Hi ! I have a long RC story (cars, planes and helis) and now I've fallen in love with quads. Now playing with an Hubsan Quads X4, then waiting for a WLtoys 202, a bit better but I kow, it is still a beautiful "toy". I am also waiting for an 808 #16 V2 120 deg. camera, that I will try to fly with Hubsan Quads and the 202, But I am already looking for something bigger. I wish to buy a brushless quad with a decent payload, I'd like a 200 class one, because 400 / 450 are too big. Something like this: http://www.nitroplanes.com/09h006-210mm-yellow-mwc-board-arf.html but I really wish to find it Ready To Fly, complete with TX and RX, and board already programmed. Yes because the only thing that I can do well is fly. Do you know if I can buy something like that ? Thank you Ser
RC Eye One Extreme, but it isn't out quite yet. http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1802117
Start here, http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__592__501__Multi_Rotors_Parts-RTF_PNF_ARF.html Yep China (and other places)....I have ordered from them and the boat takes awhile to get here, But I have never had a problem other than how long stuff takes to get to the USA. Don't think the 400 plus sizes are too big.....eventually you will want one. But to start out with your on the right track, learn on small, graduate at full scale!!!
The Hubsan Quads will never fly the keychain cam well. The 202 may lift it, especially if you modify it (remove or drill out 1/2 the case, etc.)... Bigger is not always better. It usually means more money, though, and lots more for parts and repairs! I don't really buy the "toy" designation, because the amount of technology in some of these is pretty amazing. There is not a wealth of 200 sized copters on the market, but offhand there are two which I can think of. The Hoten-X is ready to fly and will lift your keychain cam with ease. At least you know parts should be available and you don't have to build it.... Or, look into the small flip from readytoflyquads.com. http://witespyquad.gostorego.com/quads/the-flip.html The name is a bit of a misnomer - talk to them about your needs. I think "ready to fly" still needs you to buy a transmitter.... Also keep in mind that (sport/fun) flying and photography are often two separate things! Some of it depends on your pocketbook. I'd say stick with smaller and mid-sized for flying around in circles and even for some sport stuff - and, if and when you are ready to do serious video or photog, get something like the Phantom or Arducopter which is programmed for stability. I think that's something not stressed enough - that is, that most quads are good for one facet of the hobby, but no so much for others. The same crash on my micro Q-Bot which costs me zero would cost me $100 plus on the Dualsky Hornet...maybe more! Personally, I'd stay away from the unknown brands and kits if, as you say, you don't relish the thought of soldering, troubleshooting and spending a lot of time NOT flying. Those are more for learning (building). All my opinions only...
And the Winner is..... answer #1 ! Gosh, 120$ RTF ? Including the TX ?? Where is the preorder form ?????????
I'm a drone noob, thanks for the links. What are teh age limits on some of the simpler drones, and what are your experiences with wind. Do the larger ones handle wind better?
All I have is the X4 so far. It is the smallest RTF quad on the market right now, and it cuts through the wind like a hot knife through butter. Not recommended as a 1st quad or for inexperienced flyers as it is somewhat fragile. It was/is my 1st quad and I've lost a couple of them and broken a few more. Wind handling is a combination of factors. Weight can help. Aerodynamics: canopy can make a big difference as some of them act like a parachute. The larger quads are much more expensive to purchase and repair, but I assume they do handle the wind well. For a beginner I definitely recommend something small. Maybe a V202?
Age Limits? I think younger folks are likely to be better flyers due to practice with video games and better reflexes. The "limit" is more your wallet. I think the smaller micros handle the wind well - as jason mentioned, the X4 does a heck of a job! Most "minis" do not handle the wind as well, because they are larger (props and body) and yet too lightweight. Big heavy quads usually do well in the wind. But buying and fixing them requires more cash AND you need a much bigger area to fly around in.
@webman: yes You are right.... I got my 808 #16 today. Simply attached it to my Hubsan Quads X4 with a piece of tape. The X4 cannot reach the ceiling of my room. Maybe I already have some "invisibile defect" on my Hubsan Quads, because it hover at 65 - 68% full battery, but many people reporting lower value, so I may already have a damaged motor or something like that. Anyway, a fast check of weight: Hubsan Quads is 25 g. Battery is 9 g. Total 34 g. 808 #16 V2 120 deg. lens is 19 g so, it is more than half the weight of RTF Hubsan Quads. Obviously too much Removing all the case of the 808 camera will strip it down to 14 g but I have not tried to fly, I was afraid of damaging it, touching the exposed contacts / printed circuit. Should cover with some insulating thing first. Now waiting a WLtoys V202, I hope to have better luck. It should be better. Obviously I bought it BEFORE knowing the existence of EYE ONE XTREME. I think I will sell Hubsan Quads and V202 for it. BTW, a small test with the 808 #16 V2 120° show really GOOD videos. I think it will be one or two step above, compared with a V959 with its own 640x480 camera ! ----------- @sneakydave: I own a Walkera Lama V4, a Walkera Lama 400, a Nine Eagle Solo Pro 328.... and a Hubsan Quads X4. This was my last kid and compared with my old eli, in the wind, it is simply unbelievable. Solo Pro 328 is really light, Just a gentle breeze and you kiss it goodbye. Lama 400 is big, heavy, and bi-rotor but also suffer a lot, even in light wind. I think that Hubsan Quads X4 is so good in the wind because of really small propellers (they do not take much air), then it has a good thrust to weight ratio (without a camera attached ! ;o) All the quad has small propellers, compared with that of a single roto heli of same class / weight, so I think that most quad can do well in the wind, but reading also other reviews, it seems that Hubsan Quads X4 is one of the best in its class. Buy it, you won't regret. Take the new version with leds and rubber feet, obviously ! Bye Ser
In the Hubsan thread here, I noted that the working payload for an X4 is about 5 grams...to a max. of perhaps 10 grams if the copter and batteries are brand new (motors and batteries weaken over time).... It's really not designed for any payload! The 808 #16 is a great camera, but I am going to fly mine with much larger copters. Even most minis have a difficult time lifting that load for more than a few minutes.
