Help needed chosing a controller

[miniconverter]

As the title says I am after a little help choosing a controller.

To help you advice me a little info, I have been flying fixed wing for about 35 years and have reached a reasonable standard, helicopters on and off for a about 20 years, but have been messing with multi rotors for a couple of years.

Currently have a Turnigy H.A.L 585mm frame with the optional little landing legs fitted under the motor mounts, but also have the long original legs. This has a Hobbyking KK2.0 flight controller, Turnigy Dlux 30amp speed controllers and Turnigy D2836/9 950KV motors with 10x4.5 crap plastic props.

I have no problems flying it but have massive orientation problems so can';t fly it far away. I am looking to be able to fly much further out so I can mount a small camara under it but need GPS to get it back if it goes wrong. I am also looking to have a go at FPV so GPS would help with that when I get lost and can';t find the way back.

I have considered the following boards MultiWii Pro with GPS module from Hobbyking, cheap but not sure how to set it up or how good it is. The Dji Naza-M lite with GPS combo, not a lot of money and plug and play so should be easy to set up, or theDJI NAZA-M Multirotor Autopilot V2 W GPS, looks like it does the same as the lite but for more money. what';s the difference?

Also open to other suggestions.

If anyone';s interested here';s a little video I did over our flying field
Phoenix Model Flying Club Conisbrough

[guest2350]

I have hkpilot 2.5 and the neo-6m gps module, more than happy with it to be honest. quite cheap from hoppyking too.
it`ll do everything you want it too and it`s easy to program!
http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__37328__HKPilot_Mega_V2_5_Flight_Controller_USB_GYRO_ACC_MAG_BARO.html
http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__31135__NEO_6M_GPS_Module.html?strSearch=neo-6

[Bobbyr]

Naza Lite + GPS  £107  www.firstpersonview.co.uk/quadcopters/flight-controllers/dji-naza-m-lite-flight-controller-gps

             Inc postage , and its honestly pretty much plug and play . also has a flight mode that no matter what direction it is , pull it back and it will come towards you , Intelligent direction control or something (not used it myself , but its there)

                                You will be very satisfied I think   ,
                                      and don';t get rid of the kk2 , that can go on your next smaller project for flying closer and will help better your orientation spotting.

                                          Good luck

                                                          Bob

[Cloudbuster]

+1 on the naza option the naza will just build and build your confidence !!!

[miniconverter]

The hkpilot 2.5 looks good but I don';t understand all this open source malarkey.

Think unless someone else comes up with a better choice for the money I will go with the Naza so all I need to know is what';s the difference between the m lite and the m?

The other think is I can just nip up the road to buy a naza so no need for mail order and can deal with real people not a computer.

[Cloudbuster]

The naza M is much more expandable and can be used with all the latest goodies that dji are throwing at us. The lite version although very capable is and was always intended as an intro FC ... If you can afford it buy the V2 but if you are on a budget the lite will suffice, just make sure you buy it with the GPS option.

Regards rob 

[Biffa]

I have the Naza Lite on my FPV rig

I was intending on using a Crius AIOP running MP that I had fitted to my 450 frame but the price on the Naza was to good to ignore. For out of the box user friendly, easy peasy fit and fly with minimal set up you cannot IMO beat the Naza.

[Col_M]

APM 2.5+ from RCTimer. At this moment, with Arducopter 3.1.1 it makes the APM the best FC out there by a long chalk in the £100-£200 range.

I just updated Mission Planner (software that goes on your computer) and the setup wizard is so easy and straight forward now it';s almost impossible to go wrong. It';ll even tune itself too which means that you never even need to play with PIDs/gains if you';re not that way inclined.

There';s nothing to understand regarding it being open source, the ease of setup is pretty much identical to Naza now. In fact it';s even easier if you setup autotune to channel 7/8 on your transmitter as you don';t have to adjust gain values or sliders which you do with the Naza. However if you do ever want to tinker you can adjust pretty much everything, at least the choice is there.

Install software on PC > plug cable into FC > start setup wizard > follow step by step instructions > let autotune do it';s thing on first flight > Done!

[billmac]

Naza V2 always worked out of the box. You should also take a look at the Xaircraft  SuperX
www.xaircraft.co.uk

[deano]

If you fancy another quad + the naza lite and GPS
http://www.firstpersonview.co.uk/quadcopters/dji-f330-arf-kit-naza-lite-bundle

I think build your own drone are doing the 450 + naza lite and GPS for £10 extra

[flybywire]

One word mate: Naza!

Andy

[miniconverter]

Decided on the Naza M V2 with gps. Ordered it today for collection and will go and fetch it Saturday morning unless I get half an hour spare before. Have no doubt I will soon need a bit of help.

Once I get it up and working I will be looking for a bit of fpv gear so I suppose the next recommendation is what will I need for that?

[flybywire]

Decided on the Naza M V2 with gps. Ordered it today for collection and will go and fetch it Saturday morning unless I get half an hour spare before. Have no doubt I will soon need a bit of help.

Once I get it up and working I will be looking for a bit of fpv gear so I suppose the next recommendation is what will I need for that?

Nice one MC!
As for fpv gear that';s a question that comes up on here on a daily basis!  There';s not really a massive choice when it boils down to it, as most folk use 2.4ghz for their radio control, which means 5.8 is your only real choice.
As for the gear itself, you can either go the goggles direction, or a screen on a tripod affair, entirely up to you, i love my Attitude goggles, as it feels immersive, plus they';re dead easy to carry around, with no real wires trailing around!  Maybe you have a supplier near you who could demonstrate different options, tho i guess that';s a bit of a rarity these days.
Of course one of the guys on the forum might be near enough for a demo?

Atb

Andy