Complete newbie here

[Quinton]

I've never flew are owned one. I'm more interested in surveillance type usage. Scouting for hunting, fishing, checking cattle and exploring. So that would put larger models as a better option for me except the fact that larger means less portable. So in my research diy folding drones has perked my interest. And Google search has led me here.

 

[Rick M]

Welcome!

 

[QuadKid]

Welcom Quinton,

"I'm more interested in surveillance type usage. Scouting for hunting, fishing, checking cattle and exploring"

I would suggest a flying photo / video platform such as the DJI Phantom series, depends on your budget.
The are very stable, sophisticated (which makes them very easy to fly) Check them out here.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...Phantom+3.TRS0&_nkw=dji+phantom+3&_sacat=2562

Best Buy has them on the shelf in most stores for $499.00
I would start with the Phantom 3 Advanced, can't go wrong for what you need for under $500.00 USD

 

[yay]

whenever i see this kind of application, i think balloon/blimp/dirigible hybrid. but i'm way new as well.

 

[QuadKid]

Here are a couple more options

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dji-phantom-3-standard-quadcopter-white/4406800.p?skuId=4406800 (Cheapest model uses wifi for video connection

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dji-phantom-3-advanced-flying-camera-white/9323034.p?skuId=9323034 ( Middle of the road uses Lightbridge Technology for TX & Video down link

http://www.dronenerds.com/products/...ofessional-with-4k-video-phantom3pro-dji.html
Drone Nerds is offering the Phantom 3 Pro for the same price Best Buy wants for the Advanced / Great Deal, very reputable retailer as well, have bought from them many times.

 

[Gyro Doctor]

... Another option is to gain piloting skills using a simulator first (some are FREE btw) which uses your actual radio controller (buy a decent one (with a mini-usb port) because eventually you're going to want a quality radio and to get away from those crappy ones that come with the cheap quads anyway) , THEN buying a cheap quad, Then buy a "nice one"

Nothing sucks more than immediately crashing your new quad because you've no idea how to fly it

p.s. ..... Stay away from Wi-Fi video (except for maybe on your first cheap quad). You want 2.4GHz control and 5.8 GHz video ... period.

 

[Quinton]

I'm leaning towards building a 350 or 450 size with either removable or folding arms. Hopefully one this size would be able to carry the weight of 18650 cell pack with large props.

 

[Gyro Doctor]

... Whatever it is you're going to break it, then break it again, and again, (which costs time and money) if you don't know how to fly it.
Do yourself a favor and learn to fly FIRST (on a sim) where whenever you crash (and you will crash a lot) you're not breaking anything, just hitting a "reset" button
PLUS you can log a helluva lot more flight time on a sim because there's no running out of battery power, worrying about going too far away, worrying about wind or weather,
pretty much no worries about anything, just developing your "muscle memory" (because you'll be using the actual radio you fly real quads with) and (most importantly)
figuring out how to fly better and better without breaking anything !

 

[Quinton]

... Whatever it is you're going to break it, then break it again, and again, (which costs time and money) if you don't know how to fly it.
Do yourself a favor and learn to fly FIRST (on a sim) where whenever you crash (and you will crash a lot) you're not breaking anything, just hitting a "reset" button
PLUS you can log a helluva lot more flight time on a sim because there's no running out of battery power, worrying about going too far away, worrying about wind or weather,
pretty much no worries about anything, just developing your "muscle memory" (because you'll be using the actual radio you fly real quads with) and (most importantly)
figuring out how to fly better and better without breaking anything !

Thanks gyro. Any recommended ones?

 

[randyclark]

Newbie here. Looking forward learning on this community.

 

[Drone Riot]

I recently wrote an article about the best drones for fishing.

Feel free to check it out. The Splash Drone 3 Fisherman is a drone specifically built for fishing! But if you're wanting it for hunting, maybe a Phantom 3/ 4. You can hook it up for fishing as well with a drown rigger release clip which can be found on amazon.

If you're fishing with a drone make sure you don't fly too low to the surface as the sound can scare the fish away. Similarly, keep in mind where the drones shadow is as it can also disturb the fish!

Best of Luck!

 

[Gyro Doctor]

Thanks gyro. Any recommended ones?

"FPVFreerider" is a good starting point (and it's free) but after you're good at that my favorite is "Liftoff" by Steam.
Liftoff has the most realistic flight dynamics of any sim I've tried AND you'll get a chance to learn what tweaking PIDs actually does to the way a quad flies.
After you get good flying Liftoff then you can skip right past the "toys" and get a fullblooded FPV Racer as your first quad and fly that bad boy like you stole it

If camera platform action is more your thing then you'll be pro on day one flying a real quad after getting good on sims (camera platform drones are slow, stable and fly "lazy") compared to racers which are insanely fast, inherently unstable as Hell, and fly really "twitchy").

Instead of speeding through gates, practice funnels (circling an object while keeping your nose (camera) fixed on it) and other maneuvers that you'll need for cam platform
uses, but I warn you, once you've gone screaming through gates four feet off the ground and dodging through tree limbs at 80 mph flying slow and high might put you to sleep

 

[QuadKid]

Yup, Yup, Yup