This is my review for the Meteor75 Pro frame from BetaFPV, this is one of the first frames really built for digital.  The canopy is oversized and allows for the digital vtx (hdzero and walksnail) to be mounted within it, away from the frame.

• Meteor75 Pro Brushless Whoop Frame
  
• Micro Canopy for HD Camera
  
• Gemfan 45mm 2-Blade Propellers (1.5mm Shaft 4PCS)
  

The frame is quite large for a "75mm" foot print.  I like the colours they come in, I chose orange!


The frame has that oversized canopy thing going on, where the mounts don't align with the aio fc holes but are spaced futher apart.  I think this was on the Twig 4" frame as well, an oversized canopy.

An underside view of the canopy shows the seperate vtx mounts, there is only three of them and that seems to work well in practice.


I checked it out and this canopy fits both the V1 (the stripped down copy of the full size vtx) and V2 (the new PCB that is smaller) of the walksnail 1S vtxes.

In this case I'm using the V2 pcb with the nano sized camera (not the whoop lite camera it comes with) as this canopy requires your typical 14mm mounting holes with m2 screws so whoop style nano cams without screw holes wont fit.   I paired the vtx with a truerc lhcp antenna.   I used liquid electrical type to "secure" the re-set connections for the mipi and u.fl connectors.


The drive train on this quad is the betafpv 5A aio with elrs onboard.   This is the lite version that comes clean motor pads and no sockets pre-soldered on, thank God!   I'm using 1102 18000kV HGLRC aeolus motors, very underwhelming to look at with their simple bell design.


Once the motors were soldered on, it was a pretty straightforward build.  Soldering the motor wires at this tiny size is a sickness I swear, I can't help it though.  I really, really hate motor plugs/sockets, like really hate....   They're my ultimate inefficiency gremlin.

The vtx sits snug within the canopy, I like the short profile of the antenna


So after all, it is a simple case of adding the top to the bottom, soldering the four vtx wires and we're done....

Really digging the black/orange scheme.  


As a small demo rip


I'll add tuning and programming notes to this thread later, want to go play video games now...

Is it the canopy from the X-Knight? It looks a bit bigger than the one I put on my 2.5 Twig. But I think mine is the standard Meteor65/75/85 2022 Canopy. it looks good though. i need to get some of the bigger canopies.

That’s a cute little bugger. Looks like the canopy actually offers some protection for the vtx.

Nice build!

That's a nice looking build. What size batteries are you using? I saw that the new 75 pro uses a 1s 550.

45mm props ?? Kinda makes it a 75 1/2 . . . or 3/4 . . . 

The canopy's wide screw down points are like the KK ET canopy. I grabbed an ET125 kit a while ago when they came out with their new sleeker/longer canopies for them. It came with 3 canopies, and they mount/bolt down on those wider spots. Have a ton of room in the canopy too . . . 

On this, it looks like they got the extra for the ducts by making the frame just for those cross style AIOs. I've used the cross style iFlight 1S 5amp  . . . with motor plugs and the little stack vTx on a 65 Whoop, but there's not a lot of those style boards to choose from.

KK used/uses 48mm 4 blades for their Tiny 8 brushed Whoops, and Beta was using KK 85 frames & props for their 85 brushed Whoops. I've got both brushed frames, and they're identical, even the packaging. 

I've also used the KK 48mm (1.889") 4 blades with HM 802/16s, 1-2S, the Mobula motors on an 85 frame, and on 2S, was as fast as any of my 85s on 2S, a little sluggish on 1S inside, but the KK 48mm tri-blades helped that. Like I really need a faster 85 Whoop inside . . . Those were the best props @ almost 2" that had the 1mm shafts. Couldn't find any other decent 2" (50.8mm) 4 blades with 1mm holes, but the new high revving 1102s have 1.5 shafts and opens up a world of 2" props which will vastly out perform the 45mms. 

You put together a really nice setup with it, and I always liked the Boldclash B06 canopies for the room they had. That canopy looks like it would be tuff to hook up to a "regular" Whoop frame . . . same problem with the ET canopy on them. 

Haha, I'm totally opposite. Unless I just have to have it, I won't buy a board w/o motor plugs. First, I get nothing outta soldering, I do it because I have to to get the quad I want, but always look to do the minimum. I have a 15amp Darwin & a 20amp JHEMCU that I will solder wired motor plugs on before I do anything else on those boards, and am in no hurry to use them. I change my setups around way too much to keep soldering, unsoldering and re-soldering motors . . . I just won't do that period. I seem to have a whole lot less motor problems than an awful lot of people do over the years too, and in the 21st century, why do humans have to flippin solder anyway . . . They have SuperGlue for copper pipes that holds under pressure . . . where's the electronics SuperGlue??

You're way above my level taking on all that. My eyes not gracefully aging and improving over time like wine doesn't make it any easier either, even with the mag light. 

Since this review was about the Beta 75 frame & canopy . . . and not about your build with it . . .

The wider ducts and wider canopy mounts. It seems more like Beta again is trying some strange ash oddball size/shape to have something else to try and hustle us with again with another lame ash proprietary BetaFPV gimmick like their worthless batt plugs & proprietary Silverware boards. Yea, it's probably gonna fly faster/stronger than a 40mm 75, but my 75 with HM 802/19s & 40mms is already way faster than my house, and the 45s are not f/s as a 2" 85 which would be for outside . . . so I want one why???

And this is from someone who knows that nobody can possibly have too many Whoops . . . 8^}

And again and again and again . . . not about your build with it . . .

Nice Build      Looks like it flies really well     Good Job 

Yep, you can't have too many whoops. 

(07-Apr-2023, 02:49 PM)Pathfinder075 Wrote: Is it the canopy from the X-Knight?  It looks a bit bigger than the one I put on my 2.5 Twig.  But I think mine is the standard Meteor65/75/85 2022 Canopy.  it looks good though.  i need to get some of the bigger canopies.

Nah that canopy is thicker and 3d printed on the x-knight I think?  I could be wrong.  They do share the same mounting dimensions, which is bigger that the whoop dimensions.

Quote:That's a nice looking build. What size batteries are you using? I saw that the new 75 pro uses a 1s 550.

I'm using varying 1S batts, from 450 up to 850mAh.  on the 850's I'm getting about 4:30 minutes runtime.

Quote:The wider ducts and wider canopy mounts. It seems more like Beta again is trying some strange ash oddball size/shape to have something else to try and hustle us with again with another lame ash proprietary BetaFPV gimmick like their worthless batt plugs & proprietary Silverware boards. Yea, it's probably gonna fly faster/stronger than a 40mm 75, but my 75 with HM 802/19s & 40mms is already way faster than my house, and the 45s are not f/s as a 2" 85 which would be for outside . . . so I want one why???

lol, I can understand your point but I think that for digital you will see more changes as manufacturers continue to make frames for the AIO style vtxs from hdzero and walksnail.   For me, I believe they made this footprint sized frame to accommodate the size AND weight changes digital builds create.   Building for digital, well they're a bit heavier.

My wallet still starts trembling when I look at digi stuff, but there's also that weight hit that keeps me away from it too. I know they're starting to get lighter . . . and a bit cheaper, but still, nowhere near enough of either to get me to want it.
 
I still don't see a need for some monkey in the middle sized Whoop/props. Use the 1102s for the 40mms, if you insist on running a too small 1S HD Whoop, or just put the setup on an 85 with 2" props and don't have to worry. Whoops, especially 65s & 75s, were never meant to be a SinnyMatic photo platform anyway . . . why do I need to see me ricocheting off a table leg and bouncing & tumbling across the LR floor in glorious HD? Probably ain't too great for the cam or digi vTx either . . . and I'm betting I can buy a whole ship load of analog vTxs for the price of one digi . . . If you really want an HD SinnyWhoop, get a Squirt or a Nutmeg, ( Nurkala's awesome video in the museum, and why I did start thinking about a SinnyWhoop) or a GEP Dolphin & StanFPV's ducts and do it right . . .
 
KK had their oddball prop sizes with their ETs, the ET115 has 2.3" props, and their flippin awesome ducts . . . Nick's ET vs Oak Tree vid is a classic . . . www.   youtube.com/watch?v=aaoyKvTlpic (@ about 4:45 ) . . . but they're too big for a 2", and too small for the 2 1/2"s. The ET125 has 2.8" props and ducts, and again, too big for the 2 1/2" and too small for the 3". Hardly any props to choose from in those sizes. Flippin awesome tuff ducts, and would love to use them on one of my builds just because of their strength, but no need for their oddball sizes either. They were only decent Whoops, got lousy flight times, but man, they are tuff. Never really caught on as much as I would have expected. I thought Emax or Diatone came out with a couple quads with those weird size props too, and those never caught on much either.

Hi Brian,

Well, I pretty much agree with you; we are on the same page. For me, digital is
simply not worth the money. I simply can not justify it for purely and solely
recreational use. If nothing else is done with the video, then I just can't justify
it. Now, if the video is used for just about anything else, then it is a Part 107
activity which means registration and the addition of a remote ID device. Yep,
more weight and more hassles. No Thank You.

Also agree with the "Monkey In The Middle" prop sizes. Why? There is so little 
difference between 40mm and 2 inch that it seems like 45mm is, well, just silly.
Just move on up to 2 inch and be done with it. From my perspective, anything
less than 2 inch is just a fun little craft for in-the-house or in a small space. Yes,
you can squeeze half decent fly times or you can get some decent performance,
however, mostly not at the same time. Generally, it is biased towards one or the
other. For outside flying, I like a 2.5 inch or larger. The 2.5's are basically right on 
the fence, so to speak. They can be flown in smaller spaces, can handle larger spaces, 
can get really decent fly times, and/or be nice little performance quads. 

Weight is always a factor for anything that flies AND the more it weighs, the more
thrust is needed to fly and even more if you want performance. For any given RPM,
larger props push more air (more thrust) than smaller ones. The smaller props get
their thrust from higher RPM, hence higher KV motors which tend to such juice a 
bit faster than lower KV motors. The first logical mover for either fly time or higher
performance is a move to larger props. This little bit of physics is the very reason
that I started moving up from 65mm framed (31mm prop) tiny whoops. 

Personally, I bias the extended Fly Time at the expense of agility or hi-performance
as I don't fly ACRO and don't do stunt tricks or hi-speed flights. Since my flights are
smooth easy cruises and I don't care about flips, propwash, and all that stuff; I will
overload the weight a bit with a heavier battery to get the extra fly time. 

My 35mm Baby Naz X-1 build was a good adventure down the dynamics of various
setups and really shows how weight, prop size, and configuration effect the flight
characteristics. The final set up (pics) uses 35mm props in a pusher configuration and
is getting about 5 minutes with 1S 500-600 mAh. I have not yet tried all possible
battery combinations, so I might be able to get a bit more fly time. Anyway, I can
live with 5 minutes on a small 1S craft.  

Anyway, just my 2 cents worth 

(10-Apr-2023, 02:28 PM)iFly4rotors Wrote: Hi Brian,

Well, I pretty much agree with you; we are on the same page. For me, digital is
simply not worth the money. I simply can not justify it for purely and solely
recreational use. If nothing else is done with the video, then I just can't justify
it. Now, if the video is used for just about anything else, then it is a Part 107
activity which means registration and the addition of a remote ID device. Yep,
more weight and more hassles. No Thank You.

Also agree with the "Monkey In The Middle" prop sizes. Why? There is so little 
difference between 40mm and 2 inch that it seems like 45mm is, well, just silly.
Just move on up to 2 inch and be done with it. From my perspective, anything
less than 2 inch is just a fun little craft for in-the-house or in a small space. Yes,
you can squeeze half decent fly times or you can get some decent performance,
however, mostly not at the same time. Generally, it is biased towards one or the
other. For outside flying, I like a 2.5 inch or larger. The 2.5's are basically right on 
the fence, so to speak. They can be flown in smaller spaces, can handle larger spaces, 
can get really decent fly times, and/or be nice little performance quads. 

Weight is always a factor for anything that flies AND the more it weighs, the more
thrust is needed to fly and even more if you want performance. For any given RPM,
larger props push more air (more thrust) than smaller ones. The smaller props get
their thrust from higher RPM, hence higher KV motors which tend to such juice a 
bit faster than lower KV motors. The first logical mover for either fly time or higher
performance is a move to larger props. This little bit of physics is the very reason
that I started moving up from 65mm framed (31mm prop) tiny whoops. 

Personally, I bias the extended Fly Time at the expense of agility or hi-performance
as I don't fly ACRO and don't do stunt tricks or hi-speed flights. Since my flights are
smooth easy cruises and I don't care about flips, propwash, and all that stuff; I will
overload the weight a bit with a heavier battery to get the extra fly time. 

My 35mm Baby Naz X-1 build was a good adventure down the dynamics of various
setups and really shows how weight, prop size, and configuration effect the flight
characteristics. The final set up (pics) uses 35mm props in a pusher configuration and
is getting about 5 minutes with 1S 500-600 mAh. I have not yet tried all possible
battery combinations, so I might be able to get a bit more fly time. Anyway, I can
live with 5 minutes on a small 1S craft.  

Anyway, just my 2 cents worth 

I've been willing to give a bit on handling & top speed for the extra air time too, but as I've kept on building with different configurations, I've been willing to compromise less & less.

Haha . . . just had to throw this in . . . 8^}

Monkey in the middle props . . .  

"The final set up (pics) uses 35mm props in a pusher configuration"

and on a backasswards upside down quad too . . . 

8^}

Only thing is, the little 31mms on the 65s are extremely sensitive to even relatively small changes in weight, and it really affects how the Whoop flies, handles, and how long it stays in the air. With the props that small, there's going to be a more dramatic difference in going up, even a little bit in the prop size. If they made a "regular" Whoop frame @ about 68mm to fit the little bigger props, the overall size difference wouldn't be that much, you could still sneak between tiny gaps, and should get better performance & flight times, but then again, prop choices, at least starting out . . . Also the difference in prop size with performance between the 31s & the 35s is going to look a lot more dramatic than the 40s to 45s because of the small amount of lift the little 31s provide in the first place.

I never liked those upside down backasswards prop things. I don't get enough grass & krap caught up in the Whoop when I land, so I'll just point the props at the ground and put them in a basket too . . . I have a rider, a walk behind, and a couple weed wackers . . . I really don't need anything else to cut my grass . . . although it might be fun for the trimming . . . 
 

This thing is a blast for slow proximity flying.   In this mode I fly in 1080P and can see freakin everything!

Went way from the weekend with the Mrs and kid #3 and had some time to surf the treetops.


Only digital gives me the confidence to do this.   With the (lack of) weight with this rig it would get stuck and never come down.

Shot on the 1S whoop with gyroflow data from the jhemcu FC and video from the onboard 1s vtx.   Sound captured earlier in the morning then applied in post.

Very nice, I was going to say that is very brave... 1S whoops love trees and will make their nest in the tallest most inaccessible spot...
Wonderful images and looks like a lovely place.

Nice flying.

Yeah, there’s no way in hell I’d try that with my analog builds.

Really nice vid. I would probably go for the lower to the ground stuff, but some of my trees saw the vid and started chanting, "Try it, try it, try it" . . . . so I don't think I'm going to try it . . . 8^} 

You sure got a lotta faith that little Whoop is gonna listen when you tell it something. I really don't think I'd risk a quad trying to pull that off, but nicely done, and I hope you patted it on the head and gave it a nice treat when you got home for being so amazingly good to you just by coming home !