends have remained more stationary so you know it won't date so quickly.


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FUS X111Pro Cinewhoop review and setup

1/10/2020

3 Comments

 
The FUS X111 Pro is a fully ducted micro 2.5 inch quadcopter capable of carrying a small HD camera for safe and stead HD recording. It differs to other products in the market by being considerably lighter and cheaper. Presently it retails for $99 on Banggood which is substantially less than other cinewhoops and codes can often be found on my Coupons and Discounts Page for further discounts
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After being pleasantly surprised by the value and performance of the $85 FUS Spartan V3 (review here) I was keen to try out their lightweight take on a cinewhoop - the X111Pro. Unlike typical 3 inch cinewhoop options like the Eachine CVATAR I reviewed here the X11pro uses an all in one ESC and FC board and smaller 1106 motors paired with smaller 2.5 inch prop in a much lighter frame, The hope is that this will be quieter and more efficient that the 3 inch cinewhoops where these are common complaints
A Closer look at the specs
  • JHEMCU GHF411AIO 20A AIO board - This looks to be the same highly-regarded  20A board as used on the FUS spartan V3 but with the USB port configured to point up meaning no USB right angle adaptor required 
  • 25/100/200mW IRC tramp controlled VTX - small but suitable size for this quad.
  • FUS 1106 3800KV motors - nice low kV motors to get efficient flight out of 3s and 4s sized batteries. Would have preferred to be a little wider and lower like a 1204 or 1304 for more efficiency but should be fine.
  • Runcam nano 2 - Good, budget nano sized cam that does the job well without fuss or expense.
  • RGB LED - Actually this is a big and bright LED panel and is very bright even during the day. Fully addressable
  • Gemfan 2540 props - I know these work well without ducts but let's see how they go with the X111pro ducts here
  • Dimensions 155mm*173mm*38mm - Pretty compact for a Cinewhoop
Hardware setup
The FUS X111Pro does not come with a receiver so you'll need to add your own. I chose to use the reliable FRSKY XM+ receiver but of course others are compatible as well. See below for how I installed. Click any image to embiggen
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8 screws to remove the lightweight top plate. Nice the see the brass threaded inserts in the ducts.
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Pads for 5v, ground and SBUS are pre tinned for me!
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Plenty of room to fit my FRSKY Xm+ receiver with clack heatshrink
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Top plate back on, ready for action
And more information on the brief but useful instructions included here:

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Transmitter Shootout: Radiomaster tx16s vs TBS tango 2 vs Jumper T8SG Vs FRSKY XLite

14/9/2020

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In this shootout I'll be using my opinion to compare some of the most popular radios on the market to an incumbent and a dark horse. I'll give you some insight to what drives my opinion so you can see why I've made the decision I have. Specifically I'll be looking at:
  • Radiomaster TX16s (Hall gimbal edition)
  • TBS Tango 2 (Standard edition)
  • Jumper T8SG (Hall gimbal edition)
  • FRSKY Xlite
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Personally radios, goggles and chargers are not something I replace regularly. Since they are not subjected to the "unexpected landings" that our quads are they tend to last longer, especially if you but the right product. I've had the Xlite for nearly 2 years (reviewed here) and it has been the only controller I've used over the whole time. As a reviewer with access to all of the new stuff this is an age for me and I don't think I've had any piece of gear longer than this. Prior to this I used the Taranis QX7s which was a great controller but just not portable enough for me due to its size. Without me rambling too much I'm trying to say if you find the right controller for you based on your needs then it should last you a LONG time. In this shootout I'll look at the characteristics, benefits and limitations of these four controllers to help you understand what might be important to you. First let's start with a quick overview of the controllers I'm comparing

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Eachine CVATAR Cinewhoop Review

7/9/2020

14 Comments

 
The Eachine CVATAR is the first true Cinewhoop to fall under the Eachine Brand. A Cinewhoop is a larger ducted quadcopter which is safer around people and objects thanks to shrouding of the propellers and soft foam padding which allows it to bump off objects without damage to the quad or object. It is available in 4s and 6s version which differ only in motor KV. The Eachine CVATAR is available exclusively from Banggood here: Eachine CVATAR ​3 Inch Cinewhoop Duct FPV Racing Drone
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No doubt there has been an explosion in the popularity of Cinewhoops because of the kind of footage you can capture in HD - slower, smoother and more stable akin to a gimballed camera but without the limitations. The CVATAR follows the increasingly common format of 3 inch ducted cinewhoop in a very versatile package with mounting options for all the popular HD options including compact session-style cameras, full size go pro 6, 7, 8 cameras and the necessary parts for securely mounting the full DJI air unit. For this review well have a closer look at the specs, the setup of the quad and then the performance with the recommendation conclusions last.
Specification breakdown
For my review I've chosen the 6s version over the 4s as I have preference the versatility that lower 6s motors offer. Motor kV is the ONLY difference between the versions
  • 20mm F7 Flight controller 2-6s with barometer. F7 is the latest processor size and is well future proofed plus it is inbuilt UART inversion - no separate pads for SBUS required
  • ​20mm 35A BLHeli_32 2-6s ESC Plenty of current overhead here and BLHeli_32 means rpm filtering is supported natively
  • TXC 0/25/200/600/800mW vtx Looking closely it looks like Eachine have used the same manufacturer for this VTX as the Eachine TX805 i.e. AKK which make excellent VTXs. Plenty of power options up to 800mW on this one
  • Runcam 2 Nano FPV Cam Cost effective lightweight cam that has been proven to work well.
  • 1507 2400kv motors I like the low kV option that gives you lots of choice with batteries. Tall stator offers a little more high rpm power than I think is necessary but they do look well made with the 1 piece bell and flux ring to stop magnets slipping.
  • Gemfan 3 inch cinewhoop props. These are specifically designed for cinewhoop ducts and supposedly offer very good life in this application
  • RHCP RP-SMA VTX antenna. UGH! why RP-SMA when SMA is the accepted standard. I swapped to SMA since I used LHCP antennas. Fine if you use RHCP though
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1507 2400kv motors on on the 6s version have a single piece bell and look to be well made.
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Stock antenna is nice and sturdy but annoyingly it runs the less common RP-SMA connector. I've changed mine since these photos with a cheap MMCX to SMA adaptor.
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I'd have preferred injection moulded ducts but know they require large MOQs. These are PLA and a spare in included.

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FUS SPARTAN V3 Review: Everything you need to know about this budget toothpick micro

28/8/2020

2 Comments

 
The FUS Spartan V3 is the first fully assembled quadcopter from FUS. It is a toothpick style micro with AIO FC/ESC and larger than normal 1104 5400kV motors. Most noticeably it has a VERY low price - just $85 before any discounts are applied (read on for those). In this review we will take a close look at components and the build quality. I'll share my recommended ESC and betaflight tune including VTX tables and of course review flight performance on 2s and 3s batteries including DVR. I'll also recommend a better set of propellers than the stock ones they are delivered with plus other cheap or free improvements.
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Breaking down the specifications piece by piece
All of the components used are off the shelf parts meaning replacing or upgrading is a very straightforward affair. Below are all the parts that make up this assembled quad:
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JHEMCU 20A AIO FC/ESC. Whether by good luck or by good planning, FUS have ended up with one of the most reliable AIO boards on the market the will easily power this quad on 2-4s. Can't have asked for a better unit here.
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DYS BE1104 motors. These have been around a long time, in fact they were the very first motors I ever reviewed on this site. The key weakness of these motors were the awful wires but since this is pre-soldered, not so much an issue.
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Runcam Nano 2 Camera. Best budget cam around. There is no available menu but this keeps it simple and keeps the cost down. Really nice image as you can see in my DVR below.
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FE200T 25/100/200MW VTX. This little VTX is better that I though now that I have the right VTX table. Check out the DVR below running on just 25mW
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FUS Spartan V3 Frame. I'm a little worried about the long term durability but the thin arm design allows for excellent airflow off the props. 3d print designs are very well thought out and nicely printed. Not available separately at time of writing, I'll link when it is.
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Gemfan 65mm biblade props. Nice props but no good for the weight of this quad. I recommend the Gemfan flash 2540 but more on that below.
As you can imagine at this price there are NO extras - just a budget battery strap, the one set of props and the instructions. Good, I''ll be replacing the strap and props anyway so glad resource wasn't wasted there. Now I come to think of it, "spartan" is an great description when it comes to describing the contents of the package. Sorry, dad joke (not really sorry).
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T-MOTOR FT5 PNP REVIEW PART 2: Performance and recommendations

21/7/2020

1 Comment

 
If you haven't yet seen the first part of my review of the new T-motor FT5 5 inch freestyle quad, I looked at the specification of the components used, the build quality and betaflight setup here:

T-MOTOR FT5 PNP REVIEW PART 1: FIRST LOOK AND BETAFLIGHT SETUP

This means that for this second part of the review I can focus in on flight performance and any recommendations. For the purpose of flight performance I'll break this down into FPV performance, performance on 6s and performance on 4s
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FPV Performance
The Caddx Ratel has been around a little while and has been hugely popular. This is the second commercial FPV camera made with the massive 1 1/8" CMOS sensor that makes for an image that is pushing the quality limits of the NTSC/PAL protocols for analogue FPV. This is my first chance to use one and I've been impressed. It is comparable to the Runcam Micro Eagle but more compact, lighter and at a much more reasonable price. Caddx camera QA has been benefiting from their partnership with DJI as well, presumably from an upgrade to their manufacturing facility. My guess is they have a better, cleaner manufacturing error that keeps the dust off their sensors. The unit included with the FT5 has a 2.1mm lens which offers a fairly mid-range field of view. It's a really nice camera from the goggles especially since I have been flying micro quads a lot recently but of course the DVR (below) never really does it justice.

Because this frame is made for analogue and digital I don't love how the camera is mounted here, the location feels like a bit of an afterthought. Sure there is no frame in view but it does sit proud of the frame and is more prone to damage depending of course on how you fly.
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Top down shot showing how the lens clears the frame and could put it in harm's way
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Exaggerated at this angle but lens sits proud of the front standoffs although TPU "chin" offers protection
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See the clear TPU spacer that allows the 20mm wide DJI cam to mount natively

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T-Motor FT5 PNP Review Part 1: First look and betaflight setup

25/6/2020

2 Comments

 
The new T-motor FT5 PNP is a new 5 inch freestyle drone from T-motor. 
​
It is available in the following options:
Analogue video with 4s 2306 2400kv motors
Analogue video with 5s/6s 2207.5 1950kv motors
Digital video with 2306 motors in 4s 1750kv and 2550kv options

I've chosen to review the most powerful of these options - the Analogue 6s with the largest 2207.5 motors in 1950kv. In this part of the review I'll look at the components in the build, the quality of the build and will comment on the default betaflight settings. I'm currently test flying and once I have at least a dozen packs under my belt will start the main review.
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Specifications:
A look at the specs and links to the individual product page for more details:
  • Version: PNP ( Without Receiver)
  • Drone Wheelbase: 225mm (frame here)
  • Arm Thickness: 5mm 
  • Flight Controller: T-Motor F4 OSD Flight Controller
  • Brushless Motor: T-Motor P2207.5 2207.5 1750KV 6S Motor
  • Brushless ESC: T-Motor P50A 50A BLheli_32 4In1 ESC
  • Propeller: T5143 5.1X4.3 3-Blade Propeller
  • FPV Transmitter: RUSH TANK 5.8G 48CH 25/200/500/800mW VTX Smart Audio
  • FPV Camera: Caddx Ratel 1200TVL 2.1mm Lens Camera
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The best way I have of summarising the specs is that it does the basics really well and this is not to damn it by faint praise. Other than the removable top deck for easy electronic access there is no F7 processor, no bluetooth access, no 4k HD recording on board. What you get instead is:
  • Some of the best motors in the game in the most popular size (2207.5) and KV (1950) at present
  • Full sized 50A ESC and FC that although not special on paper have a strong heritage of reliability and performance. BLHeli_32 is a good option for native RPM filtering and there are more than enough UARTS for anything you want to attach to the FC
  • The Caddx Ratel is currently one of the most sought after FPV cameras
  • The Rush Tank is currently the most sought after VTX maker (for good reason)
  • The Frame is very conventional in design but excellent in execution with carbon in correct layout and very lightly chamfered edges, Countersunk screws are only needed where they do not impact frame strength
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Check out the class touch with branding on the special standoff that allows for the top plate section access
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2207.5 motors give you legitimate options for 4s, 5s and 6s
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The rush tank is arguable the best VTX available at present

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Zeez Racing Combo F7 60A review

25/5/2020

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The Zeez Racing Combo is a F7 flight control and 4x60A BLHeli_32 combo that includes 4 plug and play discrete, addressable LED strips. It is in the standard 30.5mm mount size meaning it will fit 5 to 8 inch quadcopters. It can be considered a premium set based on the retail price of just over $100 but the cleverness in design and execution in quality make this stand out for me. 
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Zeez is a relatively new company in the FPV scene based out of Italy that looks to be made up of a group of racing and freestyle pilots. At this stage they have a race frame available plus an ambitious flight control-ESC combo which I'm reviewing here. Individual components are also available:
  • F7 flight controller
  • 60A 4 in 1 ESC
  • LED light strips x 4


Design has been completed in Italy by this team based on their needs. We can see immediately that this bottom up design has made for a lot clever tricks to make building and setup cleaner and more efficient with a heap of features. Before we go into that let's look at the core specs and discuss the benefits to the average punter:
Flight controller
​F7 CPU
Up to 8s voltage input (FC only)
MPU6000 gyro
128MB blackbox flash
6 UARTS available
LC filtered VTX
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Check out that USB-C port! ❤️
ESC
60a x 4 channels
3-6s voltage input
BLHeli_32 firmware
​Big ol' aluminium heatsink

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The ESC is a serious piece of gear, those pads are never gunna lift

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Emax Eco 1404 brushless micro motor review

22/5/2020

5 Comments

 
The Emax Eco 1404 is a newly released lightweight brushless micro motor and is available in both 3700kV and 6000kV variants. It follows on from the successful Emax Eco 2207 and 2306 5" motors which have redefined the budget motor offering with a much higher build quality. I have been using the 3700kv variant on a lightweight 3 inch HD build with battery sizes ranging from 2-4s and my review is below.
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Build objective
The objective of this particular build is a light, stable 3 inch HD platform that has exceptional control so that I can fly like a regular quad or fly around objects in close proximity at low-medium speed. Basically a cinewhoop without limitations of duct performance or weight. The lightweight 1404 fits this brief well with the large diameter to height ratio making for great control in the lower rev ranges. The smaller magnets on the eco series means the motors are not a notchy so smoother and much more effcient at the cost of a bit of top end speed.
I quickly need to disclose my bias for Emax ECO motors as I've had a really good experience with the larger ECO 2306 motors that I use on my 5 inch sweet spot build that I built here and reviewed here. After a year of use and abuse the motors are still performing well. They are not the most powerful but are light, smooth, efficient, reliable and very durable which are excellent characteristics for a freestyle quadcopter. Building on this foundation Emax have released the eco as a micro series in 1407, 1106 and 1404 sizes. I leapt at the chance to order the 1404 as this is my ideal lightweight 3 inch size for efficiency and smoothness. 1407 is a good size for a 'power' 3 inch build (or even a 4 inch build like this one) but not what I was wanting here. 1106 are better suited for a power 2.5 inch build. I chose 3700kv as a good motors speed for 4s that could run more sedately on 2s. I have no interest in 6000kv in a motor this size as you are limited to 2s batteries which don't suit me.
Motor details are below:

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Rush Tiny Tank review - best nano VTX available?

12/5/2020

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Introduction
The Rush Tiny Tank is a nano class VTX that has power output options of 0, 25, 100, 200 and 350mW output. It uses smart audio for parameter adjustment via betaflight OSD and has lock on technology that supposedly helps the signal. Perhaps more importantly it is very, very small and very light (1.6g). I used this VTX for my recent ultralight 3" TP3 build which I documented here.
Quick update: at time of writing there is a coupon code to get this VTX for  $17 with code BGRush12 The code expires 31 May 2020 or when they run out of stock
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Background
Rush FPV as a brand is relatively new but made a huge splash with their premium full-sized tank VTX. Many found these vtxs as good if not better than the best-in-market TBS unify VTXs but as the name suggests, more robust. They followed the initial Rush Tank with the Rush race (similar but no mounting points and recently the rush mini 20mm mount. Their latest version is tiny tank reviewed here and at 1.6g is designed for micro builds or even racers (where 350mw is much more than you are allowed to run anyway). For me it is a perfect size for a toothpick build where keeping it light is the build. Due to it's small size install was simple and I was glad to see it offers multiple wiring options as below - mounted in line with camera or separately to the flight controller.
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NamelessRC AIO412T whoop & Toothpick board quick review

8/5/2020

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The NamelessRC AIO412T is an All-In-One flight controller and ESC. It has 25.5 x 25.5 mounting which is the common standard for whoop and toothpick boards. It includes and F4(11) flight controller and 12a x 4 BLHeli_S ESC set. This particular board is optimised for custom and toothpick build with larger motor and component pads, a horizontal USB port and upgraded 12A ESC FETs
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This board was originally a NamelessRC collaboration with KababFPV and he looks to have given some thoughtful feedback on pad layout for custom builds. For this reason I chose this board for my custom TP3 build here. Specifications from the manufacturer are:

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GepRC GR1204 1204 5000kv brushless motor quick review

7/5/2020

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The GepRC GR1204 is a 1204 sized motor (12mm wide, 04mm high stator) suitable for micro quadcopters that is available in 5000kv. Specifically this stator size and kV has been identified as an ideal size to build an ultralight 3 inch build like a TP3. I bought mine from Banggood here to use for a ultralight 3" TP3 build that I've reviewed and discussed here.
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The GR1204 uses modern design and manufacturing so that weight is just 3.8g per motor (no wire). The stator is 1mm wider than early 11 series motors which offers slightly better torque and efficiency which is needed to better control a light 3 inch propeller. They are in a gold colour that looks better than the stock image suggest - they are beautiful in real life. Mounting for propeller is a standard 1.5mm shaft with 2 x m2 screws for a t-mount.

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TP3 ultralight 3" micro quad build and review: Lockdown edition

3/5/2020

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The "toothpick" series of ultra lightweight quad was made popular by Bob Roogi (Kabab FPV). all original parts can be found on his site here: https://fpvcycle.com/ After enjoying the original 65mm toothpick builds I was very excited to build a  larger, more powerful 3 inch "TP3" version but I've never been able to buy all the parts owing to the popularity.

So I've decided to spec my own TP3 build inspired by his specifications. Since this quad is essenially a sum of components I will do breakout reviews linked in this master review which ties it all together,
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Here are the parts I've chosen
Frame - ZJWRC 115X
This frame has a truly unforgettable name and a waste of time canopy but the baseplate is TOUGH and the hardware is actually useful. At $14 the price is ok and it is always in stock. See more details in my frame review here. Premium alternatives include the original TP3, racer-x twig, and more but for me if a frame does the basics well I don't bother with something expensive. I'm pleased to say this frame does do the basics well. If you are looking for something cheaper and lighter consider the Eachine Twig frame at $8 but personally I prefer the stiffness of the ZJWRC 115x frame I used here.
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ZJWRC 115x frame at Banggood
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Racer-x twig
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TP3

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ORT DUAL SHIELD PRO 5.8GHZ ANTENNA Review

20/4/2020

7 Comments

 
The ORT dual shield pro 5.8GHz antenna is unique take on goggle diversity antennas that allow for maximum portability and have surprisingly good performance. It consistents of two circular polarised patch antennas on a 3d printed mount that allows the antennas to attach directly to your goggles. They are available fairly widely but I bought from Banggood here because of their free and reliable international shipping since I don't live in the US. Although none of the components are ground breaking the way it all comes together is an awesome solution for getting up and flying quickly with little to no compromise. They are available in both left and right hand circular polarisation. Read on for more...
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Absolute convenience
Most of the flying I do these days, for one reason or another is a quick 3-4 batteries, flying out of a grab bag that contains my small x-lite transmitter (review), Skyzone Sky03O goggles (review), batteries and only the very most essential field tools. This means my gear is always ready to go and I can fly new spots with just the smallest bit of spare time. When I get to a spot I can turn on my transmitter, strap on and plug in my battery but then I need to choose two antenna and screw them in place in the correct alignment (and repeat in reverse at the end of the session). Although this seems like a pointless moan it takes up valuable time I could be in the air and puts strain and wear on SMA connectors attached to my goggles.
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My old antenna setup - foxeer lollipop 3 and menaceRC bandicoot for micros (menaceRC invader for CP)
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The ORT dual shield pro setup on my Skyzone Sky03O goggles

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Eachine Lal5 Upgraded to 6 inch: Review

14/1/2020

10 Comments

 
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Recently I had a first look at the Eachine Lal5 - a new 5 inch freestlye quadcopter from Eachine with built in 4k recording and massive 6s 2507 motors. At the time it flew well but I felt it was overpowered (and overweight) for a 5 inch quad. There were a few minor build issues that also affected the quality of video transmission. Shortly after release, Eachine announced that initial models should have had nylon screws rather than steel for the Caddx tarsier stack to fix the video issues and recommended this upgrade on the early models. They also released 6 and 7 inch arms based on popular demand. For this review I've chosen to show you how to complete these upgrades and what you can expect from performance when you do. Here's a teaser - it is much improved
Correcting the video feed
The video feed on the Lal5 suffers 2 issues: firstly the steel screws on the stack in the early models create electrical noise in the video feed and secondly the low profile antenna is easily obstrcted by the frame and battery.
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Eachine suggested that the metal screws holding the tarsier boards to the frame were the cause of poor video. Seems unlikely but worth a try
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Stock VTX antenna is easily obstructed by the top mounted battery. Not good when you are a long way out and turning for home that you loose video signal...

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ISDT 608AC operation and Review: The very best charger to start out with

9/12/2019

34 Comments

 
Introduction
The ISDT 608AC Smart Charger with Detachable Power Supply is a new entry-level LiPo battery charger from ISDT, the most consistently high quality charger manufacturer in the business. It has the capability of taking power supply from both AC (mains) and DC (battery) power which is usually a feature of the more expensive chargers and also offers a first in that the AC adaptor is a modular detachable unit. This is a full review and operation overview of the ISDT 608AC charger as it relates to use for quadcopters.
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Lipo charging background
Charging is perhaps the least exciting topic in the world of quads but very important; safe, reliable chargers are hugely under-appreciated... until you have an accident. If you are new to the hobby you'll probably want to spend the minimum on the charger possible which tends to point you in the direction of DC chargers that require an additional power adaptor. I remember there being a bit of a minefield of choosing the charger but more so the adaptor that you needed to use; do you run it of mains power? What voltage? What power rating? What plug size? After all this you still don't know the quality of the power pack and I have certainly seen some dodgy ones. When you have a dodgy power pack pulling upwards of 5 amps (and often a lot more) it is a distinct risk.

Until now, if you wanted a charger with a built in AC power supply you have needed to spend more, Like the Hota/Hobbymate D6 Pro Duo (reviewed here) or the ISDT D2 which are both well upwards of $100. The new ISDT 608AC is a DC charger at heart with a very nice slide on modular DC adapter that comes included. Since ISDT is perhaps the best charger manufacturer out there, the implication is that this power supply is of the same high quality and just as importantly you can guarantee it is correctly rated.
What's included?, build and dimensions
Captioned pictures do the best job here. As usual, click to embiggen.
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Just the basics here - charger, AC adaptor (attached), figure 8 power lead and rubber feet
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Clean, minimalistic packaging that is almost apple-like in quality
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If the included power cable is wrong for your country, figure 8 power cables are cheap and widely available

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RacerStar AirA 2508 1200Kv motor review: an excellent choice for 6 or 7 inch quads

20/11/2019

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Introduction
​The Racerstar AirA 2508 motor is a brushless quadcopter motor sold under the racerstar brand but made by T-motor. This motor has a broad stator and tall height matched with a relatively low kV making it an ideal option for 6 or 7 inch quadcopters running 5-6s.
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Up until recently there were few large stator motors available, typically the largest we saw on long range 7 inch rigs were 2208 (MB Primo). In fact for this reason I chose 2306 when I built my long range rig here. Although light, the disadvantage with the relatively small stator given the large and heavy propeller it needed to spin was poor control over the prop and a tapering off of power in the high throttle range along with a large increase in current draw (with no output benefit). This resulted in the quad feeling sluggish which I thought was just the accepted norm for a 7 inch quad.

Now there are a lot more larger stator motors around with wids of 24mm right up to 28mm and heights of between 6 and 8mm that are much better suited to 6 and 7 inch propellers. I chose to try the Racerstar AirA motors on my 7 inch build because they have a great price to quality ratio.
Build Quality
The "Air" sub brand from t-motor usually signalled a lighter weight price competitive motor and it is the same here. Retail on this is $20 each or $70 for 4 although they've been as low as $12 on sale. For this you get excellent t-motor build quality that cannot be compared to regular racerstar motors but not the titanium shaft, single strand windings or super strong 7075 aluminium bell of the much more expensive motors. I don't find these especially important though and many tend to agree which is why we see 'budget' lines of premium motor makers (like the Emax Eco) doing so well in the market. Motors for 6 and 7 inch quads especially don't need these super strong materials because they don't tend to be crashed as much given they are typically used for long range flights rather than freestyle. Oh, big 9mm bearings mean smooth operation and good durability too.
Summary: Great quality to value ratio, similar to the Emax ECO in value proposition.
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Size of the motors looks a lot more appropriate on this 7 inch quad now. Testing done with the big (and heavy) dalprop t7056c
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Hollow steel shaft and multistrand windings
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Hex screw to hold the shaft in place

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Eachine Novice-i RTF KIT Review Part 1: Specs, build and custom pids / filters

1/11/2019

5 Comments

 
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The Eachine Novice I is a brushless 2s capable ducted micro FPV quadcopter that includes a basic transmitter, FPV goggles and batteries making it a genuine Ready To Fly (RTF) kit option for $145-$165 retail. It is available exclusively from Banggood here. The lightweight ducted frame makes it safe to fly inside and around people but it still has enough power to fly outdoors. Since it can run on 1 battery (1s) or 2 batteries (2s) you can fly it slow or fast. It will compete directly with the Emax Tinyhawk RTF which is 1s capable only and is $156 with only 1 battery. I've reviewed the Emax Tinyhawk here if you wish to compare.
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A closer look at the components:
Below are all the components, click through for more details or if you need to purchase spares
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Lightweight 1102 13500KV Brushless Motor
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lightweight durable frame
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lightweight canopy
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Nano-X F4 Pro AIO Flight Controller with integrated ESCs and frsky receiver
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Eachine Novice-I  Case Bag
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Runcam Nano 2 2.1mm Lens FPV Camera
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Nano 5.8Ghz 25/100/200mW  VTX
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​WT8 2.4Ghz 8CH Radio Transmitter

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