Rc Reviewer
Member
Hey everyone, this is a review of a really neat quadcopter, the JJRC H31 Waterproof drone. I received this product from Hobbywow, and it is retailing on their site for very cheap. I recommend you check it out here:
http://www.hobbywow.com/en-jjrc-h31-...hz-p241928.htm
To start off, this item came within 2 weeks with the available free shipping option. It was well packaged and nothing inside was damaged. After opening the cardboard box, you will first be presented with the users manual. It has a nice glossy finish and is quite well made. The instructions are in both Chinese as well as English, and the English is surprisingly well written and easy to understand. The booklet includes a lot of pictures showing how to install the propeller guards and such, as well as pictures along with the part number of each spare piece for the quadcopter in case you break a part. Also included are some specifications regarding the quadcopter, charging the battery, and a lot of troubleshooting tips. If you are the targeted audience of this quadcopter, which is beginners getting into flying, I would recommend going through the manual before attempting to take off.
The second item in the package is a pair of sunglasses. They are advertised on the box as "helping to reduce eyestrain when looking into the bright sun to track the drone." That said, they are not very useful, and just seem to be an extra toss in. They are branded JJRC and look surprisingly decent, although they are all plastic construction. I seriously doubt the lenses offer any sort of UV protection. But hey, I guess there is no harm in getting a pair of cheap shades with your quadcopter, so it's not a big deal.
Next is a bag which includes the propeller guards and the landing gear. You do have to screw in the propeller guards, as they are not simple snap on's. That said, there are about 20 spare screws included, which are mostly not needed, but having more than enough is definitely better than not having enough. To install the propeller guards, you simply have to screw one into each motor pod, and then you are ready to go. The guards are all black and plastic, but flexible enough so that they absorb a decent amount of crashing. They are not heavy at all, but they do make the quadcopter less maneuverable. It also takes longer to stop drifting once you let off the pitch stick. Indoors, I recommend flying with them on, as they will prevent the propellers from damage if the quad bumps into a wall. Outdoors there is no real use for them, but leaving them on doesn't make a drastic difference in performance. The landing gear are two push in U-shaped plastic bars, which are also black and flexible plastic. When I fly over grass I take them off for added agility, but I would recommend keeping them on if you are flying over a hard surface to protect the underbody of the drone. They are easily detachable, which is convenient for transportation.
Another plastic bag includes four spare propellers. This full set is a nice bonus, in case you damage the propellers that come preinstalled on the quadcopter. The screws needed to install the spares are also included, as is the small black Phillips screwdriver needed for installation. For newcomers, make sure you match the pitch type of the propellers you are taking on and off, or else the quadcopter will not fly correctly. The spare propellers and the preinstalled ones are the exact same. Both sets are black with warnings in white printed on top, and the box claims that even with bent propellers, the quadcopter will fly properly.
The next included item is the transmitter. It is a rectangular shaped controller with a nice blue trim on all of the control buttons. It takes 4 AA batteries in the back, and rechargeable batteries should also work. It uses a 2.4 GHz frequency which gives it a control range of a little under 100 metres, about 300 feet. You can switch between 5 channels on the controller to get the most anti- interference connection. Mode one and mode two are both available, and can be switched based on the flyer's preference. There is a small LCD screen on the bottom of the controller, which provides information such as transmitter battery, trim positions, and throttle input. It is quite visible, even in the daylight. The left shoulder button is for switching between low, medium, and high rates, which can be changed by clicking in the button, while the right shoulder button activates flips. After clicking it and moving the pitch stick in the desired direction, the quadcopter will flip in that direction. The flips are quite good, with little loss of altitude. Although they are quite fun, I don't recommend performing them to often, as they have the potential of burning out the motors. There are two twist knobs on the top of the remote that do not have any functions. Pushing up the throttle trim will activate the video if you purchase a camera version, while pushing down will take a picture. The yaw trim button activates headless mode when pushed to the right, while pushing it to the left will initiate one key return. So, there is no yaw or throttle adjustment, and they are not needed either, as the quadcopter doesn't tend to rise or twist on its own. However, the pitch and roll trims are both active, and they are located to the left and bottom of the pitch and roll stick, which is on the right of the radio. The throttle and yaw stick is on the left, the yaw trim being underneath it, while the throttle trim is to the right of it. The on/off switch is on the middle of the radio, and when it is switched on, a red LED on the top of the transmitter will light up. There is a short dummy antenna mounted on the top of the remote just for aesthetics. Overall, the radio fits nicely into the hands and is quite comfortable to hold.
The last and most important item in the box is the quadcopter itself. It is packaged nicely in a separate plastic box. There are two colours that I am aware of, white and green. I received the green version, which looks nicer in my opinion. It is very flashy and has a sort of chrome accent to it. I am aware of four versions, which are mentioned in the users manual. The first comes with a 0.3 MP camera, the second with a 2 MP camera, the third with a 5 MP camera, and the last one, which I received, without any sort of camera. There is, however, a three-pronged camera input port on the bottom of the quadcopter, so you can install a compatible camera by yourself. The shape and look of the quadcopter is unique; it looks futuristic and spaceship like, with a thin and elongated design. I am a big fan of the look, but traditionalists might not like it as much. The top canopy sports a big JJRC decal. The bottom is black, while the top is green. Landing gear holes are placed on the bottom so the pilot can push in and take them out whenever they want to. The motors are all brushed, so they do have a chance of wearing down over time. They do have a lot of punch, as they receive a relatively high power voltage from the battery (30C). This high power draw allows the pilot to maintain altitude at only ~30% throttle. The quadcopter is just under a foot long, and it is extremely lightweight. In fact, I was worried at first about the drone not being able to fight the wind at high altitudes, but the sportiness made up for it and allowed the quadcopter to fight moderate winds quite effectively. I recommend only using beginner rates inside, as it allows the quad to be docile enough to fly around in tight spaces. Outdoors, however, is where this quad really shines. Putting it into high rates is very fun, as the pitch and speed of the quadcopter increases dramatically. It is very fast and maneuverable in high rates, and it is one of those quads with a ridiculous yaw rate. It spins like a top in expert mode, and while flying it, I found myself stopping forward flight to just hover and spin around like crazy, as it is a very neat feature. The quadcopter responds well to sudden movement shifts, and it is quite easy and enjoyable. The biggest selling point on this drone is the waterproof abilities that are highly advertised. The manufacturer applied waterproof grease to the main circuit boards and most of the inside. So, water will still get in the quadcopter, but it isn't able to corrode the electronics like it would in another drone. Nonetheless, I would not fly this in heavy rain, as it would get beat down and you would be pushing the limits of the waterproof ability. Neither would I submerge the quadcopter completely in water, as it simply does not have the strength to push itself up and out of the water once it is fully under. It is pretty fun to fly it in light rain from inside by keeping track of it through a window. I wouldn't stand out in the rain and get soaked just to fly this in the rain. One cool trick you can do with this quadcopter without having to worry about it getting damaged is skipping it on water, or flying just above the surface of a pond and skimming the water. The novelty might wear off, and so, the main reason I would purchase this quadcopter is for its great flying ability and cheap price. Overall, it is a good deal and a fun, inexpensive way to enjoy quadcopters. I received this JJRC H31 waterproof quadcopter from Hobbywow for an unbiased review. Check it out here:
http://www.hobbywow.com/en-jjrc-h31-...hz-p241928.htm
http://www.hobbywow.com/en-jjrc-h31-...hz-p241928.htm
To start off, this item came within 2 weeks with the available free shipping option. It was well packaged and nothing inside was damaged. After opening the cardboard box, you will first be presented with the users manual. It has a nice glossy finish and is quite well made. The instructions are in both Chinese as well as English, and the English is surprisingly well written and easy to understand. The booklet includes a lot of pictures showing how to install the propeller guards and such, as well as pictures along with the part number of each spare piece for the quadcopter in case you break a part. Also included are some specifications regarding the quadcopter, charging the battery, and a lot of troubleshooting tips. If you are the targeted audience of this quadcopter, which is beginners getting into flying, I would recommend going through the manual before attempting to take off.
The second item in the package is a pair of sunglasses. They are advertised on the box as "helping to reduce eyestrain when looking into the bright sun to track the drone." That said, they are not very useful, and just seem to be an extra toss in. They are branded JJRC and look surprisingly decent, although they are all plastic construction. I seriously doubt the lenses offer any sort of UV protection. But hey, I guess there is no harm in getting a pair of cheap shades with your quadcopter, so it's not a big deal.
Next is a bag which includes the propeller guards and the landing gear. You do have to screw in the propeller guards, as they are not simple snap on's. That said, there are about 20 spare screws included, which are mostly not needed, but having more than enough is definitely better than not having enough. To install the propeller guards, you simply have to screw one into each motor pod, and then you are ready to go. The guards are all black and plastic, but flexible enough so that they absorb a decent amount of crashing. They are not heavy at all, but they do make the quadcopter less maneuverable. It also takes longer to stop drifting once you let off the pitch stick. Indoors, I recommend flying with them on, as they will prevent the propellers from damage if the quad bumps into a wall. Outdoors there is no real use for them, but leaving them on doesn't make a drastic difference in performance. The landing gear are two push in U-shaped plastic bars, which are also black and flexible plastic. When I fly over grass I take them off for added agility, but I would recommend keeping them on if you are flying over a hard surface to protect the underbody of the drone. They are easily detachable, which is convenient for transportation.
Another plastic bag includes four spare propellers. This full set is a nice bonus, in case you damage the propellers that come preinstalled on the quadcopter. The screws needed to install the spares are also included, as is the small black Phillips screwdriver needed for installation. For newcomers, make sure you match the pitch type of the propellers you are taking on and off, or else the quadcopter will not fly correctly. The spare propellers and the preinstalled ones are the exact same. Both sets are black with warnings in white printed on top, and the box claims that even with bent propellers, the quadcopter will fly properly.
The next included item is the transmitter. It is a rectangular shaped controller with a nice blue trim on all of the control buttons. It takes 4 AA batteries in the back, and rechargeable batteries should also work. It uses a 2.4 GHz frequency which gives it a control range of a little under 100 metres, about 300 feet. You can switch between 5 channels on the controller to get the most anti- interference connection. Mode one and mode two are both available, and can be switched based on the flyer's preference. There is a small LCD screen on the bottom of the controller, which provides information such as transmitter battery, trim positions, and throttle input. It is quite visible, even in the daylight. The left shoulder button is for switching between low, medium, and high rates, which can be changed by clicking in the button, while the right shoulder button activates flips. After clicking it and moving the pitch stick in the desired direction, the quadcopter will flip in that direction. The flips are quite good, with little loss of altitude. Although they are quite fun, I don't recommend performing them to often, as they have the potential of burning out the motors. There are two twist knobs on the top of the remote that do not have any functions. Pushing up the throttle trim will activate the video if you purchase a camera version, while pushing down will take a picture. The yaw trim button activates headless mode when pushed to the right, while pushing it to the left will initiate one key return. So, there is no yaw or throttle adjustment, and they are not needed either, as the quadcopter doesn't tend to rise or twist on its own. However, the pitch and roll trims are both active, and they are located to the left and bottom of the pitch and roll stick, which is on the right of the radio. The throttle and yaw stick is on the left, the yaw trim being underneath it, while the throttle trim is to the right of it. The on/off switch is on the middle of the radio, and when it is switched on, a red LED on the top of the transmitter will light up. There is a short dummy antenna mounted on the top of the remote just for aesthetics. Overall, the radio fits nicely into the hands and is quite comfortable to hold.
The last and most important item in the box is the quadcopter itself. It is packaged nicely in a separate plastic box. There are two colours that I am aware of, white and green. I received the green version, which looks nicer in my opinion. It is very flashy and has a sort of chrome accent to it. I am aware of four versions, which are mentioned in the users manual. The first comes with a 0.3 MP camera, the second with a 2 MP camera, the third with a 5 MP camera, and the last one, which I received, without any sort of camera. There is, however, a three-pronged camera input port on the bottom of the quadcopter, so you can install a compatible camera by yourself. The shape and look of the quadcopter is unique; it looks futuristic and spaceship like, with a thin and elongated design. I am a big fan of the look, but traditionalists might not like it as much. The top canopy sports a big JJRC decal. The bottom is black, while the top is green. Landing gear holes are placed on the bottom so the pilot can push in and take them out whenever they want to. The motors are all brushed, so they do have a chance of wearing down over time. They do have a lot of punch, as they receive a relatively high power voltage from the battery (30C). This high power draw allows the pilot to maintain altitude at only ~30% throttle. The quadcopter is just under a foot long, and it is extremely lightweight. In fact, I was worried at first about the drone not being able to fight the wind at high altitudes, but the sportiness made up for it and allowed the quadcopter to fight moderate winds quite effectively. I recommend only using beginner rates inside, as it allows the quad to be docile enough to fly around in tight spaces. Outdoors, however, is where this quad really shines. Putting it into high rates is very fun, as the pitch and speed of the quadcopter increases dramatically. It is very fast and maneuverable in high rates, and it is one of those quads with a ridiculous yaw rate. It spins like a top in expert mode, and while flying it, I found myself stopping forward flight to just hover and spin around like crazy, as it is a very neat feature. The quadcopter responds well to sudden movement shifts, and it is quite easy and enjoyable. The biggest selling point on this drone is the waterproof abilities that are highly advertised. The manufacturer applied waterproof grease to the main circuit boards and most of the inside. So, water will still get in the quadcopter, but it isn't able to corrode the electronics like it would in another drone. Nonetheless, I would not fly this in heavy rain, as it would get beat down and you would be pushing the limits of the waterproof ability. Neither would I submerge the quadcopter completely in water, as it simply does not have the strength to push itself up and out of the water once it is fully under. It is pretty fun to fly it in light rain from inside by keeping track of it through a window. I wouldn't stand out in the rain and get soaked just to fly this in the rain. One cool trick you can do with this quadcopter without having to worry about it getting damaged is skipping it on water, or flying just above the surface of a pond and skimming the water. The novelty might wear off, and so, the main reason I would purchase this quadcopter is for its great flying ability and cheap price. Overall, it is a good deal and a fun, inexpensive way to enjoy quadcopters. I received this JJRC H31 waterproof quadcopter from Hobbywow for an unbiased review. Check it out here:
http://www.hobbywow.com/en-jjrc-h31-...hz-p241928.htm
