New Build advice

[Martin Pegler]

Hey all.

So after getting back into the hobby recently I have decided to build another 5" size drone, mainly for just freestlye, not likely to do any racing, im still relatively new to flying but I am improving..

Im after a little advice on VTX, FPV cam and Antennas.

My build consists of

GEPRC GEP LX Leopard frame - I know there are newer frames out there but I've always loved the way this one looked.

FC and 4 in 1 ESC combo is - Holybro Kakute F4 V2 and a Tekko 35A 4 in 1 stack.

Motors - Emax RS2205 2600kv motors

On my current quad I use a Runcam swift 2 and I do have a spare one but I wondered what out there is significantly better? I will be using it with Skyzone SKY02S fpv goggles.

Also do I go TBS unify or other? I'm not interested in telemetry really or Recording DVR.

Although the picture when using my current quad is good as soon as a twig gets in the way I may as well shut my eyes, but then it was built with a really cheap VTX so I cant complain to much.

Feel free to add any comments on any of the above components, Advice from you lovely lot has been invaluable in the past.

Thanks in advance.

PS Any FPV pilots around the Brighton/Eastbourne area?

[Cheredanine]

Hi mate,
So first thing, the best freestyle frames have 2 characteristics
1. Short x or h frame, not. Stretched x like the gep lx, that is a racing layout
2. Top mounted lipo

Classic examples are the chameleon or reverb/alien

Those motors are technically a little light on torque and trying to spin fast, they need light props and a light build ideally, but if you are not a serious pilot you probably won’t notice

Dramatically improved camera would have to be foxeer predetor

Go unify.

[Martin Pegler]

Hi mate,
So first thing, the best freestyle frames have 2 characteristics
1. Short x or h frame, not. Stretched x like the gep lx, that is a racing layout
2. Top mounted lipo

Classic examples are the chameleon or reverb/alien

Those motors are technically a little light on torque and trying to spin fast, they need light props and a light build ideally, but if you are not a serious pilot you probably won’t notice

Dramatically improved camera would have to be foxeer predetor

Go unify.

I did think the motors may be a little light but then if I get to the point where im canning them it should be pretty easy to swap them out.
Ok well I really wanted to build using that frame lol.. maybe ill just build two, im sure the wife wont realise.. 

What Antennas would you use?
Is it the Foxeer predetor v2?
https://www.banggood.com/Foxeer-Predator-V2-Standard-1_8mm2_5mm-1000TVL-PALNTSC-FPV-Camera-Super-WDR-for-RC-Drone-p-1293278.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN

[Cheredanine]

If you already have the motors 5en stick with them at some point if you fly a lot you will want to change them but tbh you will probably have wrecked them first :) (comes with the hobby)

If you want to build the frame, build it. It will do acro, it is just not the optimal setup, but the differ nice is largely irrelevent to the majority of pilots. Add to that a lot of confidence in flight, which is a massive component of how we fly, is about being comfortable with your build.

Yep that is the pred, here is a UK supplier who is cheaper, quicker and provides better support:
https://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/search?q=Predator
Note he has pred v1 on sale cheap. The difference between the v1 and the v2 is largely better colour handling, since I don’t care how pretty my fpv cam is I don’t have any issues using v1, it has all the benefits, so if you are tight on money that is a good option

[Martin Pegler]

If you already have the motors 5en stick with them at some point if you fly a lot you will want to change them but tbh you will probably have wrecked them first :) (comes with the hobby)

If you want to build the frame, build it. It will do acro, it is just not the optimal setup, but the differ nice is largely irrelevent to the majority of pilots. Add to that a lot of confidence in flight, which is a massive component of how we fly, is about being comfortable with your build.

Yep that is the pred, here is a UK supplier who is cheaper, quicker and provides better support:
https://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/search?q=Predator
Note he has pred v1 on sale cheap. The difference between the v1 and the v2 is largely better colour handling, since I don’t care how pretty my fpv cam is I don’t have any issues using v1, it has all the benefits, so if you are tight on money that is a good option

Thanks for the Link and the info.

On the subject of Cams which TBS vtx should i be looking at? seems to be so many variations..
I was thinking this one. https://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/tbs-unify-pro-5g8-v3-58ghz-mini-fpv-transmitter-sma-2

But then i saw this one.. https://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/tbs-unify-pro-5g8-hv-58ghz-mini-fpv-transmitter-sma

Obviously one is high voltage but i`m not to sure what difference that makes.

[ched]

HV ones can be powered directly from flight battery. Non hv have to have an additional 5v supply.
Have a look at the race version as they are limited to 200mW max not the 800mW of the full version. 200mW is normally fine (you are legally limited to 25mW anyway) 
800mW wont give you 4 times the range of 200mW maybe 2.5 times distance. 800mW maybe better results when behind objects.
I believe that antennas are key to get good reception.

I went from a eachines vtx03 (200mW) and a gearbest pagoda to a tbs unify race and a Menace Raptor the improvement was amazing. No more wavy lines when flying under pylons and good stable images. Definitely a worthwhile improvement.

[Martin Pegler]

HV ones can be powered directly from flight battery. Non hv have to have an additional 5v supply.
Have a look at the race version as they are limited to 200mW max not the 800mW of the full version. 200mW is normally fine (you are legally limited to 25mW anyway) 
800mW wont give you 4 times the range of 200mW maybe 2.5 times distance. 800mW maybe better results when behind objects.
I believe that antennas are key to get good reception.

I went from a eachines vtx03 (200mW) and a gearbest pagoda to a tbs unify race and a Menace Raptor the improvement was amazing. No more wavy lines when flying under pylons and good stable images. Definitely a worthwhile improvement.

So if I was to go for something like this http://menacerc.co.uk/product/antenna-pack-5-8ghz-polarised
and https://www.unmannedtechshop.co.uk/tbs-unify-pro-5g8-hv-race-mmcx/ then fpv signal should be pretty good?

[ched]

Yep should be a good signal. One thing that is missing is a pigtail from mmcx to sma.

Personally I would get the antenna and vtx from hobbyrc. They don't have the menace kit listed but you probably don't need the adapters as you can buy the correct antennas that match your goggles and the mmcx pigtail you get. They also sell the unify race with mmcx connector so only 1 lot of postage!!!!

[Cheredanine]

So if I was to go for something like this http://menacerc.co.uk/product/antenna-pack-5-8ghz-polarised
and https://www.unmannedtechshop.co.uk/tbs-unify-pro-5g8-hv-race-mmcx/ then fpv signal should be pretty good?

Although i have ufl, not max connector (which is irrelevant) I have the unify pro hv race in most of my quads, and usually pair it with either tbs triumph or menacerc raptor, there is really no need to buy the menace pack, use raptors get a patch if you have diversity on the goggles, and I would recomend getting the best possible omni on the goggles too, Personnaly I use a VAS, they are expensive but that is fine, I don’t crash my goggles :)

[Martin Pegler]

Although i have ufl, not max connector (which is irrelevant) I have the unify pro hv race in most of my quads, and usually pair it with either tbs triumph or menacerc raptor, there is really no need to buy the menace pack, use raptors get a patch if you have diversity on the goggles, and I would recomend getting the best possible omni on the goggles too, Personnaly I use a VAS, they are expensive but that is fine, I don’t crash my goggles :)

So you wouldn't use a matching pair Menace raptor on your goggles? I was under the impression it was better if they matched.
My goggle have diversity so im intending to use a Raptor patch too.

[Cheredanine]

There is no need to match anything other than th3 polarisation (all antenna rhcp or all lhcp)
As I say, I use either menacerc raptor or tbs triumph on the quads or and axii ufl on micros.
On the goggles I use a vas mad mushroom and an immersionrc patch
They are all rhcp