Planning to build a quad (upgradeable)

Leon Kho

Member
Hi All,

Good day to you. My name is Leon. I am quite new in this.

I am planning to build a quad, (lowest budget). My final quad will be able to see live video from the quad, getting information like battery status & GPS info, & display on my live screen/monitor.

before we discuss on details, first i need to know the required items.
In my mind:
1. 6-8 channel transmitter & receiver
2. Quad Body/Frame
3. 4 motors
4. 4 props
5. 4 ECS
6. Flight controller
7. Video transmitter & receiver
8. GPS module & receiver
9. batteries, wires, & other electronics tools.

Can anyone please help about this item:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__309__190__Radios_Receivers-TURNIGY.html

Is this normally replace item 4 & 5 above?

for GPS & Video (item 7), are there can be installed separately or must be integrated with flight controller or any other thing else?

Hope to get someone to contribute some input here.

Thank you
 
I'm rather new to this multirotor thing but I can lend some assistance here. Items 1-6 & 9 are definitely required. You're also going to need either a power distribution board, wiring harness or a frame that has the PDB integrated into it. That's the minimum that you'll need to get in the air. The video and GPS are not required and to be honest, learning to fly on manual (albeit with many crashes) is the way to go. I'm no great shakes as a pilot yet but I've gotten a good feel for how the quad should behave. Later on, you can add the GPS with all the automated flight modes that go with it confident that you can handle it if something goes awry. Just my $0.02.
 
Hi Leon , What Derek said is right as not needing gps yet , Ok to get in the air your need
A frame big enough to carry a camera if thats what you want to do at the end?.. look at 550mm plus x frame or H frame
If its a quad then 4 motors and escs plus props , motors will need to be low kv big props so this means frame will need to have room for this
Hobbyking is doing an plug and play FPV system its all you need in a box take a look in the new products section
The transmitter will need min 4 channels most of us have 6/9 channel radio the one your looking at is ok but your need a module ( spektrum,futuba,freesky etc) and then a matching receiver
Now for the FCB kk2.1.5 is good but cant do GPS , naza m will do but its not cheap and i think multi wii does too have a look find what your interested in and send me a link i will take a look for you and give you a yes or no
Some extra info Esc best to go a bit over kill its safer i use 30amp on a 550mm quad running 650kv motors 14x5.5 props also get simonk flashed throttle responds better and coding makes quad fly more stable ( i will leave you a video to look at )
the frame will control prop size and this will control motor size too so you can get a fair flight time
Battery will need to be a 4000mah to a 5000mah 3 cell or 4 if you go 4 cell every thing else must also work on 4 cell
Power boards only if frame has the room , if not better to get a built in one or make your own loom up with is not hard to do
Now some thing to think about if your going to fly not using FPV may be look at some lights so you can see front and back so you can see which way the quad is going , i hope this helps any question just ask my friend
 
i need gps (maybe in future) so that i wanna to have auto return home feature. I need live video (maybe in future) because i wanna enjoy the live scenery on air...:)
 
Hi mate the Q brain is good lots use it ,but me i am old, and like the single ESC so i can flash them with simonk code, and if one fails i just replace that one not the whole thing . plus i can go over the top a fit a more powerful ESC like a 30amp so have loads of head room the change motors props etc
As for FCB may be the multi wii,nase32 or naza m would be the best ones to look at naza being one the best known brands and is very well trusted world wide . Here is a video this shows why I use simonk flashed esc
 
Ho Holtneil, thanks again for sharing. I understand your situation.Actually im looking for cheapest solution at the moment.

If i am using Q brain now, and i wanna add

1. GPS fo that can have at least Auto Return (or fly to designated location), what are the items i need to add?

2. Live monitoring, Need to watch live what is happening up there & also some GPS information (speed, direction to home, co-ordinate, battery level, distance from pilot & etc). Please advice what items needed as well.

Thank you.
 
Hi Leon ok what you need is a good FCB like the naza m with gps , this will have the return home fail safe that your looking for it is possible the multi wii can do this but the way i see it buy it once get it right than to buy twice , as for FPV just make sure it has OSD or you can plug OSD into it ( On Screen Display)
Dont get mixed up my friend the Q brain is a ESC all this will do is give power to the motors and FCB
The FCB is one of the most important parts
HK are doing a plug and play FPV for £62 its not the best but its good and you should be able to add OSD
A basic quad can be made cheap but as soon as you add return home and FPV the cost will go up
 
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