New and Yet to Buy a Quadcopter

[wingspar]

Been looking at drones off and on for quite some time. 2 years maybe? I’ve got a couple in mind to start with. Hubsan H501S and the Hubsan H502S.

I’m looking at those because they have a view finder in the transmitter. I do not own a smart phone and have zero desire to buy one. I’ve watched YouTube reviews on them and that’s it. Finding info on drones that have view finders that you can see what the drone sees seems difficult.

Price point is to be determined. I’d like decent video (the video on these two does leave something to be desired) but at this point in time, I’m ok with that for something to learn on. Open to suggestions.

 

[holtneil]

Hi and welcome to the forum , I have the first Hubsan FPV quad and its fun to fly the new ones are even better , I got the very first X4 when it came out and still have it and still flies ok even after all these years
for there money they ant bad to go better your be looking at spends a few $ but if you do you can go the fat shark FPV goggles route and real HD

 

[wingspar]

Most of my research keeps turning up Hubsan. I decided on the H501S, then started looking deeper and feel starting with something like the H107D+ X4 FPV Plus might be a better option for someone who has only seen one drone in person ever and has never flown one. Even the H107C X4 CAM might make even more sense for me. From the YouTube videos I’ve watched on all 3 of these, the video these drones produced seemed about the same. None real sharp, and all a little jerky, but some of that could have been operator and or wind.

Cost not being a factor, it just seems like a smart move to start off with something like the H107C X4 CAM might make more sense for someone to learn how to fly the drone first, then step up, but I don’t really want to start a collection either.

By the way, is there a correct term for these flying machines? Quadcopters or Drones?

 

[Brifry]

Hello, the hubsan x4 would be a great starter for you either the h107l 20.00 on ebay no camera, the h107c also 20.00 has camera for taking pics or the h107d can get for 50.00 which has fpv would all be awesome starters and when you wreck it(u will) its easy to fix and very cost effective. Then if you like flying go on to the more expensive 501 model,just my opinion as i was in same position u are.


Qaud, drone or multirotor is what they are called mostly. Good luck!

 

[Jackson]

but I don’t really want to start a collection either.

I like having a small fleet.

 

[wingspar]

Hello, the hubsan x4 would be a great starter for you either the h107l 20.00 on ebay no camera, the h107c also 20.00 has camera for taking pics or the h107d can get for 50.00 which has fpv would all be awesome starters and when you wreck it(u will) its easy to fix and very cost effective. Then if you like flying go on to the more expensive 501 model,just my opinion as i was in same position u are.


Qaud, drone or multirotor is what they are called mostly. Good luck!

I just noticed, after reading your reply, that out of the 16 drones on the Hubsan site, 13 of them are X4's. One of those models you mentioned, then step up to the 501 and ultimately the H109S X4 Pro Advanced is my current thinking, subject to change of course. Which one of those 3 models to start with is the big question for me. I’m seriously thinking of ordering one today. I just can’t decide. It may come down to writing all 3 models down on pieces of paper, and pick them from a hat. The no camera model might be a smart move just to get the basics down. I have not seen the prices you mention, then again I do not use Ebay.

I figured that Drone and Quadcopter were used interchangeably, but I’d never really thought about it till I joined this forum, notice the subject and that “Quadcopter” was in the name of this forum.

 

[Brifry]

Well if you wanna fpv then go with the 107d it comes with everything needed your tx controller has your screen so you see what the qaud sees.... If thats not important and u just wanna learn line of site flying go with the 107l. You can theses real cheap on ebay. I got a 107l for 20.00 and a 107d package with batteries chargers etc. For 75.

 

[wingspar]

I read a lot of reviews on all the Hubsan’s I’m looking at today and they give me pause. Reviews are all over the place. Whether the drone costs me $40 or $240, I don’t want the problems many seem to have with these drones. Wondering how much stock I should take in these reviews? How often does one get a Hubsan Lemon?

The proprietary batteries for these beginner drones seem unattainable. How does one deal with proprietary batteries if they want more than the one battery that comes with the drone?

 

[Brifry]

Ive had no problems with mine and mine were used models from ebay as mentioned.. Batteries can be ordered from ebay but since you dont use it.. Amazon should.. Or can go with banggood

 

[wingspar]

There are some sites out there that just look fishy to me, and they all look exactly the same and banggood is one of them. In fact I found and entire section on them in another forum, and there is nothing good to say about them. Gearbest is another one of those sites. I forget the others, but they all look exactly the same and most not in English.

I’ve never been comfortable with Ebay. My other half uses Ebay a lot. I have no interest in ordering something that comes from China. Even Amazon seems a little odd when it comes to drones, and I’ve used Amazon a lot for years. I might take a look at Ebay tho, just out of curiosity. I have not logged into Ebay for years.

 

[wingspar]

Well, I just ordered the Hubsan X4 H107L. I figured that was probably the best thing for me to do. Skip those entry FPV models. Learn to fly this thing, then get what I really want, which I really don’t know what that is yet. Ideas. GPS, Return Home, 3 axis gyro that utilizes a GoPro... Anyway, time will tell.

 

[Brifry]

Well like i said i was in exact same spot as you.. The 107l is a great flyer u wont be disappointed ...fpv is a whole different ball game then flying line of site way harder for me atleast.I wanted to learn how to fly any qaud under my control in any situation before using gps and all the assisted flying stuff imho makes you a lot better at flying. Good luck

 

[wingspar]

Well, I’ve had this drone for a few days, flown it in the living room, rarely ending a flight without crashing. I’ve taken it out in the back yard 3 times now and just a few minutes ago I decided to take it out in the back yard and somehow lost control of it. I could no longer figure out which was front or back, even by yawing it to see which direction it went. It took off. I could no longer see it and I sort of caught a glimpse of it as it disappeared into some fir trees in a free fall. By this time the batteries were probably getting low. I’m not even sure I want to replace this drone or buy another drone at this time. This thing was just too difficult for me to control, even in the house. If I decide to buy another drone, it will Definitely have Headless mode! But for now, I’m really disappointed in my very short drone flying experience.

 

[Birdy]

But for now, I’m really disappointed in my very short drone flying experience.

You're not unlike hundreds of other new quad flyers out there. Multiple crashes, tough landings and, yes, lost drones in trees and on roof tops. It's not supposed to be easy. You have to practice, practice, and then practice some more. And breaking it up into baby steps is advised. Just fly out 10-15 feet and back. Repeat. The try another "step" and repeat. You have develop a muscle memory with the controller.

Btw, one other tip. The orientation of the quad is always tough. An easy fix is to use different color props (two of them) so you know whether you're "going or coming." Some spray paint the props or even parts of the quad to aid in orientation.

Edit: One last thought. The "return home" feature on most quads is WAY overrated. In fact a lot of them downright don't work at all.

 

[Brifry]

Agree totally Birdy.. Thats why i gave the advice to go with a cheap version instead of expensive one from the start..give it more time youll get the hang of it.

 

[wingspar]

I appreciate the encouragement. I’ve had a few days to think about this and I’ll probably buy another drone. The big problem I had with this quadcopter is that once it is a certain distance away, I could not tell which direction it was going. Blue lights and white props in front, red lights and black props in back. Lights are easy to see inside, but not outside. The props look the same color once they are spinning. Also, the controls are so responsive, that I was in trouble before I could react. Difficult enough in the house, but greatly multiplied outside. The cost of the H107L is cheap enough so that I might order another one cause I have 6 batteries and a charger on the way, but flying it in the back yard is a no no. Yard too small. Not enough room. The two times I flew in the back yard. First time, almost lost it. Managed to crash land on top of my shed before losing it in the neighbors yard. Second time I lost control almost right away. This thing is fast, quick on the controls and seems more like something for an advanced user, not a beginner.

I am looking at the Hubsan H502S as it has Headless Mode and a Return to Home, which works in the videos I’ve seen on it. I think that would help me more than anything. I’m not familiar with any other quads other than the Hubsans, so I’m open to learning a little more about other quads, but the Hubsans are the best looking quads out there in my opinion. Headless Mode and Return to Home Mode will be mandatory.

 

[Gyro Doctor]

I’d like decent video (the video on these two does leave something to be desired) but at this point in time, I’m ok with that for something to learn on.

"Decent video" is usually taken from a secondary camera like a Mobius or GoPro that's added onto the quad for that expressed purpose.
The cameras used to actually fly by have comparatively poor quality because they are meant to give you the picture as fast as possible.

I'm surprised no one's mentioned any of the Syma X5 or X8 series as an alternative to all these Hubsans

 

[wingspar]

Thought this thread was dead. Since I last posted I bought another Hubsan H107L and have only flown it in an empty hangar where I have some room. I still do not have the hang of this yet. The controls are touchy and I can be happy with what I’m doing for a while, then it just seems to take off and crash. Tough little quad tho. It’s had some serious crashes, including crashing into a 30 foot high ceiling and falling straight to the concrete floor. I’ve had props fall off and I’ve been able to find all of them and continue to use them.

I just picked up a Syma X5UC and have only flown it once in the hangar. It has a button for auto take off and land. I like that. Other than that, I’m surprised the quad isn’t in pieces. All I could do was crash the thing. Controls so different than the Hubsan. Very sluggish. To shut the quad off, one brings the left control all the way down and hold it there. It seems to take forever for the quad to stop spinning the props. With the Hubsan, as soon as you hold the control down, the props stop spinning instantly. Sluggish controls on the Syma were the cause of constant crashing. Nothing damaged, and the battery time on the Syma seemed to be half of what the Hubsan is. It is also supposed to have Headless Mode, but since there is no monitor on the TX, I had no idea if I was in Headless or out, hence a violent crash.

As for a camera. The Syma does have one, but it’s still in the box. Hope I can learn to fly this thing first, then I’ll try the camera. My goal is a Phantom 4 or a Mavic, but I see now that is a long way off. I can’t afford to crash those.

 

[Jackson]

The controls are touchy and I can be happy with what I’m doing for a while, then it just seems to take off and crash.

 

[ArmyVet]

"By the way, is there a correct term for these flying machines? Quadcopters or Drones?"
Wingspar,

Quadcopter by definition has 4 propellers. A Drone can be anything that is remotely piloted. In the air, under water etc. UAV is a drone flown in the air. Yada yada yada.......LOL I am boring myself.

They are all fun, until someone puts their eye out

Best of luck and enjoy!

Bill