Hello everyone,

I am still learning on Sims... started with a cheapo Volantex (13 dollar USB Tx anyone? it's for sale for $9 +S&H if the next noob wants it)... already impulse bought a X9D+ it arrives tomorrow. 

I am trying to learn almost exclusively in acro mode as I already am finding that level feels awkward with proper camera angles in Liftoff. It's been fun and I hope that the controller that doesn't add noise inputs will help me get better at throttle control (There are points on the Volantex where the throttle cycles between zero and it's position... very awkward stuff)... 

My goal is at least to play around with racing somewhat... I used to race my Miata (car) in a format called Autocross which is basically super technical lower-speed impromptu time trial racing in an ultra safe environment where people can avoid worrying about damaging their nice daily drivers :p I don't know if I'll ever be good with a quad but who knows what'll happen with time.

Welcome!
There is sooo much good information here, and even more experience and expert advice from the many veterans that are members as well.

I dont even have my fpv racer built yet, and the ole lady is yellin' at me cuz I cant stop reading these forums!

(24-Jan-2017, 02:58 AM)Drone0fPrey Wrote: Welcome!
There is sooo much good information here, and even more experience and expert advice from the many veterans that are members as well.

I dont even have my fpv racer built yet, and the ole lady is yellin' at me cuz I cant stop reading these forums!

yep... reason I decided to sign up for this one: It's the one I've been reading the most so far. 

Thanks for the welcome!

Welcome Carl, I'm sure you will find any help you need easily available or readily provided.
Whats your sim of preference?

Welcome Carl, any question just ask we are all here to help !

Welcome and sim's are a great way to practice crashing :-)

Welcome Carl! Good on ya for starting in acro - I started in Horizon (one of the self-level modes) and am finding it more difficult to wean myself to acro. You shouldn't have that problem. Good to have you on the forum!

Thanks everyone for the welcomes.

(24-Jan-2017, 05:43 AM)Tom BD Bad Wrote: Whats your sim of preference?

I've started out with Liftoff, although I am likely to try others out after I have more experience.

(24-Jan-2017, 10:07 AM)sloscotty Wrote: Welcome Carl!  Good on ya for starting in acro - I started in Horizon (one of the self-level modes) and am finding it more difficult to wean myself to acro. You shouldn't have that problem.  Good to have you on the forum!

It's been a struggle, but I figured... hey if I cant stay in the air either way, I might as well go with the tougher one and try to develop good habits now.  It definitely makes me happy that all I have to do is hit "R" for everything to be fixed.

Spoke too soon on Acro... I got the taranis which has made a big difference on my ability to learn throttle control (no more supernatural inputs)... Then I went to learn turns... I just couldn't figure out why I could make big sweeping turns way up in the air but not precise turns around a specific object.

I recreated a track from a tutorial... still had issues. I must have put a good 5 or 6 hours into trying to figure it out. It turns out my lack of skill in being able to correct in acro mode was masking what it was that I am doing wrong on turns. Specific inputs that I was overdoing and at the wrong time... I tried level for a bit on my practice track and I started to see "Oh I am pushing the quad in the wrong direction when I do that!" lol... So... while I will still have my fun practicing in Acro I will also give myself a chance to learn a little in level.

Level mode was all I flew for almost a year on toy quads. Imo it really helped me practice simple maneuvers like out and backs then banked turns out and back. Whenever Id get confused or mess up just let go and it levels out to start over (in theory, why is there always a tree RIGHT there!)
Now that Im in acro mode on sims with the control and confidence Ive gained, I feel like Im in so much MORE control like being in the cockpit of a fighter jet! Lol (imo)(pitch/roll stick centered vs always mashed forward in level mode)
Once that muscle memory sets in, you will no longer have to think about inputs, but rather your thumbs just "do it" and you get to look around to see if anyone actually noticed that awesome move you just pulled off instead of the normal "TREE!"

(01-Feb-2017, 02:37 AM)Drone0fPrey Wrote: Level mode was all I flew for almost a year on toy quads. Imo it really helped me practice simple maneuvers like out and backs then banked turns out and back. Whenever Id get confused or mess up just let go and it levels out to start over (in theory, why is there always a tree RIGHT there!)
Now that Im in acro mode on sims with the control and confidence Ive gained, I feel like Im in so much MORE control like being in the cockpit of a fighter jet! Lol (imo)(pitch/roll stick centered vs always mashed forward in level mode)
Once that muscle memory sets in, you will no longer have to think about inputs, but rather your thumbs just "do it" and you get to look around to see if anyone actually noticed that awesome move you just pulled off instead of the normal "TREE!"

Still in Acro most of the time for now... Although I still have my self-destruct moments often but that's why I am starting in sims. I am probably about 20-30 hours into practice now and so crashes are only collision related rather than the very beginning drop out of the sky moments. I've also started maneuvering through objects and getting myself used to really controlling my direction regardless of my yaw which seems to be a sticking point for me. I would say right now I am starting to have muscle memory moments but only here and there and usually somewhere along the way I remember "I don't know how to do what I just did" and then I have a meltdown and end up in a completely different spot than I expected. All I can say is when the videos for new people say "you will crash a lot so use sims to reduce frustration" they are not kidding and I am very grateful that I have.

(03-Feb-2017, 01:27 PM)Carl.Vegas Wrote: Still in Acro most of the time for now... Although I still have my self-destruct moments often but that's why I am starting in sims. I am probably about 20-30 hours into practice now and so crashes are only collision related rather than the very beginning drop out of the sky moments. I've also started maneuvering through objects and getting myself used to really controlling my direction regardless of my yaw which seems to be a sticking point for me. I would say right now I am starting to have muscle memory moments but only here and there and usually somewhere along the way I remember "I don't know how to do what I just did" and then I have a meltdown and end up in a completely different spot than I expected. All I can say is when the videos for new people say "you will crash a lot so use sims to reduce frustration" they are not kidding and I am very grateful that I have.

Also remember that you will have more "feel" when actually flying a machine with weight. There is that element missing in sims, where you feel disconnected from the real life "feel" of a quad. Not to discourage sims at all tho! Just, there is a diference. You will love the difference!

I'm looking forward to it... but sort of holding back. I expect to have some adjustments and to be honest I mostly expect that it'll be much like going from a toy USB controller to a legit radio that happens to be able to connect to USB... There will be an adjustment period but I will figure it out.

i'm probably going to go with something indoor friendly next as I have a rather open home and live in Atlanta these days (my name is where I am from not where I live... btw. rise up go falcons) which is full of trees to crash into outdoors. I still want to focus on goggles first before I make that jump... once I feel comfortable there I'll move on to the toys that I won't be devastated if I crash... later I'll work on builds.

If later I start to find myself having taken the right course I'll happily share my journey for others as I've been through a surprisingly similar hyper-technical hobby of "autocross" which is super technical low-speed time-based racing. The difference is the barriers to entry are super low to autocross racing but super high in this hobby. I could draw charts as an analyst-at-heart but I'll resist the urge... let's just say it's expo of 0.3 vs 1.7... just saying... (I wont say which is which because I am still new enough that I am still not sure which is which other than the one or two ways I've messed myself up so far)

The Syma X5C was my very first. $10 crash pack off ebay and its still going stong 1yr later lol has since been "frankinquaded" tho and the frame is still taking hits! (Not too indoor friendly but can be done, especially with a big room.)
Now the H8 mini (imo) is a blast for indoors (I just pick it up and my dog goes into "lock-on mode ) its dang near indestructible, very very cheap RTF and highly "modable" even for fpv use! Even does well outside.

(04-Feb-2017, 04:26 AM)Drone0fPrey Wrote: The Syma X5C was my very first. $10 crash pack off ebay and its still going stong 1yr later lol has since been "frankinquaded" tho and the frame is still taking hits! (Not too indoor friendly but can be done, especially with a big room.)
Now the H8 mini (imo) is a blast for indoors (I just pick it up and my dog goes into "lock-on mode ) its dang near indestructible, very very cheap RTF and highly "modable" even for fpv use! Even does well outside.

I had one with a very useful foam prop guard set up on it when I first considered being interested in flying. At the time I was completely unable to use my yaw and keep my concept of where I was. I don't know if I'll ever be comfortable with LOS... the spacial awareness of it messes immensely with my head. Even in a self-leveling mode. My cat would hunt it down and there were some teeth marks in the foam.

The syma and H8 both look great although neither of the versions with cameras seem to specify that they have video transmitters. That said, when I shop around I find myself often almost hitting the buy button on stuff like that because "heck, it's only 30 bucks"... luckily what stops me is "ooh and I want more batteries, and a good charger, maybe a couple set of props and oh... I am up to 70 or 80 now? didn't I see one for 80 that was even better! lol...