I would like to make the transition from glow-fuel RC airplanes (I have electrics also) to electric QuadCopters. I don’t have much money, so my base platform purchase needs to be inexpensive, yet flexible. Comparing DJI, Walkera, and Blade (350-sized craft) … I like the DJI gear best. My main draw is the NAZA flight-controller (and the GPS Base-Station software that runs on iOS and Windows).
I originally thought the new Phantom 2 Vision Plus was the answer. Features listed below are ones that I desire
Pros:
- Small, light gimbal Gimbal that can point directly down
- Small, light camera (I know it’s not H3 quality, but likely good enough for real-time FPV and raw footage is adequate)
- iPhone telemetry (and limited FPV) display, mounted to radio
- iPad Ground-Station GPS flight-plan plotting
Cons:
- iPhone realtime FPV footage is low quality (I’ve heard)
- No way to easily upgrade to Goggle-FPV (ie FatShark 5.8ghz or similar)
- Using 5.8 ghz for everything
- Spare parts availability
So, while the Phantom2-Vision-Plus is definitely an appealing turn-key package, it seems there has been some deep-cutting compromises. Mainly with the radios and possibly with other on-board aircraft electronics. Moving everything to 5.8ghz is ambitious, but it doesn’t seem to have ample bandwidth for control, telemetry, and real-time Goggle-FPV. The accepted way to control RC Aircraft (other than 72Mhz) is 2.4ghz. Just look at what Futaba and Spectrum are doing … not to mention 2.4ghz has better range. I think I would feel better sticking with Industry Standard 2.4ghz manual flight control. As far as I can tell, 5.8ghz is the accepted way to do FPV. They are separate and they can co-exist. So, if my concerns about 5.8ghz flight-control radio are founded, and I don’t want it, I guess that excludes the value-proposition of the Phantom2-Vision-Plus. Right?
Then the question becomes …
Can I take a 2.4ghz Phantom-2 base package and turn it into a comparable system afford-ably? Would this work?
- Phantom-2 base system (with 2.4ghz control radio & Naza-M-v2)
- Can Hub (4 Port)
- AVL58 5.8ghz Video Link
- iOSDmini (Pilot’s Telemetry Display ?)
- 2.4G Bluetooth Datalink
- Entry-level (small-light) brushless gimbal (that can also point directly down?)
- Entry-level (small-light) HD camera for FPV and raw footage archive
Other Equipment Available for use:
- iPhone-5
- iPad
- Windows-7 laptop
- FatShark 5.8ghz FPV Goggles (likely a last purchase)
Required Features:
- 2.4ghz control, 5.8ghz FPV
- FatShark 5.8ghz FPV Goggles compatibility
- Radio mounted iPhone for Telemetry display (and FPV when FatShark is NOT connected)
- iPad GroundStation and GPS WayPoint functionality
I wish this chart was more complete is regards to included electronics. I get the feeling the Vision-2-Plus includes a IOSD-Mark-II or similar “black box” that single-handedly handles FPV functions .
http://www.dji.com/products/compare-phantom
In summary, I would like to build a flexible and expandable version of a 2.4ghz controlled Phantom 2. Buy base package and then buy the proper expansion parts as I go forward. Is my plan accurate?
I originally thought the new Phantom 2 Vision Plus was the answer. Features listed below are ones that I desire
Pros:
- Small, light gimbal Gimbal that can point directly down
- Small, light camera (I know it’s not H3 quality, but likely good enough for real-time FPV and raw footage is adequate)
- iPhone telemetry (and limited FPV) display, mounted to radio
- iPad Ground-Station GPS flight-plan plotting
Cons:
- iPhone realtime FPV footage is low quality (I’ve heard)
- No way to easily upgrade to Goggle-FPV (ie FatShark 5.8ghz or similar)
- Using 5.8 ghz for everything
- Spare parts availability
So, while the Phantom2-Vision-Plus is definitely an appealing turn-key package, it seems there has been some deep-cutting compromises. Mainly with the radios and possibly with other on-board aircraft electronics. Moving everything to 5.8ghz is ambitious, but it doesn’t seem to have ample bandwidth for control, telemetry, and real-time Goggle-FPV. The accepted way to control RC Aircraft (other than 72Mhz) is 2.4ghz. Just look at what Futaba and Spectrum are doing … not to mention 2.4ghz has better range. I think I would feel better sticking with Industry Standard 2.4ghz manual flight control. As far as I can tell, 5.8ghz is the accepted way to do FPV. They are separate and they can co-exist. So, if my concerns about 5.8ghz flight-control radio are founded, and I don’t want it, I guess that excludes the value-proposition of the Phantom2-Vision-Plus. Right?
Then the question becomes …
Can I take a 2.4ghz Phantom-2 base package and turn it into a comparable system afford-ably? Would this work?
- Phantom-2 base system (with 2.4ghz control radio & Naza-M-v2)
- Can Hub (4 Port)
- AVL58 5.8ghz Video Link
- iOSDmini (Pilot’s Telemetry Display ?)
- 2.4G Bluetooth Datalink
- Entry-level (small-light) brushless gimbal (that can also point directly down?)
- Entry-level (small-light) HD camera for FPV and raw footage archive
Other Equipment Available for use:
- iPhone-5
- iPad
- Windows-7 laptop
- FatShark 5.8ghz FPV Goggles (likely a last purchase)
Required Features:
- 2.4ghz control, 5.8ghz FPV
- FatShark 5.8ghz FPV Goggles compatibility
- Radio mounted iPhone for Telemetry display (and FPV when FatShark is NOT connected)
- iPad GroundStation and GPS WayPoint functionality
I wish this chart was more complete is regards to included electronics. I get the feeling the Vision-2-Plus includes a IOSD-Mark-II or similar “black box” that single-handedly handles FPV functions .
http://www.dji.com/products/compare-phantom
In summary, I would like to build a flexible and expandable version of a 2.4ghz controlled Phantom 2. Buy base package and then buy the proper expansion parts as I go forward. Is my plan accurate?