Home Built or Pre-Built? What are The Key Advantages?

Loadmaster1

Loadmaster1

Member
Hi everyone! My first post here. I'm an RC builder/flyer from over 35 years ago. I have purchased a low dollar drone, no gps. This drone was used to see if I still have it. Ability to fly without loosing, hitting destroying anything. I have about 40 plus flights and my brain and fingers still seem to work with orientation and flight control.

With the above said, I have confidence I still have the skills to fly. I am also a photography buff. I want a drone for video work. I have trips plan to some pretty remote places. This summer will be Alaska and the following winter Australia. Easy transport of the drone and supporting equipment is high on the list of wants. So folding or compact size would be desirable.

As mentioned earlier, I'm an old hand at building so if I can end up with a better combination building I'm all for it. However, if there are good reasons to purchase prebuilt that will work too.

If you had building skills time and the money, which way would you go? prebuilt or home built?
 
I'd make it myself. Then I know how to fix it. It's a cert it's going to crash. It saves time & money than sending it away.
 
Hi mate how you going to get the quad to were your going you can't carry a Lipo on a passenger flight ,?
Build your own like mosquito said is the best way there are a few folding frames out there , size will depend on the size of camera you want to carry
Also remember if your going to fly were it's very cold you need to give the quad and it's systems time to adjust to the cold but I am sure as your a RC flier your know this
It's going to be fun and sounds like a great holiday coming :)
 
There's absolutely no problem carrying a lipo on a passenger flight, I've done it numerous times. Just needs to be on your carry on
 
holtneil said:
That's great I was not sure so thought I would put it out there ;)
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Absolutely, and you should always call the airline first just to make sure as different airlines have different policies and things change so quickly in this crazy world we live in
 
RENOV8R said:
Absolutely, and you should always call the airline first just to make sure as different airlines have different policies and things change so quickly in this crazy world we live in
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Actually I was going to start a another thread on the battery topic. My brother came for a visit from Tennessee to Florida and flew Frontier. He paid to have the batteries shipped as he was told the DJI Phantom Pro batteries were not allowed on the flight. Not carry on or checked baggage. This was just two weeks ago. So has something changed of lately? This is something I need to learn about as I have flights to Fairbanks and Vancouver coming up this summer. If I have to ship the batteries I will, but it sure would be nice if they could travel with me.

RENOV8R, I have been looking at the DJI Mavic Air. It looks like a good option. It fits the need of being compact and weight while hiking.

Thanks for the inputs! Greatly appreciated.
 
Could be things have changed. I flew by Air Canada from Pearson International to Fort Myers about 6 months ago with a couple lipos no problem
 
BTW DJI Spark is another one to look at if you don't want to spend as much. I can confirm they are amazing for their size
 
It helps if you have the airlines rules & regs on lipo batteries, printed on paper so you can show the ignorant staff the error of there ways. Have them stored properly in a lipo bag & with caps on them.
I was told a maximum of 14x2S or 11x3S or 8x4S or 5x6S. Certain airlines won't let you carry so many amps. But it's still down to the pilots discretion. Like everywhere else there is always a chump.
 
At least at the airlines I looked at, the batteries should not be a big deal. Here is what the Delta website has:

Lithium Batteries
As you probably know, traveling with consumer electronic and medical devices containing lithium cells or batteries (e.g. watches, calculators, cameras, cell phones, laptops, camcorders, hearing aids, etc.) is allowed onboard as carry-on. Spare lithium batteries are allowed as carry-on only, and must be individually protected to prevent short circuits.

Tips to properly transport spare lithium batteries:
  • Pack spare batteries in carry-on baggage.
  • Keep spare batteries in the original retail packaging to prevent unintentional activation or short-circuiting.
  • If original packaging is not available, effectively insulate battery terminals by isolating spare batteries from contact with other batteries and/or metal.
  • Specifically, place each battery in its own protective case, plastic bag or package, or place tape across the battery's contacts to isolate terminals.
  • Take steps to prevent crushing, puncturing, or putting a high degree of pressure on the battery, as this can cause an internal short circuit, resulting in overheating.
Size Limits for Lithium Batteries:

Passengers are permitted to travel with lithium ion batteries that contain a maximum of 160 watt hours per battery. Any lithium ion battery containing more than 160 watt hours is prohibited from carriage on all passenger aircraft. Lithium ion batteries installed in a personal electronic device can be transported as checked or carry on baggage. Lithium ion batteries not installed in a device (spares) must be in carry-on baggage and no more than two (2) spares between 100 and 160 watt hours are allowed.
 
Based on your interest in (presumably) high-quality aerial video, DIY is not the way to go. Just buy a Mavic Air Pro and be done with it. It checks all your boxes and then some. Or wait for the Autel Robotics EVO.
 
Very new to this sport. Currently building my first drone. But having read your post again I would like to share a few questions.

1. When you built in the past did you enjoy it?
2. What quality of video are you after?


Following your lead, with money and build skills. I would buy a small portable drone for travel videos. Then build a larger quad for flight trips I could drive to.

Your trips sound wonderful, I look forward to your decision and the associated video's and feedback.
 
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I have built several multicopters and there is something about building your own that is great. But you have to be very careful about the building process, especially soldering - I've crashed a couple of times due to losing power from a bad solder connection. A recent devastating crash is still unresolved - destroyed the copter, the 16000 mAH lipo, a 2 axis gimbal and GoPro camera.

With the money to build a decent flying video platform, you can buy a RTF machine with a great camera, 3 axis gimbal and amazing technology, particularly with regard to collision avoidance. My next machine will be a DJI Mavic Pro Platinum. You cannot beat the technology, the size and performance.

With regard to travel on an airplane, I just returned from a flight from SFO to Denver on a Southwest flight - I saw a woman with a 3DR backpack and asked her about it - she was carrying a Solo quadcopter. I did not ask about the lipo, but I'm assuming that she had one or two with her in the backpack, so when the time comes, ask the airline about their policy. Good luck - hope to see some aerial imagery soon!
 
roger jones & GlassKnees, both excellent post. Thanks for you input. I was very close to pulling the trigger on a new DJI Mavic Pro a number of weeks ago but then I started reading roomers of a new version coming out shortly. The dates I was reading started with February, then the end of February, next the first of March, now I am reading the first of June. My trip will be the end of July and I want at least a month of practice before the trip.

GlassKnee, sorry to hear about the crash. That is a real bummer. I have a lot of experience with building delicate electronics and soldering. Young folks will have no idea what I'm talking about, but way back there was a company called Heathkit. They offered kits to build most any state of the art electronic devices including TV's. I built an AM FM radio at the age of 14 with one of their kits. In 1975 I built a TV. Thousands of solder joints and it worked perfectly the first time power was added. I also worked a number of years in the aviation industry installing avionics. With the above said, I also worked a number of years in the automotive industry a structural analysis engineer. Solder joints in this industry are avoided as much as possible and mechanical connections are preferred. Where solder joints are best for assembly/cost reasons, they are normally potted into something to take any structural loads away from the solder joints.

Sorry for the long post. I'm thinking I may hold off a bit to see if there is any new News on the Mavic Pro II and at the same time start putting together the components to build a drone. For those of you building your own, what controller are you using and are you happy with it?
 
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Loadmaster1 said:
I have a lot of experience with building delicate electronics and soldering. Young folks will have no idea what I'm talking about, but way back there was a company called Heathkit.
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Heathkit ! .... Ahhhh, the good ole days ... lol ... I started soldering back in 1972 myself ;)

Loadmaster1 said:
I also worked a number of years in the aviation industry installing avionics.
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Me too ! ... Not just installation but also complete OVH of units as an instrument tech :)
 
Was in the Army from 1972 - 1975; was a radar repair guy.... Always wanted to get a Heathkit but never did... One of my many regrets...
 
GlassKnees said:
Was in the Army from 1972 - 1975; was a radar repair guy.... Always wanted to get a Heathkit but never did... One of my many regrets...
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Sorry you missed the chance. I repaired TV's as a side job for a number of years. I took courses in the early 70's. It always sticks in my brain that our instructor telling us about the "throw away TV's that will be in a picture frame case that fits on your wall." I didn't believe him at the time. Man was I wrong!!

One other thing on my Heathkit GR-2000 I built. During my build process the kit had a broken threw capacitor. There was a Heathkit store just 5 miles from my home. I called and they had one for me to pick up. When I arrived at the store the sales guy told me to follow him into the backroom. I did and I was in total shock. There were at least four GR-2000 TV's on a shelf above the repair bench. I said to the sales guy, "Is there something I should know about the GR-2000? You have a lot of them on your shelf!". He laughed and said, No, it really is a great TV". These are the ones people brought back because they couldn't get them to work." He proceeded to turn one around for me to see. The components were soldered to the pc-board with the full length of the lead the transistor, resister, capacitor came with. They were not pulled tight to the board as they should have and were dangling all over the place. We both had a laugh and I had a sigh of relief once I saw the issue with some builds. I ran my GR-2000 for over 12 years before giving it to a friend of mine.
 
Building is much more exciting imo.....

I switched over since I could never match dji's image quality for the pricing.

I can beat the flight time and agility all day, but I cannot beat the camera experience that dji delivers.

I have alway carried my batteries on board if that matters in this conversation.
 
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