Drone/quadcopter dilemma
Discussion
Apologies for being a first world problem.
I have just purchased a Syma X5SC for £30. I have been flying it for about 30 minutes in total around a rather small garden so haven't experienced what is like in an open environment.
I really like the idea of quads and have been watching lots of youtube videos of the DJI Phantom 3 and therefore been checking the best deals for them.
Is it a bit premature to be thinking of spending over £600 on one of these, should I fly the cheaper one for a while?
Is a Phantom a different flying experience, all together? (Couldn't resist the airplane joke with that line).
I feel I am being sold by the videos which always show them flying over beautiful scenery rather than a damp field which is probably where I will fly it. But, on the other hand, it does look fun.
I have just purchased a Syma X5SC for £30. I have been flying it for about 30 minutes in total around a rather small garden so haven't experienced what is like in an open environment.
I really like the idea of quads and have been watching lots of youtube videos of the DJI Phantom 3 and therefore been checking the best deals for them.
Is it a bit premature to be thinking of spending over £600 on one of these, should I fly the cheaper one for a while?
Is a Phantom a different flying experience, all together? (Couldn't resist the airplane joke with that line).
I feel I am being sold by the videos which always show them flying over beautiful scenery rather than a damp field which is probably where I will fly it. But, on the other hand, it does look fun.
I have a Phantom 3 standard.
Having GPS means it is extremely easy to fly. You can set things like course lock so no matter which way round the quad is facing, if you steer it left, it'll go left and visa versa. If you want to take a break, just let go of the controls and the quad will hover completely stationary, even in very strong wind. Battery life is around 18-20 minutes. The camera is excellent.
It's the best toy I've ever bought - great fun and a very different flying experience to any non-GPS equipped quad. Cost me £400.
Having GPS means it is extremely easy to fly. You can set things like course lock so no matter which way round the quad is facing, if you steer it left, it'll go left and visa versa. If you want to take a break, just let go of the controls and the quad will hover completely stationary, even in very strong wind. Battery life is around 18-20 minutes. The camera is excellent.
It's the best toy I've ever bought - great fun and a very different flying experience to any non-GPS equipped quad. Cost me £400.
gr1340 said:
Apologies for being a first world problem.
I have just purchased a Syma X5SC for £30. I have been flying it for about 30 minutes in total around a rather small garden so haven't experienced what is like in an open environment.
I really like the idea of quads and have been watching lots of youtube videos of the DJI Phantom 3 and therefore been checking the best deals for them.
Is it a bit premature to be thinking of spending over £600 on one of these, should I fly the cheaper one for a while?
Is a Phantom a different flying experience, all together? (Couldn't resist the airplane joke with that line).
I feel I am being sold by the videos which always show them flying over beautiful scenery rather than a damp field which is probably where I will fly it. But, on the other hand, it does look fun.
Buy a load of extra batteries for the Syma and get used to flying it indoors. It makes you pay attention more. It's a great way to start and cheap to replace if it goes wrong I have just purchased a Syma X5SC for £30. I have been flying it for about 30 minutes in total around a rather small garden so haven't experienced what is like in an open environment.
I really like the idea of quads and have been watching lots of youtube videos of the DJI Phantom 3 and therefore been checking the best deals for them.
Is it a bit premature to be thinking of spending over £600 on one of these, should I fly the cheaper one for a while?
Is a Phantom a different flying experience, all together? (Couldn't resist the airplane joke with that line).
I feel I am being sold by the videos which always show them flying over beautiful scenery rather than a damp field which is probably where I will fly it. But, on the other hand, it does look fun.
Be warned, it gets expensive very quickly if you start looking for bigger and better ones but it's a great hobby. Just adhere to the rules and you won't go wrong.
Agree with Legly. The above modes on the Phantom are great, but that is when GPS is working correctly, on the odd day of flying during heavy solar activity and it loses its fix and reverts to atti mode (similar to how your syma feels to fly) you're screwed unless you've learnt to fly without.
Another thing that's really worth mastering is reverse orientation and side on flying too. Spin it so its facing you rather than flying tail in and fly it round like that, figure 8s, circuits etc. The other one that's handy once you've mastered all that is, in somewhere big and open fly away from yourself a bit so you get to a point where you cant tell easily which way its facing if you turned it. Preferably with a friend also keeping an eye out spin it round for a second or two whilst looking away then look back and figure out which way it's facing.
I usually push right the right stick so I'm banking right, if it goes left I know I'm facing myself, if it gets smaller I know the left side is facing me etc etc.
Really worth it for that odd occasion GPS cocks up! There are many many flyaways reported with Phantoms, some might be a complete melt down from the brain and nothing they can do, the vast majority will be people relying on GPS then when GPS fails and it try's to fly off not switching to atti and taking over themselves.
I've had an attempted flyaway once (not with a phantom) what should happen when the GPS signal is weak is the brain should switch back to Atti, however, on that rare occasion they cock up and think they've got a better fix than they have, mine suddenly decided to leave at 30mp h and got it back thanks to the training above.
Another thing that's really worth mastering is reverse orientation and side on flying too. Spin it so its facing you rather than flying tail in and fly it round like that, figure 8s, circuits etc. The other one that's handy once you've mastered all that is, in somewhere big and open fly away from yourself a bit so you get to a point where you cant tell easily which way its facing if you turned it. Preferably with a friend also keeping an eye out spin it round for a second or two whilst looking away then look back and figure out which way it's facing.
I usually push right the right stick so I'm banking right, if it goes left I know I'm facing myself, if it gets smaller I know the left side is facing me etc etc.
Really worth it for that odd occasion GPS cocks up! There are many many flyaways reported with Phantoms, some might be a complete melt down from the brain and nothing they can do, the vast majority will be people relying on GPS then when GPS fails and it try's to fly off not switching to atti and taking over themselves.
I've had an attempted flyaway once (not with a phantom) what should happen when the GPS signal is weak is the brain should switch back to Atti, however, on that rare occasion they cock up and think they've got a better fix than they have, mine suddenly decided to leave at 30mp h and got it back thanks to the training above.
leggly said:
gr1340 said:
Apologies for being a first world problem.
I have just purchased a Syma X5SC for £30. I have been flying it for about 30 minutes in total around a rather small garden so haven't experienced what is like in an open environment.
I really like the idea of quads and have been watching lots of youtube videos of the DJI Phantom 3 and therefore been checking the best deals for them.
Is it a bit premature to be thinking of spending over £600 on one of these, should I fly the cheaper one for a while?
Is a Phantom a different flying experience, all together? (Couldn't resist the airplane joke with that line).
I feel I am being sold by the videos which always show them flying over beautiful scenery rather than a damp field which is probably where I will fly it. But, on the other hand, it does look fun.
Buy a load of extra batteries for the Syma and get used to flying it indoors. It makes you pay attention more. It's a great way to start and cheap to replace if it goes wrong I have just purchased a Syma X5SC for £30. I have been flying it for about 30 minutes in total around a rather small garden so haven't experienced what is like in an open environment.
I really like the idea of quads and have been watching lots of youtube videos of the DJI Phantom 3 and therefore been checking the best deals for them.
Is it a bit premature to be thinking of spending over £600 on one of these, should I fly the cheaper one for a while?
Is a Phantom a different flying experience, all together? (Couldn't resist the airplane joke with that line).
I feel I am being sold by the videos which always show them flying over beautiful scenery rather than a damp field which is probably where I will fly it. But, on the other hand, it does look fun.
Be warned, it gets expensive very quickly if you start looking for bigger and better ones but it's a great hobby. Just adhere to the rules and you won't go wrong.gr1340 said:
Apologies for being a first world problem.
I have just purchased a Syma X5SC for £30. I have been flying it for about 30 minutes in total around a rather small garden so haven't experienced what is like in an open environment.
I really like the idea of quads and have been watching lots of youtube videos of the DJI Phantom 3 and therefore been checking the best deals for them.
Is it a bit premature to be thinking of spending over £600 on one of these, should I fly the cheaper one for a while?
Is a Phantom a different flying experience, all together? (Couldn't resist the airplane joke with that line).
I feel I am being sold by the videos which always show them flying over beautiful scenery rather than a damp field which is probably where I will fly it. But, on the other hand, it does look fun.
I've got a Phantom 2 with gimbal mount Go Pro Hero 3 camera, flytrex telemetry/tracking, black Pearl LCD monitor, sun shade, spare battery, spare props and two waterproof cases that I'm thinking of selling, so if you are interested in upgrading to a phantom, PM me if you're interested in buying it.I have just purchased a Syma X5SC for £30. I have been flying it for about 30 minutes in total around a rather small garden so haven't experienced what is like in an open environment.
I really like the idea of quads and have been watching lots of youtube videos of the DJI Phantom 3 and therefore been checking the best deals for them.
Is it a bit premature to be thinking of spending over £600 on one of these, should I fly the cheaper one for a while?
Is a Phantom a different flying experience, all together? (Couldn't resist the airplane joke with that line).
I feel I am being sold by the videos which always show them flying over beautiful scenery rather than a damp field which is probably where I will fly it. But, on the other hand, it does look fun.
Edited by mattdaniels on Friday 13th May 09:51
Edited by mattdaniels on Friday 13th May 09:52
I'm thinking of building one to be honest. Plenty of people use a wooden chassis as I'm not keen on spending loads on a fancy CF chassis as I know I'm going to crash it and want to be able to repair quickly. Then you can upgrade and change bits as you find out what aspects you like. Plenty of opensource software seems to be available to do all the features the RTF ones have. I Think you could get a good basic package together for just over £100 in parts. Then add barometers, gps, FPV, gimbals as you see fit and learn.
Buzz word said:
I'm thinking of building one to be honest. Plenty of people use a wooden chassis as I'm not keen on spending loads on a fancy CF chassis as I know I'm going to crash it and want to be able to repair quickly. Then you can upgrade and change bits as you find out what aspects you like. Plenty of opensource software seems to be available to do all the features the RTF ones have. I Think you could get a good basic package together for just over £100 in parts. Then add barometers, gps, FPV, gimbals as you see fit and learn.
I've just built a little FPV one for fun. My carbon frame was only £25 from here https://www.dronesdirect.co.uk/p/659832564/zmr-250...First time trying FPV and I love it. Worth getting some carbon props for £7-15 a set as one of my plastic ones gave way when doing some aggressive turns
Just found this thread having got a Phantom 3 Advanced yesterday - It's excellent, very easy to fly, to the extent that on my second flight I can almost circle it around me keeping the camera facing me (it can do this automatically itself if you want).
The 'pro' model is a hell of a lot more and the only difference is the camera, and the charger is slight more powerful, so quicker charging times.
The 'pro' model is a hell of a lot more and the only difference is the camera, and the charger is slight more powerful, so quicker charging times.
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