uavfutures

Which FPV radio should you buy?

There's a radio in this hobby for every budget. I've broken it down into four categories, so you can find the one that fits how you fly and what you've got to spend. Ive also flown justabout every FPV radio that has existed over the last 10+ years.

Before you spend anything

If you already own a radio that works, have a proper look at it first. Is everything still good there? Can it do everything you want it to do? If the answer's yes, don't go and buy a new one.

If it can't do what you want, upgrade and enjoy. If it can, put the money into batteries and get more flights in. It's not about having the best gear, it's about having the best time.

The four categories

Best budget: RadioMaster Pocket. Around $65. Starting out, or you want one radio that lives in your bag and you dont have to worry about. It just works

Best all-round: RadioMaster TX15. Around $140 for the base version. Most people. This is the one that does everything.

High end: RadioMaster GX15 Max. Fixed wing, Gemini, or you're buying one good radio for the long haul.

Gamepad style: TBS Tango 2 or Flysky PA01. If a controller shape is what your hands want.

RadioMaster Pocket

Small, ELRS, folding antenna, and properly hard to kill. Mine has been dropped more times than I can count. Two latching switches, which is something no other RadioMaster radio gives you. The screen is small, but it does everything a drone pilot needs, and it works well on the sim. Just an awesome radio, and a reason it's the most popular.

The stock gimbals are ordinary. You can drop CNC gimbals in later for not a lot. Power output is modest and still more than 99 percent of pilots will ever ask for.

Pinchers with big hands can find it cramped. https://www.diyfpv.com/catalog/radiomaster-pocket-crush-radio-controller

RadioMaster TX15

This is the base version, not the max version.

The base gets the big colour touchscreen, bright enough to read in full glare with sunglasses on. It gets a folding antenna, which I'm glad about after years of screw-on ones snapping off. If you have bigger hands it's great, and if you ever want to fly fixed wing you've got lots of room to grow. It can output more power than the Pocket, so long range really starts to open up. It can also do dual band, 2.4 and the low 900MHz band.(not at the same time though)

The stock gimbals are genuinely fine. The AG02s are luxury. If I was going top end though, I'd get the radio below. https://www.diyfpv.com/catalog/radiomaster-tx15-radio-transmitter-elrs-2-4ghz

RadioMaster GX15 Max

The best radio I've got, and I've switched to it.

The antenna is built inside the body, so there's nothing to snap off in a backpack. The shell is has leather vs just plastic/rubber. so it doesn't turn into a hotplate in the sun the way some high-end radios do. AG02 gimbals, Gemini built in, big bright touchscreen. Gemini means you can have two radio links to your craft.

The thing I keep coming back to is the shape. It's a big chunky radio and it has no business fitting this well. It also has what I think is the perfect size screen at the top. Not tiny like the pocket but also not as big as on the tx15. 

All those extra switches on the back are surplus for freestyle and exactly what a wing pilot wants. BUT they'll also snap if you drop it, so it's less forgiving than the smaller radios. And there's still no latching switch where I want one.

It's the priciest RadioMaster option too. And just because something is more $$ doesnt mean more fun. I would have just as much fun with a cheaper radio. This is just a nice luxury I am lucky enough to have. 

Would I have spent my own money on it, when I already have radios that fly perfectly well? Probably not. But if I had to buy a radio and I had none already, I'd get this.

https://www.diyfpv.com/catalog/radiomaster-gx15-max-radio-controller-elrs-m2

TBS Tango 2 and Flysky PA01

Some people just want a controller in their hands.

The Tango 2 is compact, simple, two latching switches, small screen, built-in battery. One thing to know before you buy: it's Crossfire, not ELRS. Everything else here is ELRS, so you're choosing an ecosystem, not just a radio. It's been around a long time. It's on 900MHz so it's really good for long range, and it's built like a tank.

The Flysky PA01 is the other one worth a look if the gamepad shape suits you. It feels great in the hand, it's on ELRS, and it looks pretty fancy with all the LEDs. It even has a mounting and charging stand, though that's sold separatelyand I have not tested it. 

https://www.diyfpv.com/catalog/tbs-tango-2-crossfire-rc-transmitter

https://www.diyfpv.com/catalog/flysky-pa01-elrs-flysky-radio-controller

How you hold it

If you fly with thumbs, almost nothing is off the table. I fly with thumbs, so gamepad style and smaller radios like the Pocket are no issue for me, and neither are the big ones.

Pinching is the one that narrows it down, especially if you've got big hands. Switches sit closer to your fingers on some radios and you can knock one without meaning to. Just be mindful of how you're going to be flying, and if you can, hold one before you buy.

Important notes

Switches you can find without looking. Latching switches are worth more than another row of dials, and companies keep giving us momentary ones instead. I JUST WANT THE SWITCHES LIKE ON THE TOP OF THE POCKET ALREADY.

Whether it survives your life. Built-in and folding antennas beat screw-on ones. Are you going to be dropping it in your bag, or putting it away in its case each time you go flying?

And most importantly, does it do something your old radio can't. Is that difference worth the cost?

The best bit about all of these is that they're all great. Not a single one is bad and I'd be happy with any of them. So get the one that suits how you fly, not the one with the longest feature list.

Happy flying, Stew

#uavfutures, #Radiomaster, #flysky

THE ASCENT VRX PRO AND LITE+ vtx are here. I think they are actually a really good option for pilots, escpecially the new air unit. I also made a much more detailed review video with side by side shot PLUS some crazy snake avoiding, mangrove mud searching rescue missions while I tried to find my lost drone.

Ascent lite+

- can now go up to 500mw

- smaller form factor (but mounting might be more difficult)

- 120fps

- has a heat shield metal case now

= $39 so $4more expensive

Ascent Pro VRX  

- better antennas - 2.8db vs the old 2.0

 - can receive an image in 1080pm

= $149 . this is $50 more expensive 

So when you combine these you now can have a 120fps image at 1080p. And you also can hear the audio and record the audio into DVR.

They are still annoying to use without a ground station and no easy way to mount to your goggles. The VRX fan is not quite as loud as my base version and I actually had a great time flying it.

I did however push mine too far But the result was me losing it in some mangroves and I was extremely lucky to somehow find it after walking around in the mud, freaking out about snakes and it still be all totally fine. I actually thought it was gone for good and my review would be a loss.

Obviously if you race its not for you, there is latency but it doesnt feel that different to dji for me. And the price makes it pretty attractive.

Here is a video for a side by side comparison - https://youtu.be/fGz-Q-ZIIO8

Have a great day,

Happy flying

I have to say I am pretty excited about this one. Please let it be awesome please. https://www.diyfpv.com/catalog/p1-hd-vrx-nano If I can have my skyzones and some small digital module it will be AMAZING.

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

#emax #radiomasterRC #uavfutures #diyfpv