Yes, sorry for deleting my other post. Have been seeing different hues of red for a few hours now...

Whatever version is what and whatever looks like what in what OS is irrelevant to me now. I have BLHeli and BLHeli_32 on my OSX partition and know which way is up and that's all that matters.

I found the OSX version of BLHeli Suite (non-32) and installed it. Was able to reflash but the only thing that saved me was the box in the upper left basically ignoring MCU and any configuration or whatever, then it warns in red text that flashing unofficial firmware can blow your **** up, etc... I had to check this box to be able to reflash 16.7 onto all ESCs. Wrecked a nice little 450mAh 3S in the process of changing motor direction, hope it's worth it (rolls eyes).

Anyway, that was no fun in the least and almost a fatal test of patience for my Phantom but a great learning experience. This will all come in very handy when I start actually building my other machines from scratch. Thanks for riding along and for the help SLF!

By the way, you've got to be one of the most knowledgable, astute troubleshooters out there. Pardon my hairtrigger temper and thanks again.

(02-Nov-2019, 10:52 PM)ProppedCodger Wrote: I found the OSX version of BLHeli Suite (non-32) and installed it.  Was able to reflash but the only thing that saved me was the box in the upper left basically ignoring MCU and any configuration or whatever, then it warns in red text that flashing unofficial firmware can blow your **** up, etc...  I had to check this box to be able to reflash 16.7 onto all ESCs.   Wrecked a nice little 450mAh 3S in the process of changing motor direction, hope it's worth it (rolls eyes).

Anyway, that was no fun in the least and almost a fatal test of patience for my Phantom but a great learning experience.  This will all come in very handy when I start actually building my other machines from scratch.  Thanks for riding along and for the help SLF!

You usually need to check that "Ignore inappropriate MCU" box if you need to flash the ESCs manually from a HEX file on your hard drive. I didn't realise there was a Mac version of the BLHeliSuite for the BLHeli_S ESC's. I don't run a poncy Mac so I never needed to look for one.

Anyway, I'm glad you got it back up and running before the boot came down on it. I think it is hard (maybe impossible) to actually brick the MCUs on the ESCs.

Now you can go and have a few beers to de-stress 

(02-Nov-2019, 11:00 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: You usually need to check that "Ignore inappropriate MCU" box if you need to flash the ESCs manually from a HEX file on your hard drive. I didn't realise there was a Mac version of the BLHeliSuite for the BLHeli_S ESC's. I don't run a poncy Mac so I never needed to look for one.

Anyway, I'm glad you got it back up and running before the boot came down on it. I think it is hard (maybe impossible) to actually brick the MCUs on the ESCs.

Now you can go and have a few beers to de-stress 

Yeah, well everything in Windoze looks exactly the same, like Bill Gates' fundament. 

Never having played with 4-in-1 ESCs at all before that was a trying and valuable experience, only wish I possessed more grace (any grace) to be able to relax through it.

This is what BLHeli_S looks like in OSX.

Cheers and I hope I don't need to lean on you again before too long sir.

I'm a bit lazy when it comes to editing videos of my flights which is why I rarely post any, but I figured I may as well knock one up of the Phantom's maiden flight which I did on Thursday. It's a pretty lame flight because I had limited time and was really out to test Betaflight 4.1 on my 5", but I decided to stick a couple of 2S 450mAh LiPos on the charger and chuck the Phantom in my backpack along with the 5" so I could give it a bit of a whizz around. I was also wary about trying not to break it on its first flight, but I did get a roll in and a couple of flips. Next time I take it out I'll give it a good old ragging  I make no apologies for the  quality DVR footage. You can blame FatShark for using 80's DVR tech in their $500 goggles. I'm probably going to have to resort to getting an ImmersionRC PowePlay just so I can start getting some half decent footage from my whoops and micros.

(02-Nov-2019, 05:24 PM)ProppedCodger Wrote: Just got mine from China yesterday.  Set it up, put some HQ 2535 props on it and am getting 8 minutes in a hover on 450mAh 3S.  Hovers at 28%, lots of power from what I can tell in the living room and comes down with slightly warm motors and battery.  Think I'll get used to it on 2S.

Have never tried to change motor direction on my other GEPRC (Cygnet) quad but tried with the Phantom and it wouldn't play along in BetaFlight.  Do I actually need to connect this little guy to BLHeli Suite and change motor direction in firmware?  Not that familiar with how the ESC's interface with the Flight Controllers on these F4 STABLE stacks, or how these things work in general yet...  Thanks if anyone can comment, cheers.

So, the Phantom does fine right out of the box; without changing things in Betaflight or anything; just bind and fly. Your 8 minutes was hovers inside. How does it do outside on you average flight? Is the tune pretty good as it is from the factory? 

Also, why change motor direction? I have read a lot about props-in vs props-out and don't see any clear advantage one way or the other. That said, I am interest to see how it works out for you and please do a comparison in quad behavior.

(03-Nov-2019, 02:46 AM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: I'm a bit lazy when it comes to editing videos of my flights which is why I rarely post any, but I figured I may as well knock one up of the Phantom's maiden flight which I did on Thursday. It's a pretty lame flight because I had limited time and was really out to test Betaflight 4.1 on my 5", but I decided to stick a couple of 2S 450mAh LiPos on the charger and chuck the Phantom in my backpack along with the 5" so I could give it a bit of a whizz around. I was also wary about trying not to break it on its first flight, but I did get a roll in and a couple of flips. Next time I take it out I'll give it a good old ragging  I make no apologies for the  quality DVR footage. You can blame FatShark for using 80's DVR tech in their $500 goggles. I'm probably going to have to resort to getting an ImmersionRC PowePlay just so I can start getting some half decent footage from my whoops and micros.

I like the video just the way it is. Personally, I like seeing the unedited videos. To me editing is a lot like photoshopping. What you see isn't what you got (unless you are using the video commercially or something). Anyway, is this with the tune as it comes from the factory? I just want to fly around without having to tune things in Betaflight. This video is a lot how I fly...just cruise around and maybe a flip (left and right only - no loops yet). 

I am also interested in the time you got (especially with ProppedCodger getting 8 min). Check everything, fly some more, and see the average and max time.

(03-Nov-2019, 01:36 PM)iFly4rotors Wrote: I like the video just the way it is. Personally, I like seeing the unedited videos. To me editing is a lot like photoshopping. What you see isn't what you got (unless you are using the video commercially or something). Anyway, is this with the tune as it comes from the factory? I just want to fly around without having to tune things in Betaflight. This video is a lot how I fly...just cruise around and maybe a flip (left and right only - no loops yet). 

I am also interested in the time you got (especially with ProppedCodger getting 8 min). Check everything, fly some more, and see the average and max time.

I don't usually edit the actual flight footage itself but I like to put a bit of context around the flight if I can by including something like a photo slideshow or some narrative at the beginning, and maybe also something after the flight footage if it's appropriate. So as far as the flight goes, it's raw footage, warts and all

And yes, this is a completely untouched tune on Betaflight 3.5.7 as it came from GEPRC. I haven't changed anything on the PIDs, filters, or anything else to do with the tuning parameters. I even run the default Betaflight rates. GEPRC only made the following changes to the default Betaflight settings for the MATEKF411 target which the FC in the Phantom uses:-

1. Switched off the D Term Notch filter
   
2. Set Feed Forward Transition to 50% (0.5).
   
3. Set "P" on the yaw axis to 55.
   

I've edited the first post of this thread to include CLI dumps of the original factory supplied settings if you want to see the complete configuration.

I have now calibrated the voltage properly but still need to do the current calibration which is going to take a bit more effort because it requires some test flights and logging of mAh used as shown as used in the OSD vs mAh actually needed to fully recharge the LiPo again. This will have to be done over a number of flying sessions with some fine tuning of the mAh calibration settings between each of those sessions. Weather here is continually crap at the moment so completing that task may take some time and may not even be finished until after the new year. I just got lucky on Thursday with a break in the weather so I jumped at the opportunity to get out for a few flights which was the first time in 7 weeks that I managed to get any flights in. Once all the calibrations are complete I will then be able to give you more realistic stats on flight time.

(03-Nov-2019, 01:24 PM)iFly4rotors Wrote: So, the Phantom does fine right out of the box; without changing things in Betaflight or anything; just bind and fly. Your 8 minutes was hovers inside. How does it do outside on you average flight? Is the tune pretty good as it is from the factory? 

Also, why change motor direction? I have read a lot about props-in vs props-out and don't see any clear advantage one way or the other. That said, I am interest to see how it works out for you and please do a comparison in quad behavior.

It's ready to go out of the box.   I went over it with a driver and threadlocked the motor screws, checked receiver and basic settings in BetaFlight.  Yes, hovering, some pitch and roll inputs, some pops on the throttle but basically static.  Haven't let loose outside yet.  I don't expect more than 4-5 minutes tops with actual flying on that pack.

I changed the motor direction because I just cannot create enough grief for myself.  

Seriously, just trying to standardize my machines a bit now that I'm acquiring more than a couple.  I'm not a good enough pilot, or one that flies crazy and technically enough, to have ever been able to tell the difference between props out or in.  Simply doing it because I'm going senile and want to keep crap off my camera(s) as much as possible.  There will be no comparison forthcoming from me but maybe someone else can chime-in on the Normal/Reverse prop differences?

If you're interested in one you really should just pull the trigger.  Not having put any sticks into it I can already tell it's more stable than it's size would have one believe.  It is very responsive on 3S with the HQ tri's, almost too much so for me.

Here's mine.

Just to add, anyone on the fence about getting a Phantom should just watch AndyRC's review and flight footage in the first post of this thread to see what this little thing is capable of if you have the skills. Inverted yaw spin? Yes, of course 

Thanks, Snow and ProppedCodger, I will bet getting one.      In the meantime, my EMAX Tinyhawk Freestyle is simply fun for me when I can get to the field;  the tune is just as it came; everything is good. Also, I have watched the review by AndyRC and a lot of other ones, too. Do you know what stack is used and can that be bought separately (for another build)? Thanks again.  

(03-Nov-2019, 07:24 PM)iFly4rotors Wrote: Do you know what stack is used and can that be bought separately (for another build)? Thanks again.  

The Phantom uses the GEPRC F411 Stable 16x16 micro stack...

https://geprc.com/product/stable-f411

(03-Nov-2019, 07:30 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: The Phantom uses the GEPRC F411 Stable 16x16 micro stack...

https://geprc.com/product/stable-f411

Thanks Snow. Hope you get a nice day to fly now and again during the winter.

These guys make a very nice, affordable F7 stack if you can mount 20 x 20 also.

Happy New Year. 

Yesterday (Jan 13, 2020) I was able to fly a maiden FPV flight with my GepRC Phantom. This is a really nice quad; it flies really smooth, has best video of any of my quads, and gets really good flight times. I got 8 minutes 30 seconds on GNB 600 mAh batteries doing actual flying (not just hoovering) !! The 450 mAh batteries go between 5 and 6 minutes.  Also, the only thing I checked in Betaflight was my arming switch; NO modifications and NO changes to the tune. I am running the quad in Angle mode. That's where it was set as default so I just left it there (I haven't gotten a switch set up to change modes yet), but that is fine as I fly more docile (no fancy acrobatics - not even flips). No video yet as I don't have a memory card for my goggles. That will come later, but did attach a few still pics. 

My setup includes a few minor "enhancements":
Props are HQ T65mm (2.5 inch) T-mount with 1.5mm center hole; these appear to be very efficient for this quad.
Battery pad mounted to ultra thin clear plastic which also holds XT30 pigtail.
Front post screws replaced with 14mm posts to help hold batteries. I also use two (2) GEPRC Velcro battery straps.
Foam landing pads mount on clear ultra thin plastic then attached with 1.4mm screws.
VIFLY fully self contained buzzer attached to rear post with zip tie and piece of battery pad; it is easy to reach and operate.
Also, I made a special battery connector for 2 1S (JST-2.0) batteries to XT30. (I only have 1S batteries since all my other quads are 1S).
((this battery setup is similar to that of my EMAX Tinyhawk Freestyle))

The "all in" weight of this setup is 99 grams. ( 70g without batteries). Yes, it is more than most "toothpicks", but I am ok with that.
It is fun to fly, handles extremely well, has good video, and gets really good flight times.   

I am really happy with this package.   

Nice. I'll ask, video?

Deal