Getting Started with FPV: Essential Gear and Tips
G'day, Stew here.
If you want to start FPV, you're in the right place. If you think it's too expensive, too complicated, or that there are just too many options, I'm here to help.
I'm writing this to give you a process for getting started, so you can:
A. Have a great time.
B. End up with gear that's actually worth it. Not cheap junk, but not crazy money either.
There are three things you need. The drone, the radio and the goggles. I'll go through each one, then at the end I'll get into the specifics of the drone I've been flying.
The drone
Start small. A whoop is perfect. I like them because you can fly them indoors and outside.
If you're flying strictly outdoors, a 2 inch might suit you better. But for most people getting started, the whoop is the one.
Here's why a whoop works so well when you're new.
You can fly it almost anywhere. Got an office? A little car park? A park down the road? That'll do. You don't need a field and you don't need permission from the weather.
Crashing isn't a drama. You're going to crash. That's part of it, and a little whoop takes it better than something big and fast.
The charging is simple. A little whoop like this runs a USB charger, and that's enough. Bigger drones need proper chargers. The packs are cheap too, compared to what larger drones use.
Hard truth. A whoop is not going to be as fast as those big expensive racing drones with the 6s motors and 5inch props. And in a big open field, or anywhere with a lot of space, these little drones get pushed around by the wind. But I want to stress. It is still a ton of fun. Even after a decade of flying I still really enjoy a whoop and just flying around the house. Speed is not everything when it comes to FPV.
The one I'm using here is the Emax NanoScout Pro. I'll get into the specifics of it at the end, and you can find the stores that carry it here. https://www.diyfpv.com/catalog/tinyhawk-nanoscout-pro-elrs-2-4ghz-bnf Emax has a good track record in the hobby and is a company that seems to focus on getting people to just enjoy flying and getting new pilots airborne.
The radio
The Radiomaster Pocket. That's my recommendation and there's a reason it's the most recommended radio for beginners. Even a lot of pro pilots enjoy it.
The thing about this radio is you're not going to outgrow it. Even once you want to try a different drone, you can still use this radio. If someone told me the Pocket was the only radio I could ever use, fine, done. I get so much out of it. It does everything we need as FPV pilots. It is also really well priced - https://www.diyfpv.com/catalog/radiomaster-pocket-crush-radio-controller
You can also hook it straight up to the free simulator on here on DIYFPV and practise your skills before you've even got a drone in your hands.
The goggles
Of the three, the goggles will cost you the most. There are really cheap ones out there and there are ones up around $1,000.
I'm not telling you to buy the most expensive. I am telling you not to buy the cheapest, because a really cheap pair will let you down. Two things worth paying for. You want them comfortable on your face. And if you want to future proof them, look for something with HDMI in. You can see all analog goggles here- https://www.diyfpv.com/catalog/category/fpv-equipment/goggles
Secondhand is worth a look as well. https://www.diyfpv.com/marketplace
Why I'd start on analog
Analog means you're not tied down to one company or one brand. Get DJI goggles and you fly a DJI VTX. Get Walksnail goggles and you fly a Walksnail VTX. With analog, so many different people make the goggles, and that's going to suit a lot of you.
What you need to know going in is that analog is standard definition. Think of standard low res youtube but worse. You'll see flickers constantly and that's normal operation, not a fault. You do get used to it. But know that now, before you strap the goggles on and think something's broken.
There are more expensive options out there that'll give you better image quality. Analog is cheaper than any of them, and you're not going to have latency issues either.
The drone I'm using: the Emax NanoScout Pro
The analog version is $180. OR $130 im still not sure - https://www.diyfpv.com/catalog/tinyhawk-nanoscout-pro-elrs-2-4ghz-bnf
Threw it on the scales and it came in about 30 grams. 1S battery. Tiny. In the box you get spare props and the USB charger, so you're not going out and buying separate batteries and a separate charger before you can fly.
It's an upgraded version of one Emax already had. I think it flies better than the original. So it's a great beginner choice, and it's still got legs that means you can still enjoy it outdoors a bit too.
All these drone have a self level and acro mode, MOST people fly strictly in acro for FPV but the one exception is indoor flying. A lot of my mates and myself included prefer a self level mode for indoor flying. It is not faster, just easier for general indoor flying, say under the table or around the dinner table.
Whoops also dont break as much when you crash them.
NOTE- Going from a really bright environment to a really dark one, you can't see much on the exit.
There's also an HDZero version. That's digital, the latency is really good, and it's significantly more expensive. If you're a beginner and you're value focused, my recommendation is the analog one.
Then go and fly with people
The other bit which is REALLY important is just how much fun flying with mates is. Check the pilot map here on diyfpv and you can find others to fly with. People dont care about your skill level, they just care about having fun and flying, especially if you are a beginner then the community is generally really excited about helping them get flying and enjoying the hobby.
That's also what I like about Emax. The mission is getting people flying, having a great time and enjoying the skies. It doesn't need to cater to the top 1% of perfect racing professionals. If you're somebody who likes to cruise around the kitchen, crash into things and chase the kids around with a drone, then you are going to have a blast with a whoop setup
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