RC aerial vehicles: because we don't have flying brooms

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Hobbies, Crafts, & Houses > RC aerial vehicles: because we don't have flying brooms

«‹›335 »

mashed: Jul 27, 2004

Nerobro posted:

That's a really nice build. You can do lamination iorining with your normal household iron. At least if you're using lamination plastic for doing things like ID's and signs.

Two things prevent me from doing that. The Z3 has some small areas that will be hard to get into with a big iron. Secondly my wife will not look kindly on stealing our iron to do rc poo poo with :shepface:

I've found a store in town that has them for under $20 and they are getting some in on friday :toot:

# ? Jan 14, 2015 18:59

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# ? May 29, 2024 21:06

Odette: Mar 19, 2011

This sounds pretty cool. Hopefully it becomes mainstream.

# ? Jan 14, 2015 23:11

CrazyLittle: Sep 11, 2001; Clapping Larry

sounds like a great way to put your finger into a spinning prop.

# ? Jan 14, 2015 23:16

mashed: Jul 27, 2004

I guess you could use a screwdriver etc to do the spinning.

# ? Jan 14, 2015 23:51

Elendil004: Mar 22, 2003; The prognosis
is not good.

Vitamin J posted:

Colorado RC flyers of all types! Come to the Capitol tomorrow at 2pm if possible!

http://fpvlab.com/forums/showthread.php?36754-PROPOSED-BILL-WOULD-BAN-ALL-RC-AIRCRAFT-IN-COLORADO

Even if this goes through, it's a clear case of preemption and will get tossed the second anyone fights it.

# ? Jan 15, 2015 00:15

moron izzard: Nov 17, 2006; Grimey Drawer

If anyone has the emax / nighthawk 250 china quad frame, I made (remixed) an angled mobius mount for it. I've not actually printed it yet but here http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:636199

# ? Jan 15, 2015 02:55

MMD3: May 16, 2006; Montmartre -> Portland

Here's some early footage from my new Inspire, I'm staying away from trees and powerlines and just flying it at the park at the moment. It's incredibly stable though, very impressed.

For some reason in this video the gimbal got caught at an angle a few times for a couple of seconds. Not sure what caused that but I'm reading up on it to see if I can avoid it in the future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DEl0ECDy0s

# ? Jan 15, 2015 22:24

Elendil004: Mar 22, 2003; The prognosis
is not good.

They just released a firmware update for the IMU crashing on takeoff, and also recommend you not fly without installing prop locks which they will provide, just as a heads up.

# ? Jan 15, 2015 22:39

MMD3: May 16, 2006; Montmartre -> Portland

Elendil004 posted:

They just released a firmware update for the IMU crashing on takeoff, and also recommend you not fly without installing prop locks which they will provide, just as a heads up.

yeah, just saw the email come through this morning, thanks for the notice!

wonder how many people crashed theirs before the bug was announced :/

# ? Jan 15, 2015 22:45

Elendil004: Mar 22, 2003; The prognosis
is not good.

MMD3 posted:

yeah, just saw the email come through this morning, thanks for the notice!

wonder how many people crashed theirs before the bug was announced :/

To be fair, the auto anything's should really be failsafes, and not features to be used every time. This is also why you wait 1 iteration before buying DJI, so early adopters flyaway/crash/etc and then the bugs get fixed and yours works fine. Did you get a 2 remote setup or 1?

# ? Jan 15, 2015 22:47

MMD3: May 16, 2006; Montmartre -> Portland

Elendil004 posted:

To be fair, the auto anything's should really be failsafes, and not features to be used every time. This is also why you wait 1 iteration before buying DJI, so early adopters flyaway/crash/etc and then the bugs get fixed and yours works fine. Did you get a 2 remote setup or 1?

I got 2 remotes but the second remote hasn't shipped yet. They said that none of the distributors have received accessories from DJI yet. Including props, batteries, and second remotes.

I have a friend in town who got an Inspire as well though so we should be able to do some dual remote flying before my second one arrives.

# ? Jan 15, 2015 23:24

Somewhat Heroic: Oct 11, 2007; (Insert Mad Max related text)

On my last battery my gimbal was also hooking on my Inspire but nothing like yours. I didn't notice this at all on my first initial flights, only after doing the first firmware update. I'll fly without the prop locks. I snug them rather than assume self tightening is enough after spinning them on. I got my second radio when the Inspire was delivered but I haven't paired it. I haven't even taken it out of the box. Batteries are supposed to be available and shipping within a week.

# ? Jan 16, 2015 00:39

MMD3: May 16, 2006; Montmartre -> Portland

well, I have to hand it to DJI's customer service.

I called asking why the new firmware wouldn't update my controller and he (ethan) said he'd email me the last version of the firmware because apparently the newest version didn't include the controller. Then I asked about my gimbal catching and he said that they've heard that from a few people and he offered to just preemptively send me a new camera as soon as their next shipment arrives. Apparently it's an issue they encountered in the ronin and some people are experiencing it so far w/ the inspire.

He mentioned that he talked to the guy who crashed his into the garage door and that they sorted him out and he said he would take down the video because a ton of media outlets have been hitting him up to buy the video from him.

Just glad it wasn't mine that it happened to but I definitely wouldn't have had my first flights been in the middle of a residential street.

# ? Jan 16, 2015 01:41

Nerobro: Nov 4, 2005; Rider now with 100% more titanium!

well that was disapointing.

I went to give my FireFox 200 heli another go. I've found that they're a Gaui 200 clone. A very, very, poor clone. There's so much slop in the rotor head that most of the servo travel is being lost.

I have a second airframe. New in box. Anyone want it? It's yours.

# ? Jan 16, 2015 09:22

The Eyes Have It: Feb 10, 2008; Third Eye Sees All
...snookums

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__76909___PRE_ORDER_Skyzone_3D_FPV_Goggles.html

Well, well. 3D camera and headmounted goggles. Neat.

# ? Jan 16, 2015 17:22

moron izzard: Nov 17, 2006; Grimey Drawer

A writeup of what that real estate guy had to do to get an FAA exemption for commercially flying his vision+ (spoiler: he still can't until he gets his pilots license, and has to stay 500 feet away from buildings which kinda defeats the purpose of a lot of real estate photography)

http://gpsworld.com/so-how-do-you-get-to-fly-a-uas-commercially/?preview=true

# ? Jan 16, 2015 18:04

bring back old gbs: Feb 28, 2007; by LITERALLY AN ADMIN

Mister Sinewave posted:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__76909___PRE_ORDER_Skyzone_3D_FPV_Goggles.html

Well, well. 3D camera and headmounted goggles. Neat.

Along these lines, is there a way to use an Occulus Rift or similar headset to control a camera gimbal? So it turns and tilts the same way my head is?

# ? Jan 16, 2015 18:07

The Eyes Have It: Feb 10, 2008; Third Eye Sees All
...snookums

Sure if you don't mind having a PC as a man-in-the-middle :razz:

But if you don't mind and do it (I've seen video of it done) the far superior FOV of the oculus is probably sweet. Scaling the perspective so it's not all bizzarro-land-looking might be a little harder, or might just be lumped into the box marked "prices you just pay for doing [thing]".

# ? Jan 16, 2015 18:22

Vitamin J: Aug 16, 2006; God, just tell me to shut up already. I have a clear anti-domestic bias and a lack of facts.

32MB OF ESRAM posted:

Along these lines, is there a way to use an Occulus Rift or similar headset to control a camera gimbal? So it turns and tilts the same way my head is?

There is a 3-axis headtracker built into those goggles.

# ? Jan 16, 2015 18:54

mashed: Jul 27, 2004

http://emrlabs.com/index.php?pageid=3 There is this thing. Which removes the need for a pc with the rift. It isn't cheap though. It has possibly the best image on its front page.

# ? Jan 16, 2015 19:39

bring back old gbs: Feb 28, 2007; by LITERALLY AN ADMIN

Mister Sinewave posted:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__76909___PRE_ORDER_Skyzone_3D_FPV_Goggles.html

Well, well. 3D camera and headmounted goggles. Neat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVMZb9xsXxQ

Here's a video from November of a guy using this to control a Pan/Tilt servo camera mount. It involves connecting the headset to the 'trainer' port and setting up 2 Aux inputs to the servos. Is this a standard use of a trainer port? I assumed the Trainer port was like a music keyboard's MIDI out, so you could control PC flight sims using your real RC controller. Doesn't seem terribly hard but I'm making that assumption after watching a single video.

# ? Jan 16, 2015 23:22

moron izzard: Nov 17, 2006; Grimey Drawer

I think the trainer port is more traditionally used to connect a second controller, so you can train someone else in flying their rc vehicle (like a driving school car with a second brake)

# ? Jan 17, 2015 00:54

ImplicitAssembler: Jan 24, 2013

A Yolo Wizard posted:

A writeup of what that real estate guy had to do to get an FAA exemption for commercially flying his vision+ (spoiler: he still can't until he gets his pilots license, and has to stay 500 feet away from buildings which kinda defeats the purpose of a lot of real estate photography)

http://gpsworld.com/so-how-do-you-get-to-fly-a-uas-commercially/?preview=true

With the exception of the Pilots License, that isn't too much different from what you have to do here (Canada) to get a SFOC.

# ? Jan 17, 2015 04:02

moron izzard: Nov 17, 2006; Grimey Drawer

Everything I've read about doing it commercially in canada seems far more reasonable than having to outline to the faa that you should be keeping the safety manual with you on the ground or being given distance restrictions that directly conflict with the originally proposed commercial purpose that the dude just loving outlined.

# ? Jan 17, 2015 04:58

Nerobro: Nov 4, 2005; Rider now with 100% more titanium!

well, I finally got more than one pack through a 130x tonight. I"m pretty pleased. I"m wondering if I can fit the wide blades to the RedBull 130x to help it's carrying capacity..

# ? Jan 17, 2015 05:19

ImplicitAssembler: Jan 24, 2013

A Yolo Wizard posted:

Everything I've read about doing it commercially in canada seems far more reasonable than having to outline to the faa that you should be keeping the safety manual with you on the ground or being given distance restrictions that directly conflict with the originally proposed commercial purpose that the dude just loving outlined.

The people I know who got SFOC's have been doing pretty much the same as that guy..and if you want to be operating commercially, it's not really unreasonable.

# ? Jan 17, 2015 09:34

MrYenko: Jun 18, 2012; #2 isn't ALWAYS bad...

A Yolo Wizard posted:

Everything I've read about doing it commercially in canada seems far more reasonable than having to outline to the faa that you should be keeping the safety manual with you on the ground or being given distance restrictions that directly conflict with the originally proposed commercial purpose that the dude just loving outlined.

The FAA expects you to operate your aircraft according to FAR Part 91. Any exemption to Part 91 is going to require complete explanation of why you can not or will not comply with all aspects of the FARs, and what you plan to do, instead.

I can't wait for them to mandate certification and maintenance by a certified mechanic.

IM GOING TO BE RICH

:shepspends:

# ? Jan 17, 2015 17:25

Vitamin J: Aug 16, 2006; God, just tell me to shut up already. I have a clear anti-domestic bias and a lack of facts.

The cat is out of the bag! Anti-UAV actions by the FAA and private pilots have nearly NOTHING to do with safety! They are afraid of losing money plain and simple!

http://www.suasnews.com/2015/01/33886/man-vs-drone-some-pilots-fight-back-against-robots/

quote:

In an unfolding battle over U.S. skies, it�s man versus drone.

Aerial surveyors, photographers and moviemaking pilots are increasingly losing business to robots that often can do their jobs faster, cheaper and better.

That competition, paired with concerns about midair collisions with drones, has made commercial pilots some of the fiercest opponents to unmanned aircraft. And now these aviators are fighting back, lobbying regulators for strict rules for the devices and reporting unauthorized drone users to authorities.

Jim Williams, head of the Federal Aviation Administration�s unmanned-aircraft office, said that many FAA investigations into commercial-drone flights begin with tips from manned-aircraft pilots who compete with those drones. �They�ll let us know that, �Hey, I�m losing all my business to these guys. They�re not approved. Go investigate,�� Mr. Williams said at a drone conference last year. �We will investigate those.�

Unlike the vast majority of commercial pilots in the U.S.�those that helm passenger jets tens of thousands of feet above the ground�the primary drone opponents operate helicopters and small planes generally between 500 feet to 2,000 feet, making maps, inspecting pipelines and spraying crops. Drones are supposed to stay below 400 feet, but the FAA has received dozens of reports of the devices flying too close to manned aircraft�typically smaller planes and helicopters.

�I�m now looking for lawn mowers flying around,� said Mike Peavey, a former Vietnam War pilot who flies helicopters around New England to monitor power lines and shoot movies. �A 40-pound object impacting certain parts of a helicopter would be disastrous.�

Mr. Peavey said he initially refused to film a sailboat competition in Newport, R.I., in June because drones would also be buzzing above the water. He lobbied Rhode Island�s aeronautics inspector to reconsider its authorization for drones at the event.

A week before the event, the inspector said operating a drone near an open-air event would be a misdemeanor under Rhode Island law. Mr. Peavey filmed the sailboats but drones did not.

The FAA has effectively banned the commercial use of drones until it completes rules for the devices in the next few years. Meanwhile, the agency has approved limitedcommercial-drone flights for 15 operators.

In many of those exemptions, the Air Line Pilots Association, the biggest U.S. pilots union, and the National Agricultural Aviation Association, a trade group for crop dusters, helped persuade the FAA to place tight restrictions on the drone flights, including requiring operators to have pilot licenses and to keep the devices within eyeshot.

For several exemptions, the FAA agreed with the crop-duster group�s recommendations to require operators to file notices with local aviation authorities two days before flying and to display identification numbers on their drones. The group urged the FAA to also require bright paint, strobe lights and transponders that broadcast the drones� location to other aircraft, but the agency declined.

Last year, after a judge struck down the FAA�s first-ever fine against a man for operating a drone recklessly, the crop-duster group filed the only outside legal brief in support of the fine. If the FAA can�t punish unsafe drone users, �then the safety of flight of agricultural air operation (and all manned aircraft operations for that matter) is in jeopardy,� wrote the group, which urges its members to report drone sightings to the FAA.

Pilot Chuck Boyle, president of the Professional Aerial Photographers Association International, said drones have been a hot topic at group meetings for years. �We have lots of members who are very frustrated,� he said. �I hear stories of them losing business to a construction company who�s decided to do it themselves [with a drone], or a drone operator who just took another job from them.�

Mr. Boyle has started reporting drone users who flout the FAA ban. �I am very concerned that the cavalier attitude that he displays and his very open commercial �drone� offering will get someone hurt,� he wrote to an FAA inspector last year, reporting an Orlando, Fla., businessman whose company shoots TV commercials with drones.

The inspector told the company, CineDrones, that if it was using drones commercially, �I must insist you stop operations immediately.�

CineDrones President Mike Fortin said he ignored the warning and is still operating without issue.

Many pilots, however, aren�t as critical of drones, and some are even adopting them.

Former U.S. Air Force pilot Robert Hicks, who runs an aerial-photography company using manned aircraft, said he recently started his own drone company after realizing his industry was shifting. He has targeted Latin America for customers because of the strict regulations in the U.S.

Julie Belanger, who runs an aerial-mapping company with her husband in San Martin, Calif., said they want to use drones but are waiting for FAA rules. Meanwhile, they�re competing against entrepreneurs who are using the devices against FAA policy. The system is encouraging unsafe users, she said. �In the right hands drones produce beautiful stuff and are safe,� she said. �In the wrong hands, they�re a danger to aviation.�

Bill Richards, a pilot who shoots films with his helicopter in New York City, said that while �everybody in my business is pooh-poohing them,� he decided to build his own drone for $15,000. �They can do something I can�t: get within a few feet of you without blowing everybody off the set,� he said.

Still, he said, manned choppers will maintain a role. �The speed and power of a real helicopter is not going to be challenged.�

Indeed, some pilots say drones don�t threaten them because their manned aircraft can carry heavier payloads and fly much longer and farther.

Japanese farmers have been using Yamaha Corp. helicopter drones since 1990 to spray crops; those devices carry 4.2 gallons of pesticide, fly 12 miles an hour and cost about $150,000. That is not commercially viable in the U.S., said Andrew Moore, executive director of the agricultural aviation association. His members� planes sometimes cost a fraction of the Yamaha drone, carry 500 gallons of pesticide and fly 160 miles an hour.

�I think that drone works fine in Japan where they have postage-stamp-sized fields,� he said. �But when you�re looking at agriculture on the U.S. scale, it doesn�t translate.�

A Yolo Wizard posted:

I think the trainer port is more traditionally used to connect a second controller, so you can train someone else in flying their rc vehicle (like a driving school car with a second brake)

The trainer port was originally designed for that, but it now is just a convenient way to inject extra channels into the PPM stream. The goggles plug into your TX and sends commands to the RX this way which gives you the ability to control a pan/tilt/roll gimbal. Been around for 3+ years in FPV, not sure what the big confusion is.

# ? Jan 17, 2015 18:43

The Affair: Jun 26, 2005; I hate snakes, Jock. I hate 'em!

So after some research online I'm thinking of getting these parts for my Phantom 2/HD-3D:

This Transmitter: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__27145__SkyZone_TS353_5_8G_400mW_FPV_Transmitter.html
$32.48

This Receiver: http://www.goodluckbuy.com/5-8g-7inch-8ch-tft-color-monitor-hd-built-in-lipo-battery-1s-3-7v-for-fpv-aerial-photography.html
$88.85

This iOSD: http://www.amazon.com/DJI-iOSD-Mini-Real-Time-Information/dp/B00FKZZQQS
$66.77

This connector cord: http://www.dpcav.com/xcart/Video-Cable-for-Phantom2-with-DJI-iOSD-Mini-and-Zenmuse-Flysight-Boscam-Foxtech.html
$9.99

And this mounting bracket: http://www.amazon.com/Hobbypower-Monitor-Bracket-Support-Transmitter/dp/B00JFU47O6/ref=pd_sbs_t_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1MBD550AMJN0QN76BAJB
$5.19

For a total of $203.28 before shipping.

So does all that look good? Will it work well together? Can I hook everything up without having to solder anything? I should only have to open the top of the phantom 2 to connect the cable into the board, and then run it down and out the leg into everything else, correct?

Thank you for your help!

# ? Jan 17, 2015 18:55

Elendil004: Mar 22, 2003; The prognosis
is not good.

Thank God the FAA doesn't have a law backing up it's "regulations". People who get 333 exemptions (that they can't actually comply with) are only hurting themselves

# ? Jan 17, 2015 20:46

The Eyes Have It: Feb 10, 2008; Third Eye Sees All
...snookums

Vitamin J posted:

The trainer port was originally designed for that, but it now is just a convenient way to inject extra channels into the PPM stream. The goggles plug into your TX and sends commands to the RX this way which gives you the ability to control a pan/tilt/roll gimbal. Been around for 3+ years in FPV, not sure what the big confusion is.

It's not confusing exactly, it's just not obvious to someone who isn't already familiar with how it's done.

# ? Jan 17, 2015 22:27

moron izzard: Nov 17, 2006; Grimey Drawer

The Affair posted:

So after some research online I'm thinking of getting these parts for my Phantom 2/HD-3D:

This Transmitter: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__27145__SkyZone_TS353_5_8G_400mW_FPV_Transmitter.html
$32.48

This Receiver: http://www.goodluckbuy.com/5-8g-7inch-8ch-tft-color-monitor-hd-built-in-lipo-battery-1s-3-7v-for-fpv-aerial-photography.html
$88.85

This iOSD: http://www.amazon.com/DJI-iOSD-Mini-Real-Time-Information/dp/B00FKZZQQS
$66.77

This connector cord: http://www.dpcav.com/xcart/Video-Cable-for-Phantom2-with-DJI-iOSD-Mini-and-Zenmuse-Flysight-Boscam-Foxtech.html
$9.99

And this mounting bracket: http://www.amazon.com/Hobbypower-Monitor-Bracket-Support-Transmitter/dp/B00JFU47O6/ref=pd_sbs_t_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1MBD550AMJN0QN76BAJB
$5.19

For a total of $203.28 before shipping.

So does all that look good? Will it work well together? Can I hook everything up without having to solder anything? I should only have to open the top of the phantom 2 to connect the cable into the board, and then run it down and out the leg into everything else, correct?

Thank you for your help!

that monitor mount is a goddamn nightmare. Consider 3d printing one, or getting a 3d printed one from eBay for about 20-30.

No idea about the actual monitor. I always recommend the black pearl or the new one that range video replaced it with. Also, don't forget some antennae

# ? Jan 17, 2015 23:00

The Affair: Jun 26, 2005; I hate snakes, Jock. I hate 'em!

A Yolo Wizard posted:

that monitor mount is a goddamn nightmare. Consider 3d printing one, or getting a 3d printed one from eBay for about 20-30.

No idea about the actual monitor. I always recommend the black pearl or the new one that range video replaced it with. Also, don't forget some antennae

Gotcha, I'll find a better mount.

Will the stock antennae that come with the tx/rx not be enough? I'm really not looking to go far or very high, just be able to see what I'm doing.

# ? Jan 18, 2015 18:54

moron izzard: Nov 17, 2006; Grimey Drawer

You can use those for now, but I think you'd have a better experience with a pair of rhcp cloverleaf style antennae. There are some really cheap ones on ebay, but you probably will have to snoop around to see if anyone can recommend one of those.

# ? Jan 18, 2015 19:19

Erwin: Feb 17, 2006

Erwin posted:

Ordering the right parts is by far the hardest part about building a quadcopter it seems. Here's some problems I've run into so far, in case it helps someone:

- My battery doesn't seem to have the normal battery connector. I referenced several build guides online and all said to just buy a 3S battery in the 3000mAh range. They didn't say I had to be careful to check the connector.
- None of the build guides say you need to buy a battery connector to connect to the power distribution board (though I guess if I thought hard enough about it, I could have figured that out). I guess the good news is that I can get one that matches my weirdo battery.
- Seems like all build guides should include "a shitload of bullet connectors".
- My motors don't come with mounting screws. WHY? Charge me an extra $3 per and give me the loving screws.
- My frame doesn't seem to have a lot of room in it. I don't know where I'm going to put everything, and I'm not sure where to mount the gimbal (Tarot t-2d). Probably should have just overpaid for the flame wheel. It's weird that the frame has all 5 star reviews. Are Hobby King reviews worth anything?
- The GPS stalk thing for the Naza doesn't stay together. The little rod seems like it's going to need to be glued in. It's weird that none of the build videos even address that.

This is all more frustrating when I have a weekend free to build it, but can't because everyone who does build guides online has already built a bunch and already has tiny screws and bullet connectors out the wazoo, and those aren't things that stores sell (I tried Home Depot and Radio Shack). I guess the good news is that it looks like I can get them on Amazon Prime and don't have to wait another week.

I've also notice that everything is so much smaller than I imagined. I've never seen a quad in person besides my little Hubsan, but for some reason everything on youtube seems bigger - the motors, frame, battery, etc. vv

So I got my quad together and flew it successfully today. Here's what I learned in case anyone else runs into the same issues:

- Hobbtown USA has a lot of the little connectors and stuff. I didn't even think of them, but then realized they're nearby and picked up some deans connectors.
- I got 10 pairs of XT60s on Amazon with Prime shipping.
- The battery connection wasn't as big of a deal as I imagined. I made up my own adapters (using 4mm bullets at the battery side) and that was nice because it game me some soldering practice. One for XT60 for the quad and one Deans for the charger.
- I picked up a decent soldering iron and it's like night and day compared to lovely direct plug Radio Shack soldering pens. Seriously (and again this is directed at new people like me) get it, it'll change your life. I also got a finer tip for it, but the one it comes with was perfect for all the soldering I had to do.
- The Turnigy 9x interface makes no sense, just watch a video specific to your flight controller with the Turnigy.

Next step is getting different landing gear since there's no good way to mount the Tarot gimbal to my lovely frame. Luckily that's on Amazon as well.

# ? Jan 18, 2015 23:57

Golluk: Oct 22, 2008

Erwin posted:

So I got my quad together and flew it successfully today. Here's what I learned in case anyone else runs into the same issues:

- Hobbtown USA has a lot of the little connectors and stuff. I didn't even think of them, but then realized they're nearby and picked up some deans connectors.
- I got 10 pairs of XT60s on Amazon with Prime shipping.
- The battery connection wasn't as big of a deal as I imagined. I made up my own adapters (using 4mm bullets at the battery side) and that was nice because it game me some soldering practice. One for XT60 for the quad and one Deans for the charger.
- I picked up a decent soldering iron and it's like night and day compared to lovely direct plug Radio Shack soldering pens. Seriously (and again this is directed at new people like me) get it, it'll change your life. I also got a finer tip for it, but the one it comes with was perfect for all the soldering I had to do.
- The Turnigy 9x interface makes no sense, just watch a video specific to your flight controller with the Turnigy.

Next step is getting different landing gear since there's no good way to mount the Tarot gimbal to my lovely frame. Luckily that's on Amazon as well.

I flashed my 9x over to OpenTX almost immediately. Fairly good tutorials, and the templates will more or less work with minor tweaking.

# ? Jan 19, 2015 00:01

Nerobro: Nov 4, 2005; Rider now with 100% more titanium!

Erwin posted:

- I picked up a decent soldering iron and it's like night and day compared to lovely direct plug Radio Shack soldering pens. Seriously (and again this is directed at new people like me) get it, it'll change your life. I also got a finer tip for it, but the one it comes with was perfect for all the soldering I had to do.

While that's a soldering station, it's really no different than the direct plug into the wall variety. The brand, however, is important there. Some of the stuff at radio shack, makes me wonder how people don't burn down their house. Loose connections, loose tips, no replacement tips available... It's scary stuff.

Good soldering stations start at $150 or so, and are temperature controlled. Those things are magical, they come up to heat in seconds, and don't get cold when soldering batteries, or big gauge wire. (10ga wire is interesting to solder..) They border on life changing.

Variable wattage isn't really an advantage worth speaking of. It just makes the iron less predictable. I do most of my soldering with a 40w Weller iron. It's a "direct plug into the wall" style, but being Weller, means the heating element is good, and replacement tips are cheap and common.

On HobbyTownUSA, I have three of them that are fairly local to me. The one in Northbrook Il, is great. About half the staff flies, and the rest are just plain helpful. The one in Schaumberg is none of that. The store is full of old stock, the lights are dim, nobody on staff knows anything about the products. Going in there just makes me angry. I've been there four times, I think I've given them two more visits than they're due. Then there's the Orland Park, I walked in on a busy night. People were playing with off roaders. It's a situation where customers should have been paid attention to. It seems the staff was more interested in playing than selling. They deserve a second visit... but I'm not anxious to visit.

I've also got a shop that's local that's called StrictlyRC. They seem to have a strong customer base, but their accessories prices are... For the cost of one pair of deans connectors, I can buy 20 at hobbyking. (I'm not exaggerating.) Their prices are straight out of the 80's. Though, while I was there, I got to see the Proto FPV micro quad. it was neat.

# ? Jan 19, 2015 05:52

moron izzard: Nov 17, 2006; Grimey Drawer

150 is a little high; you can get hakko stations under $100 now, and the aoyue stuff is great for the price.

# ? Jan 19, 2015 15:19

The Eyes Have It: Feb 10, 2008; Third Eye Sees All
...snookums

Nerobro posted:

I've also got a shop that's local that's called StrictlyRC. They seem to have a strong customer base, but their accessories prices are... For the cost of one pair of deans connectors, I can buy 20 at hobbyking. (I'm not exaggerating.) Their prices are straight out of the 80's. Though, while I was there, I got to see the Proto FPV micro quad. it was neat.

I live in a city with lots of oil money / young men with lots of disposable income. My last trip to the hobby store to buy some glue was aborted because even knowing what to expect (high prices) I just wasn't prepared. 14.99 for a 30ml bottle of CA glue and we recommend a 9.99 dropper bottle of accelerator to go with it :what:

gently caress you

# ? Jan 19, 2015 17:07

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# ? May 29, 2024 21:06

Odette: Mar 19, 2011

A Yolo Wizard posted:

150 is a little high; you can get hakko stations under $100 now, and the aoyue stuff is great for the price.

I picked up a fx888d the other day, loving pricey but well worth it.

# ? Jan 19, 2015 21:58

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Hobbies, Crafts, & Houses > RC aerial vehicles: because we don't have flying brooms

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