first quad build/new to forum

[aerolux]

[This is my first post to this forum... I haven't been flying FPV and/or acro very long, and I'm clearly not a natural at either. I also have zero background in electronics, DIY-skills, and... well, really the only positive attribute i do possess is a slightly bizarre and unwavering determination to keep trying to get better at everything quad-related.]

So, I'm almost finished with my 1st build (pics soon). I used a skitzo frame and motors, DYS 30A ESCs, a Matek F4 AIO FC/PDB, Foxeer camera (forget which one), Foxeer 200mw VTX, FrSky SBUS RX, generic buzzer and led strip. I'm planning on binding it to my taranis plus after doing a final check with a multimeter, and then - guessing now - I think I use baseflight and the taranis to establish an arming switch, as well as assigning angle, horizon, and acro postions on a 3-way switch. then i see if the motors work? (OK, now I've hit the absolute limit of my knowledge and/or experience). I've watched countless youtube vids, read wikis and FAQs and posts and articles, but I still don't understand. I feel like I'm trying to learn how to read chinese from a textbook written in sanskrit. 

anyway - - it's nice to meet you all. great forum

[fftunes]

Welcome

What's the reason to use baseflight (unless it's just a typo and you meant betaflight) ?

Either way, plan sounds good, nothing wrong there so hope it all works out, and when in doubt, just ask.

[Tom BD Bad]

It is all a bit daunting starting out, millions of options on the TX, Betaflight (I guess that is is what you meant?) and (I have never used it but I guess) BLHeli suite too...

re. checking if the motors work, I would suggest doing it on the bench (without props attached) use the motor tab in betaflight, you can also confirm that they are rotating in the correct direction too...

Realistically though it sounds like you should be all set to get in the air once you have assigned 'Arm' and mode switches with BetaFlight, but as fftunes says any questions just ask...

Edit to add; ...and Welcome to the best FPV forum you can find!!!

[aerolux]

thanks for the responses!

The only reason I'm using baseflight is that I tried every other app first, and baseflight was the only on that recognized the FC. I'm definitely not wedded to baseflight. I'm pretty sure that switching to betaflight (etc.) is possible, but I have no clue how to do it and I'm terrified of doing something that screws up the board (dumb, I know).

thanks again!

[unseen]

Welcome to the forum aerolux!

If you didn't flash Baseflight to your Matek F4, then I very much doubt that the flight controller is actually running Baseflight. Development on Baseflight stopped several years ago, long before your flight controller was designed, so it's very unlikely it would work.

You need to install the Betaflight configurator in your Chrome browser and use that to connect to the flight controller. The Matek F4 is designed for Betaflight and has an integrated OSD that only a recent version of Betaflight or Cleanflight can use. There is a specific version of Betaflight for your flight controller called MATEKF405 and this is what the flight controller comes pre-flashed with.

Have a look at Matek's product page for your flight controller: http://www.mateksys.com/?portfolio=f405-aio

There are good instructions there for getting the correct drivers installed on your computer and other helpful tips.

[Carl.Vegas]

once you get to betaflight I had a little bit of an ah-ha about all of the things that I needed to configure in BF. Here is my experience in case it helps, YMMV

http://intofpv.com/t-sometimes-betafligh...n-defaults