Transmitters and receivers.

[Chuck]

In addition to the two toy grade JJRC H25G quads that I have, I've decided to take the plunge and build my first hobby grade quad, rather than buying one of the pricey (massive understatement) Yuneec or DJI quads. I've looked up the basic components for purchase on eBay as far as the power distribution board, flight control board ESC's, and motors. What I don't see a lot of however, is what makes transmitters and receivers from either FlySky or Turnigy better in terms of one over the other when it comes to setting the programming up, and ease of control. I don't want to waste money on components with too few features, but at the same time, I don't want excessive capacity and expense, that I may never exploit to it's useful extent. This will be a larger quad, not intended for racing or aerobatics, but flying much like heavy multi-engine aircraft. So for me, extended range an flight time is more important than being able to do corkscrews, barrel rolls, and ducking at high speeds under playground monkey bars.

 

[QuadKid]

Chuck, don't buy anything until you buy a versatile Transmitter like a Spectrum or Taranis, the RX will need to be able to link to the TX, watch lots of build videos on U-Tube, read lots of build info in these various forums before you buy or else you'll just be throwing your money away. Especially for a large Quad, sheeeeeeeet just the battery can cost a small fortune!

 

[Jackson]

FlySky TXs are quite versatile without breaking the bank.

This is the 3rd generation of the venerable and well liked FS-i6.
https://www.banggood.com/Flysky-FS-...6B-i-BUS-Receiver-p-1090406.html?rmmds=search

And their newest X6D RX only weighs 4.5 gr. and has easily replaceable antennas. And with the TX's internal dual antennas you can expect a range of about a mile.

X6B i-BUS Specifications:
Brand Name: Flysky
Item: X6B i-BUS Receiver
Channels: 6(PWM), 8(PPM), 18(i-BUS)

Note it is a smaller form factor, I've been pounding my original for 3+ years.

 

[Chuck]

Chuck, don't buy anything until you buy a versatile Transmitter like a Spectrum or Taranis, the RX will need to be able to link to the TX, watch lots of build videos on U-Tube, read lots of build info in these various forums before you buy or else you'll just be throwing your money away. Especially for a large Quad, sheeeeeeeet just the battery can cost a small fortune!

I was told previously that transmitters are generally designed with proprietary frequencies linking them only to receivers from the same manufacturer. How good are Spectrum and Taranis, compared to the other two, and are each manufacturers transmitters compatible with receivers from the others?

 

[Chuck]

FlySky TXs are quite versatile without breaking the bank.

This is the 3rd generation of the venerable and well liked FS-i6.
https://www.banggood.com/Flysky-FS-...6B-i-BUS-Receiver-p-1090406.html?rmmds=search

And their newest X6D RX only weighs 4.5 gr. and has easily replaceable antennas. And with the TX's internal dual antennas you can expect a range of about a mile.


Note it is a smaller form factor, I've been pounding my original for 3+ years.

Also. When I say that I plan to build a "large" quad, I'm thinking along the same size as a Syma X8, or a DJI Phantom. Not anything overly ambitious such as the Yuneec Typhoon H in size.

 

[Jackson]

and are each manufacturers transmitters compatible with receivers from the others?

No.

 

[mozquito1]

Flysky +turnigy+eachine all the same.
Someone keeps buying the rights.
Like the cowboy says, they are good.
18months & counting for me.
I modified a biscuit tin to carry it round in my bag to save the sticks getting knocked. Just orderd the upgraded orange skyzone 01s. It was either them or the turnigy evolution Tx. Which is a throw in the bag Tx as it has guards on the sticks.
Made by same company as my i6.
And good reviews so that's next on my list. I stay within 200-300' so no need for a taranis. Someone done a i6 RX test on YouTube. Well 2 actually and both got more than 1&half miles, without any mods. So combined with a £40 tag it was great for a beginner. Even now.

 

[Jackson]

So combined with a £40 tag it was great for a beginner. Even now.

The iForce guy said the new i6X also does SBus if need be, but all the bigtime FCB software now handles IBus. He also said it's now a snap to to swap in another 3way switch for a 2way if so desired.

 

[mozquito1]

Also the dimensions are smaller than a taranis or devo. Lighter so no fatigue holding it. If the turnigy evo wasn't here I would probably stick with it.

 

[mozquito1]

It's dimensions are smaller than the taranis & it lighter, so no fatigue holding it. I use a modified biscuit tin to carry it around in my bag. I get OCD over the sticks.
If it was 5mm taller I wouldn't have had to put holes in it for the 2 SW switches.
But it does its job. If it works, it works

 

[Chuck]

So I've chosen a modestly-priced power distribution board and flight control board combination on eBay, which is listed as Naze32 acro, and compatible with Fly Sky receivers. I've narrowed the choices among ESC's down to those rated at 30A max, given what I've been reading here. The issue I have now is choosing the motors themselves. Most of those that I see online are rated at around 2200 kv on the low end, to those rated at close to 3000 kv, all listed as appropriate for racing quads. I'm not building this quad for racing and/or aerobatics. My interest lay in flying more like heavy multi-engine aircraft, which obviously isn't designed, nor intended for stunt flying, and aren't equiped eith engines intended for that use. Does that full-sized aircraft logic carry over into quads? Are these racing motors either overpowered or underpowered for larger heavier quads like the DJI Phantoms and their contemporaries? Also. How do I determine if these motors are intended for use with a 7.4VDC battery, or an 11.1VDC battery? None list that in the specs.

 

[Jackson]

Well if you on a budget these well reviewed, DJI style motors should fit the bill.
https://www.banggood.com/4X-Racerst...380-400-Frame-Kit-p-1083199.html?rmmds=search

Flip down to the spec chart and with a 3S Lipo they list 710 gr of thrust with a 1045 prop. Note they only pulling 10.6A. A 20A ESC is more than enough.
https://www.banggood.com/search/racerstar-20s-esc.html

Best to get DJI style props, which are quite common.
https://www.banggood.com/Gemfan-DJI...-For-RC-Multirotor-p-961068.html?rmmds=search

Contrasting colors front/rear will help with orientation.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/16pcs-8pair...297858?hash=item2ef3c56e02:g:ryMAAOSwGtRXyAE0

 

[mozquito1]

Chuck we've had a few spats on here over regulation. Sorry if I offended you but please don't buy a naze32, anything but.
They are crap. The cheapest & reliable I would use is a SPF3. A pdb is $4.
You may aswell get an assortment of 3mm stand offs. Welcome to the club.
It soon will no longer be supported by flight programs. As it has nay the capacity for it is very dated. All flight boards are compatible with flysky.
I have 20a little bee Pro £10
20a pocket rocket esc £6.70 each.
Apart from frame & esc 2 quads are virtually the same. I can't tell em apart.
Couldn't say one is better than the other. So I bought 16 of these £6.70 esc's
out of 8 only two have broke, crashes.
Still got 6 left over from a year ago. & the little bee's I got last summer are going strong. 16 emax rs 2205 2300kv. 3 bust & one spare left. Over 18 months. Started on 1806 motors 16 of em, now I got 5 spare & 4 on a 180. bust Over a thousand props atleast. I find the cheapest every week. Lately I buy from Quadcopter.Co.Uk =tomsmithfpv.
Racekraft 5051 £2.19 a set, so 40 will do nicely Tom so now go & make a crazy video and put it on YouTube, there's a good boy. (mutters you crazy B¥§¿@®D)

 

[yay]

a. thou.sand

i see these guys in videos, and i think, needs to go buy some prop guards......


i have this concept (when my props get here...) of doing a bunch of *slow* fpv flights.. you know.. i'm geriatric.. easy does it.. controlled, what's the rush. "an old bull and a young bull were.." just to puzzle some folks.. isn't it enough to simply be there? take the time to be there and look around..

but no seriously that post is gold. what works, what doesn't.

but i'm writing to say chuck, if it wasn't for me interpreting your word "chosen" as "purchased" i would have posted the same thing, just from internet awareness.

 

[Chuck]

a. thou.sand

i see these guys in videos, and i think, needs to go buy some prop guards......


i have this concept (when my props get here...) of doing a bunch of *slow* fpv flights.. you know.. i'm geriatric.. easy does it.. controlled, what's the rush. "an old bull and a young bull were.." just to puzzle some folks.. isn't it enough to simply be there? take the time to be there and look around..

but no seriously that post is gold. what works, what doesn't.

but i'm writing to say chuck, if it wasn't for me interpreting your word "chosen" as "purchased" i would have posted the same thing, just from internet awareness.

Okay. But to get to a specific question about brushless motors. Are they specifically designed to operate at 3.7VDC, 7.4VDC, or 11.1VDC, or is that determined elsewhere in the circuitry? I have numerous 7.4VDC lipo batteries rated at 2500mah that I'd rather continue using, rather than purchase the larger (and heavier) 11.1VDC batteries. Flying beyond line of sight is not on my agenda, as even as big as a Yuneec Typhoon H is, once it would get beyond a quarter mile out, it will start to blend in with the background anywhere but in a wide open field with flat surrounding terrain. Particularly in the East. With it's preponderance of heavy vegetation and numerous hillsides. So I'm more interested in maximum flight time over maximum flight distance.