:D I ignored what is probably the best advice I’ll ever get here, which was don’t get into this hobby and save thousands of $$$, and purchased an inexpensive first drone for practice.  

My question here is what did I get? (Technical or any other corrections appreciated.  Looking at developing my terminology, and anticipating what I need to be able to order parts, etc. For instance, the literature does not state what my camera size is but it’s smaller than an FPV camera purchased for a non-drone project that utilizes M12 lenses.  So is this cam a micro?  M8 lens, or are there other sizes?)

What I think I know based upon replies to my earlier questions:

Type:                     Open Prop
Configuration:         Conventional (Puller)
Weight:                  148g
Propeller Dia:          6 in.
Motor Size:             85x20
Size:                      10 in. Motor-Motor
Frame:                   190x226x73mm
                             7.5x9x3in.
Main Wing:             152mm/6in.
Flight Control (FC):  All-In-One (AIO)
Flight Type?:           Line-Of-Sight or FPV
Controller Protocol:  Proprietary? 
Working Frequency.  2.4 GHz
Battery:                  3.7v 800mAh (1S)
Flight Time:             6-8 min
Environment:          Force 2; Wide Indoor
Range:                   60-80m/200-262 ft.
Camera:                 120 degree 1080p

Missing Info:

???

…I’m thinking the camera is the least of your worries..
Would offer some advice.. but as you stated .. you already ignored some..

Something that will probably never fly. 6" props on 1S is like not going to work. i hope you didn't pay more than 10 dollars for it. It's junk level.

If you want to buy BNF or RTF, get stuff from mainstream manufacturers. You can buy a BabyApe from Darwin for $96 with ELRS or less without (if you are ok soldering your own rx to it) and when you get fed up with it's configuration, swap the 1104 motors for a cheap set of 1202.5 or 1204 motors and get an instant boost in power. The BabyApe is the cheapest mainstream 3" quad you can buy and for the price you could probably buy 2-3 of them.

https://darwinfpv.com/products/darwinfpv...7695898799

If you want something a bit different, try the Happymodel Cine8. Cost is around $110, you should build it as is. It is a DIY project drone, but you don't need to solder anything, just put it all together and go fly. When you want something different, take the parts and put them on a Twiglet 2.5" frame and Canopy (about $15) and you will then have a very nippy 2-3S quad (2S cruiser, 3S ripper). I own three of these kits, mainly because you get Motors, FC, Props, VTX, Camera and a generally expensive Tattu 3S 450mAh lipo, for $100. Price the same up if you were to buy them separately and you find that you are saving a chunk of money. Also the newer ones come with the 20A AIO which can technically run a lot more motors than the old 12A.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256801761845851.html

Another possibility is the Crux35, which is around $130.

It's not a good idea to just buy random stuff in the hope that all the parts will work together. Unless you are an experienced quad builder who knows what they are doing you will just end up throwing money down the toilet. The FPV hobby has an extremely steep learning curve and it can take years to get good at building and flying.

When I first started in the hobby I spent what was probably the best part of 6-12 months watching hundreds of hours of YouTube videos and reading endless tutorials after my family had gone to bed until 2am in the morning most days. I completely immersed myself in everything FPV related until I understood enough to be confident that I knew what I was doing. Even after more than 5 years in the hobby there are still things I don't know and new gear which is continually being released that needs to be learnt about.

Have a read of Oscar Liang's extensive library of articles (HERE) and have look through Joshua Bardwell's YouTube channels (HERE and HERE) which is another gold mine of information. JB also has a useful FPV shopping list website HERE.

As Pathfinder already suggested, rather than just buying random parts, you are better off buying a BNF quad or a quad kit where all the parts have already been carefully selected by someone who knows what they are doing which means that you will end up with a quad that files well. Once you have some experience and understanding of what parts work well together you can then branch out and buy individual parts yourself that you know are going to work together and build your own quad with them.

If you want some inspiration, take a look at the following website which is a whole library of people's build logs of quads which are mostly proven to work...

https://rotorbuilds.com

Flying FPV quads manually in acro mode takes lots of practice and skill. A novice with no prior experience can't just fly them out of the box like they can with a camera drone (which essentially flies itself), so before you fly an FPV quad make sure you spend plenty of hours on an FPV simulator first until you are comfortable and proficient with the stick controls. Then you won't end up injuring someone (or yourself) or damaging someone's property. The larger 3.5" and upwards FPV quads are dangerous machines in the wrong or inexperienced hands. Never fly them in populated or built up areas so as to mitigate any risks or confrontations. Always do so well away from uninvolved people. You are best advised to start off with something small like a whoop or a 2" quad and progress from there as you gain more skill and confidence.

(11-Dec-2023, 06:40 PM)Rob Axel Wrote: …I’m thinking the camera is the least of your worries..
Would offer some advice.. but as you stated .. you already ignored some..

(11-Dec-2023, 07:43 PM)Pathfinder075 Wrote: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256801761845851.html

Another possibility is the Crux35, which is around $130.

There is no Elrs from it?

Hi Crabcrawler,

Ok, you got two options:

1) Keep it. Have you tried to fly it yet? IF so, how does it fly?  Is it junk? 
    Well, that is all in your perspective. Will it fly? I am betting that it will actually fly, 
    however, it just will not have that blazing power and speed that so many cherish.
    I have flown some of this quality and they do actually fly, but they don't usually 
    have enough power to handle much wind and can easily get blown away. The
    thing is, this type of craft is really not repairable. When it breaks, it is done.
   
2) Return it. If it hasn't been flown (and maybe even if it has), then you might 
   consider returning it. Amazon is great with returns, so if you really don't want it,
   then return it and move one.

If you return it, then you are back to ground zero, but that might not be a bad thing.
There are many good options to start out. If you need everything including a transmitter and 
goggles, you might consider a "combo" kit. There are several good ones and if you choose 
wisely, you might end up with a transmitter that can be used with other quads. Yeah, the 
(analog) goggles can always be used with other quads. At the very least, I would consider
a BNF (Bind aNd Fly) quad over anything else since it gets you in the air. 

Take a look around, see what's out there, compare the different options. Maybe you would
want a combo with everything or maybe you want to buy each piece separately. There are
Pros and Cons both ways, but neither is right nor wrong. Just different approaches. If you 
return it, consider you next move thoughtfully, take all advice with a grain of salt (including 
mine), compare the options, take budget into account, and consider what you really want
and where you might go.

Later, iFly    

I see that you edited your original post and added a photo which wasn't there before. The original post (without a photo) made it sound like you had just bought a load of random parts and were trying to build your own quad, which is why people replied with the responses that they did.

So you are talking about the $60 X-PACK 7 drone that you mentioned in your other thread. I put some links a post on that thread HERE which shows that it does fly, albeit not very well. Just have some fun with it and then move onto something better once you get bored. If you do decide to buy or build a proper FPV quad then just take note of what people have already said in this thread regarding that.

EDIT: Below is a mini 2-minute review of that drone. I dispute the clickbait thumbnail title of "surprisingly good" based on the poor quality footage it produces, but you can still have a bit of fun flying around with it

(12-Dec-2023, 04:49 AM)samysh Wrote: There is no Elrs from it?

Nope, that one comes with Diversity D8, which if you are only going to fly it a max of 250-300m away is actually ok.  Like for you, you have a D8 radio (I think, but maybe it was someone else), so it would possibly suit you.  Also it is pretty powerful in it's original form, but when you put the parts on a lightweight 2.5" frame it becomes a real beast.  FTR, adding an ELRS Rx to it, is like soldering 4 wires to 4 pads.

I don't have any video of the original version, but this one shows a range test with it.



This one is one of my flights with it on a 2.5" frame.  You can get an idea of how far I was going.  The far end of the quarry on the right (the trees) is about 200-250m.



On ELRS, the limit would be the battery, but I think a mile is possible.  One area of the quarry I fly at has a horseshoe area that i reckon is a good km long and that is where I will range test next year.

(11-Dec-2023, 06:40 PM)Rob Axel Wrote: …I’m thinking the camera is the least of your worries..
Would offer some advice.. but as you stated .. you already ignored some..

Yeah, “Don’t buy a drone”.  Ok, ok I shouldn’t have.  I’m smitten.  I was forewarned.  That 10” toy with a 1s battery took to flight right off.  If I hadn’t caught it flying over my head I’d have scared my cat and myself even more.  Today, I crashed it into bushes, a fence,  and my house before finally getting it to somewhat hover before the batteries died.

(12-Dec-2023, 02:13 PM)iFly4rotors Wrote: Hi Crabcrawler,

Ok, you got two options:

1) Keep it. Have you tried to fly it yet? IF so, how does it fly?  Is it junk? 
    Well, that is all in your perspective. Will it fly? I am betting that it will actually fly, 
    however, it just will not have that blazing power and speed that so many cherish.
    I have flown some of this quality and they do actually fly, but they don't usually 
    have enough power to handle much wind and can easily get blown away. The
    thing is, this type of craft is really not repairable. When it breaks, it is done.
   
2) Return it. If it hasn't been flown (and maybe even if it has), then you might 
   consider returning it. Amazon is great with returns, so if you really don't want it,
   then return it and move one.

If you return it, then you are back to ground zero, but that might not be a bad thing.
There are many good options to start out. If you need everything including a transmitter and 
goggles, you might consider a "combo" kit. There are several good ones and if you choose 
wisely, you might end up with a transmitter that can be used with other quads. Yeah, the 
(analog) goggles can always be used with other quads. At the very least, I would consider
a BNF (Bind aNd Fly) quad over anything else since it gets you in the air. 

Take a look around, see what's out there, compare the different options. Maybe you would
want a combo with everything or maybe you want to buy each piece separately. There are
Pros and Cons both ways, but neither is right nor wrong. Just different approaches. If you 
return it, consider you next move thoughtfully, take all advice with a grain of salt (including 
mine), compare the options, take budget into account, and consider what you really want
and where you might go.

Later, iFly    

After I bought the thing, and after reading the  replies here, I had no expectations. Boy, was I surprised!  First liftoff it jumped 2 ft high with a powerful buzz and drifted into my kitche. Smokie (cat) hunkered down on full alert.  I backed it back toward me but didn’t know how to stop it so I grabbed it from underneath before it crashed into my window.  What a rush!  Today I flew it, landing it and grounding it off and on with plenty of mishaps, until the battery played out, about 8 min total air time.  It was absolutely fun and way more than I’d expected.  If it works to spec it will allow me to learn basic controls and be useful in that purpose.

(12-Dec-2023, 02:42 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: I see that you edited your original post and added a photo which wasn't there before. The original post (without a photo) made it sound like you had just bought a load of random parts and were trying to build your own quad, which is why people replied with the responses that they did.

So you are talking about the $60 X-PACK 7 drone that you mentioned in your other thread. I put some links a post on that thread HERE which shows that it does fly, albeit not very well. Just have some fun with it and then move onto something better once you get bored. If you do decide to buy or build a proper FPV quad then just take note of what people have already said in this thread regarding that.

EDIT: Below is a mini 2-minute review of that drone. I dispute the clickbait thumbnail title of "surprisingly good" based on the poor quality footage it produces, but you can still have a bit of fun flying around with it

Yeah, I did that after reading replies to clarify my poor writing.  Hope I didn’t violate good forum practice.  I didn’t rewrite it, just dropped the web shot.  Thanks for the video, I’ll look at it.  From your description, it not flying well was my experience  ,  though I attributed that to my inexperience.  I did get better at keeping it from drifting, but it never could get it land on my launch table before the batteries died .The caption “surprisingly good” works for me… my cat and I were both surprised!

(13-Dec-2023, 03:13 AM)crabcrawler Wrote: Hope I didn’t violate good forum practice. 

They don't really exist.  As long as you don't swear a lot, generally people here are ok.  Just show common sense when posting and don't go full Botgrinder.

Glad it works for you.  On the battery side, i'd be interested in what was in those plastic battery cases.  I suspect a standard 1S Lipo, if so you could maybe get a slightly bigger one and still get it in the plastic case, or modify the drone to allow a BT2.0 lipo to be used with it, which would allow any size of BT2.0 Lipo to be theoretically used (they come in many sizes).  But ultimately, just use it to get some stick time, then pick up a CineApe or similar eventually.

(13-Dec-2023, 09:07 PM)Pathfinder075 Wrote: They don't really exist.  As long as you don't swear a lot, generally people here are ok.  Just show common sense when posting and don't go full Botgrinder. :P

Glad it works for you.  On the battery side, i'd be interested in what was in those plastic battery cases.  I suspect a standard 1S Lipo, if so you could maybe get a slightly bigger one and still get it in the plastic case, or modify the drone to allow a BT2.0 lipo to be used with it, which would allow any size of BT2.0 Lipo to be theoretically used (they come in many sizes).  But ultimately, just use it to get some stick time, then pick up a CineApe or similar eventually.

Good, I’m just here to learn about drones.  Now you know, I was curious about whether I could upgrade the battery m.  I’ve got them already for another project.   The battery is in a rectangular box that looks like it could fit two AAs in it.  I don’t know if it’s glued or not, thinking not because each corner has a tiny screws.  Don’t know what’s inside- figured a circuit board or something.  Just by mentioning it has given me the gumption to open it up.

(12-Dec-2023, 03:57 PM)Pathfinder075 Wrote: Nope, that one comes with Diversity D8, which if you are only going to fly it a max of 250-300m away is actually ok.  Like for you, you have a D8 radio (I think, but maybe it was someone else), so it would possibly suit you.  Also it is pretty powerful in it's original form, but when you put the parts on a lightweight 2.5" frame it becomes a real beast.  FTR, adding an ELRS Rx to it, is like soldering 4 wires to 4 pads.

I don't have any video of the original version, but this one shows a range test with it.



This one is one of my flights with it on a 2.5" frame.  You can get an idea of how far I was going.  The far end of the quarry on the right (the trees) is about 200-250m.



On ELRS, the limit would be the battery, but I think a mile is possible.  One area of the quarry I fly at has a horseshoe area that i reckon is a good km long and that is where I will range test next year.

The protocol is Diversity 8?  Can you elaborate on what this means?