Multirotor, multicopter and quadcopter discussion - The Drone thread

You will want a minimum of 8 channels but you'll be better off going for 10+

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Then you will want the following assuming you are running a Zenmuse gimbal on your second operator

Gimbal pitch
Gimbal yaw
Gimbal roll
Gimbal mode
Gimble heading reset
Camera start / stop
 
Something to look into then - any recommendations for a decent 10+ channel controller while we're talking about that? The equivalent futaba is around £450 for a 14 channel unit ... Very nice bit of kit though obviously.

We're not going to be using a zenmuse any time soon but have a third party one for a Sony alpha series camera that we'll test with it - don't think my uprated F550 will do it justice.
 
We've got a Futaba 14SG and T8J for the craft and gimbal respectively. You need two people/controllers to do anything decent with the Zenmuse (or similar) gimbals really where you have full 360 movement. It's difficult enough as a dedicated payload operator to get smooth movements, let alone trying to fly at the same time.

Depends what you're doing though, anything like surveying or possible just photography would be a bit easier as you don't need to be so smooth/precise/controlled with the gimbal.
 
I run an FrSky Taranis. 16 channels and the X8-R receivers support S-Bus straight in to the A2.
However, you may want to stick with Futaba so that you can make use of the built in Futaba receiver in the A2. It's cuts down on wiring and complexity but also costs more. It has to be FASST though so your 8J won't work without a separate receiver.

Money no object:
Futaba 14SG - This is a fantastic radio.

Need to save some money
FrSky Taranis + X8R - Build quality isn't as god but still a great radio.

[edit]
There you go. Russ recommends the 14SG too and he should know as he uses one.
[/edit]
 
I would :D. It's £379 at Kings Lynn Model Shop at the moment which is where we got all our gear from, so I'd recommend them too.

Currently on DJI live chat trying to find out various specs for the Phantom 4 to include in our OM; flight controller, engine size/type, rpm etc and it's like trying to get blood out of a stone. Trouble with buying something both new and pre-built!
 
That's a very good price indeed but it's without the receiver which isn't cheap however even with the receiver they are the cheapest I can find for it new - £424 :)

DJI should as you say have a dedicated team for professionals to come to but they're a bit too mass market these days I guess so are more concerned about shifting loads of cheaper phantoms and fewer of the higher end bits of kit.

Wouldn't hurt them to have a datasheet for the phantom that tells you all those things though surely ...
 
Which system do people use for video downlink on a high end UAV? The DJI Lightbridge system is very expensive but I can't really see an alternative that's likely to be as good at a lower price?

Would be tempted by the Lightbright 2 as that is built into a controller so you get two things in one there at least - so gimbal control would be sorted. I really like the DJI flight app with the overlay info it gives you so this would be very tempting.

Only issue is the Lightbridge systems appear to only work with the Zenmuse gimbals and nothing else - would I be right in thinking that?
 
Genoma said:
You should be just be careful, they are like gateway drugs, next thing you know you have 12 quadcopters around you and no money!
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:D

It's here!!! Woop! Try not to lose this one.....just need a massive field to fly in now.

Where do people usually takes theirs? There's tonnes of fields here but naturally don't want to take the Mick and just stand in the middle of people's property :p
 
I'm not 100% but I think our Phantom 4 is arriving today :eek:. Random DPD delivery email, but we order a fair but so could be something else. Senders reference doesn't match our order number but it ends with 'P4' on a separate line.

Hope it is! :D
 
Ooh nice - would be good to get your thoughts on it!

Do you have a specific idea of what you'll be using it for or will if just be for less high end aerial work?

I would really like an Inspire but the added flexibility the Spread wings Series has in adding things on is a key consideration I think.
 
TheOtherOption said:
Ooh nice - would be good to get your thoughts on it!

Do you have a specific idea of what you'll be using it for or will if just be for less high end aerial work?

I would really like an Inspire but the added flexibility the Spread wings Series has in adding things on is a key consideration I think.
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Yeah international work and ease of transportation via air. We've won a big project for a holiday company that will see us all over the place and most countries have reduced restrictions/requirements for craft under 2.5kg. We were looking at the Inspire but it still falls way over that - the P4 is a measly 1380g :eek:.
 
:D

C0Fkjp2.jpg
 
Now that spring is coming around and i'm moving house right next to a nice field/park I think the time is right to build my first quadcopter. I've had a couple of Syma X5c's which I enjoyedb ut broke / lost so I'm familar with flying. Now I would like a 'proper' quadcopter now. I'm after speed and maneuverability rather than a stable platform for recording aerial photography.

I was thinking of getting a kit, and building it myself.

The kit
Transmitter and Receiver
Extra Battery
Battery Charger

How does this look? I would be looking to go FPV in the future.

How much tinkering with my PC would I have to do? I'm happy to do some to learn how to tweak a quadcopter. What do you actually set/change/configure when you connect the quad copter to the PC?
 
almoststew1990 said:
Now that spring is coming around and i'm moving house right next to a nice field/park I think the time is right to build my first quadcopter. I've had a couple of Syma X5c's which I enjoyedb ut broke / lost so I'm familar with flying. Now I would like a 'proper' quadcopter now. I'm after speed and maneuverability rather than a stable platform for recording aerial photography.

I was thinking of getting a kit, and building it myself.

The kit
Transmitter and Receiver
Extra Battery
Battery Charger

How does this look? I would be looking to go FPV in the future.

How much tinkering with my PC would I have to do? I'm happy to do some to learn how to tweak a quadcopter. What do you actually set/change/configure when you connect the quad copter to the PC?
Click to expand...

My understanding is you'll need to programme what everything does basically, what channel does what etc etc....but guessing you might be able to apply a pre-configured ROM of sorts? Either way, looking forward to your replies! Also, make a build log if you can :)
 
Hnnnng flew my replacement Quad today, missed it. Just need to get more air time!

Also ordered a Mobius cam to put on it, will see how that goes.
 
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