Phantom Or Hexacopter

[Malinois]

Hi,
    I am new. Be gentle. I have the option of buying a Phantom 3 standard for a really good price but I am one of these people that likes to tinker and like the look of the self build Hexacopters.

My question is do i just got for the Phantom or build my own?

I would be using it for fun and video/stills.

Cheers.

                 Ian

[apollo7]

IMHO you will really struggle to build a quad/hex that will come any where near the phantom 3 for video quality, get the phantom, then at a later date build the hex

[nate80]

If you want to capture great quality footage with relative ease go for the Phantom. The Phantom is a fantastic quad and a steady flyer. Not as fun as a race quad! But fun enough.

If you like to tinker and don';t mind taking time and money to perfect your design build yourself a hex from scratch. It';s rewarding, educational and fun.

Or do as apollo says and buy the Phantom then build a hex. 

[kilby]

Depends on what you want to do.

If it';s something to tinker with and eventually fly then the hex would be the option.

If you want to fly and get aerial footage then the Phantom.

I don';t own a DJI but I do appreciate the  fact that they let folks fly without the requirement to learn about every aspect of the tech (I know some people don';t like the easy entry to flight, but then again I want a car that reliably let';s me drive to work without having to build it )

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

[Malinois]

Cheers for the advice so far. How much does it cost to build a hex and buy a controller?  Ballpark?

Ian

[guest325]

http://www.droneshop.biz/multirotors/hexacopters/f550-gps-hexacopter-self-build-kit.html
Look through the option you would want and add up the total cost, it can be done for less by sourcing it from other suppliers so you could get your shopping list there and then see what it costs elsewhere.

[Malinois]

Thanks,
           I think I will get the Phantom and then start very slowly to build a Hex but try to source the parts one at a time as cheap as possible. Get a second hand d Base unit etc. Take advice off here as I would want a good flight controller and GPS.
   Ian

[H_Simpson]

Ahem, ahem........

http://www.multi-rotor.co.uk/index.php?topic=19801.0

Flies like dream, full gps etc, carbon props...

[Malinois]

Ta. I think I have seen your listing on Ebay. Certainly something g to consider. I suppose I would just need the ground controller.

Ian

[H_Simpson]

Ta. I think I have seen your listing on Ebay. Certainly something g to consider. I suppose I would just need the ground controller.

Ian

Ian, I';m only semi serious!  The Later Phantoms (3 plus or 4) are hard to beat for AP, HD downlink and flight time.  My hex couldn';t possibly compete on a level playing field. However, the combination of a dji Naza v2 with iosd mini plus 6 motors on an ultralight frame is like unleashing a beast!  If you add a £40 3 axis gimbal from eBay and a £40 1080/60 camera from China you';ll get a potentially 50 mph camera platform!

I';m not a salesman Ian, make your own mind up!    

[Malinois]

Sounds like something faster for me to crash :)

Ian

[Revs]

The P3 would be a great start. You could learn to fly with a very user friendly quad and if you want to move on you would probably get back what you paid. The main issue is that the Phantom';s aren';t as easy/cheap to repair so you don';t want to be crashing much. Fortunately they';re easy to not crash as long as you';re not being daft.

The building process is as rewarding as it is frustrating. If you';re the hands-on type then building may be a good option. As long as you';re prepared to do a fair amount of reading/learning.

If funds allow then you could get the P3 and be flying while you read up and acquire parts for a build.

[Malinois]

That';s what I';m thinking. I have identified a very very wide open space near where I live so hopefully not too much to crash into.

Ian

[Revs]

That';s what I';m thinking. I have identified a very very wide open space near where I live so hopefully not too much to crash into.

Ian

Some very basic tips..
- Google ';KP index';, it';s something that effects GPS. Get a KP index monitor app for your phone. Don';t fly if the rating is more than 4.
- Always give your quad a quick once over before flight. Props, motor bearing, general condition.
- Only fly in open areas, well away from people, objects, phone/power line and sources of radio interference (wifi, etc).
- Ideally have someone with a bit of experience with you for the first flight.

It';s a great hobby and the P3 is a good place to start. Just take your time, get confident with your control, try not to get overly reliant on the safety of GPS. With the P3 you can switch the positioning system on and off so you can practice without it but switch it on if you panic.

[Malinois]

Cheers. I just downloaded a KP Index Monitor to my phone. Need to find an experienced pilot near me now :)


Ian

[nate80]

- Google ';KP index';, it';s something that effects GPS. Get a KP index monitor app for your phone. Don';t fly if the rating is more than 4.

Cheers Revs.  Over a year of flying and I';d not thought to consider that before you mentioned it.  Bet quite a few flyways have occurred due to solar flairs affecting the earths magnetic field.  Seems obvious now!  App downloaded.   

[Revs]

Cheers. I just downloaded a KP Index Monitor to my phone. Need to find an experienced pilot near me now :)


Ian

Where are you buddy? Someone on the forum may chime in.

[Malinois]

Hi,
    I';m Eggborough, North Yorkshire. It';s right on the junction of the M62 / A19. Within 2 miles of Eggborough I can be in all 4 counties of Yorkshire so pretty central really.


Ian

[Friskle]

Cheers Revs.  Over a year of flying and I';d not thought to consider that before you mentioned it.  Bet quite a few flyways have occurred due to solar flairs affecting the earths magnetic field.  Seems obvious now!  App downloaded.   

I dont know, have flown GPS for a number of years and never bothered once about the Kp index at all and never had a flyaway.

[Revs]

I dont know, have flown GPS for a number of years and never bothered once about the Kp index at all and never had a flyaway.

Me neither, but I';ve had drifting of over 5m flying when the Kp was 4. That was an older NEO5 to be fair. A bit disconcerting when you';re learning though.

Flyaways only happen if your FC doesn';t have glitch protection, which DJI and 3DR have.

[nate80]

Me neither, but I';ve had drifting of over 5m flying when the Kp was 4. That was an older NEO5 to be fair. A bit disconcerting when you';re learning though.

Flyaways only happen if your FC doesn';t have glitch protection, which DJI and 3DR have.

Aaannndd... KP app deleted.     

Nah, I';ll keep it.  Earlier today I read online (dji forum) that solar flares have been known to cause phantom issues.  I guess it';s rare but still worth being aware of I suppose.  It never happens - until the day it does.

[Malinois]

If I wanted a drone to learn the flying skills needed for a Hex. A cheapy, what should I go for?

[apollo7]

I would ay if you want to learn muscle memory for flying get something small and cheap like the JJRC H36 and a few spare batteries, you can fly this indoors handy with winter being here

[Revs]

Aaannndd... KP app deleted.     

Nah, I';ll keep it.  Earlier today I read online (dji forum) that solar flares have been known to cause phantom issues.  I guess it';s rare but still worth being aware of I suppose.  It never happens - until the day it does.

The later Phantoms use GLONAS as well as GPS, which helps loads. I was flying last weekend in Kp3 conditions and had 19 sats locked, which I was really impressed with. Still, I wouldn';t like to fly if it was too bad. There has been the odd day this year when it';s been as high as Kp8!