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Hex Rotor FPV

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dji fpv hex
8K views 24 replies 5 participants last post by  Mr.Leopard 
#1 ·
Is anyone on the forum into the multi-rotor FPV scene? I've been interested in this type or aircraft for ages since I saw the first AR Parrot Drones. I've never been one to settle for entry level items so I've saved my coins the past 5 months and ordered this today

http://www.cnchelicopter.com/servlet/the-2227/Sigma-Hexa-600C-ARF/Detail

Along with the following options:-
DJIWK-M-VIEW 900Mhz Data Link
Able to control drone from PC with Google maps overlay with ranges in excess of 5km.
http://www.mjmulticopter.com/produc...id=68&osCsid=502fce52e72143806767de08e9fe0eec

5.8Ghz Video TX / RX
http://www.cnchelicopter.com/servlet/the-1944/FPV-dsh-FEVER-TR5800D2-5.8G-fdsh-500mW-PNP/Detail

Fly Tech Video Goggles
http://www.cnchelicopter.com/servlet/the-1930/flytech-FV01-ALL-dsh-IN-dsh-ONE-video/Detail

Cyclop East OSD 1.5
http://www.cnchelicopter.com/servlet/the-2116/cyclops-easy-osd-V1.5/Detail

3 Way Video Switch
http://www.cnchelicopter.com/servlet/the-2148/FPV-Fever-SWITCH-dsh-3-remote/Detail


Plus a few other items to mount the cameras.
I'll be using a Futaba T10CAG with a 14ch receiver.
I went the Hex version purely for payload capacity as to achieve 30-40 mins of flight time i'll need more then 1 battery. Camera will be a GO-Pro HD Hero 2 with possibly another 2 cameras for different angles. I'm planing to use this mainly for videography and possibly develop some commercial applications.

If anyone has advice or suggestions I'd appreciate the feedback.
 
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#2 ·
Was a busy day for the postie today, I got 2 shipments & a courier delivery. The Hexa 600 with all the extra bits arrived along with some extra batteries from China and all the telemetry goodies for my DX14 Specktrum from W.A.
Jeff at www.cnchelicopter.com did a great job making sure the package arrived both safe and fast. Batteries came from www.myrcmodel.com in china taking just 8 days from order to delivery, wasn't easy finding 3S 6600mah lipos anywhere on the planet so was happy to find these and the price isn't too bad. www.perthrc.com.au supplied all my Spectrum parts and are good to deal with, answered questions and took the time to explain some options and chase parts for me. Have bulit the camera mount and while functional I'm not overly impressed with the job I did, I hate how superglue leaves that white type residue on parts though I'll polish it up so it looks pretty.
What was a bit strange was how much smaller the parts are in real life compared to the pics on the web, the Wookong M is much smaller then I expected. Was thinking the GPS disc was 3-4 inches in diameter but it actually only slighty larger then a 50c coin. Some pics of the bits attached...I'll try and update as I build it buy typically I build things over a few weeks depending on how busy work / family gets as they always get first priority.

Will do pics later as there appears to be a problem uploading....
 
#3 · (Edited)
What I know about FPV and Multi rotor heli's I could fit on a pin head Krusty, but it sounds like a great project. I look forward to seeing some pics of it and some video from it.

8 arms with motors on each one sounds awesome!
 
#4 ·
It's actually a 6 rotor and I prolly know as much as you about them. I need to get a camera into the air on a stable platform for an idea I have which hopefully will make a few dollars. Since suffer an RC related injury a couple of months back I've temporarily shelved the FG Leopard still covered in Luddenham Mud and started developing this idea. I've tried 3 times to upload pictures but it crashes out, might have to resize them down a bit and try again.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Making money from RC? That's awesome! Size matters with the pics, I found that out. 800 X 600 usually gets my pics posted.

Don't suppose your ready to reveal how your going to make money off it yet. :)

I have an idea for a footy game, but I need a pic of a football oval from above the top dead centre. Any idea where I can get one?

I thought octo meant eight?
 
#6 ·
Let me get this built and I'll get your picture :) Not sure where I said Octo though cause the thread title is Hex....better be Hex cause I only got 6 motor & ESC in the kit :)
I work nights from home so I can generally build things and get paid....I love my job in these situations.
 
#7 · (Edited)
I just had another read and I guess I got it confused with another thread, it happens this early in the morning! :)

What's your job?

The pic I need is of the Sydney (Telstra or what ever it is now) football stadium at grand final, so I doubt you could help.
 
#8 ·
Got some more goodies in the mail today, a line out cable from China for the GoPro so I can watch the video live via the ground station and a baggie of M2 Stainless Nyloc nuts from the U.K. I generally buy all my nuts and bolts from Lee Bros in Nth Parramatta but when M2 Nylocs are like $2 EACH !! I went offshore. HTF can such a small nut cost so much? Got the bare frame assembled lastnight and will start fitting all the running gear tonight if work is quiet.

Packing materials Rectangle Plastic Electric blue Packaging and labeling
Gadget Machine Computer hardware Auto part Electric blue
Adapter Ac adapter Adapter Gadget Automotive lighting


Seems a smaller file size works so I'll get more pics up later tonight of the airframe.

PC Wiz....I work in I.T as head nightshift b1tch and senior 5hit job specialist.
 
#10 ·
Gotta love the arrival of the magic brown boxes.;) I'm waiting on a few filled with the same sort of gear myself.:bored:

I've just started flying FPV (fixed wing) and am loving it. I've got no idea on anything to do with multi rotors but i'm starting to get my head around the rest of the world of FPV and all i can say is keep it simple to start with. I'll bet your real keen to get the wookong going (it looks like a really nice bit of kit:D) but i would concentrate on learning to fly with a basic camera, vtx, vrx combo to start with and add the bells and whistles later.

Is there any reason you chose cnchelicopter? I'm just asking as their prices seem quite high.:( The price for the vtx / vrx combo you linked is twice what they are worth from other vendors. You'll also need to watch the heat on that 500mw vtx, they are an overclocked 200mw vtx and they are known to over heat if they dont get sufficient airflow (which may be an issue on a multi rotor, depending how you fly:confused:)

Have you bought antennas yet? If not i'd suggest looking into making your own cloverleaf and skew planar wheels. Really easy and cost nothing.

Flew through clouds for the first time today, using my own antennas :D .
 
#11 ·
Nogas,
I spent a sh1tload with CNC but ignored the web prices, I didn't use the online checkout method. I just made a list and emailed them, then negotiated a price including shipping as a "Gift" thereby saving me some $400 on the total and another $350 in customs duties for a total saving of $750 which I really appreciated. i dealt with Jeff and found the customer service excellent. Email replies to questions were near instant and a last minute change to the order fixed without question. Now I need to go research Lipo chargers cause the batteries are 6600mah but my charger only goes to 6000mah...200mins on charge and still going which isn't right. Think I'll charge unbalanced first then connect the balance cable and charge again to top them off...
 
#13 ·
Nice snug packages! :)
 
#15 ·
Frame built and lessons learnt....run all the ESC power & signal cables inside the arms before screwing together cause the plugs don't fit.
Now I have a big box of electronics to fit and the challenge of find out where to put it all on the frame. Will post more pics later tonight after mounting up the Wookong M and receiver.
I've ditched the Futaba 10CH in favour of the Spectrum DX18 which is fully loaded with all the telemetry and other goodies.

Bicycle part Rim Cross Spoke Auto part
 
#16 · (Edited)
Toy Camera Motor vehicle Automotive lighting Machine
Rotorcraft Helicopter rotor Table Electrical wiring Bicycle part
Rotorcraft Engineering Machine Toy Event
Bicycle tire Bicycle handlebar Bicycle part Bicycle frame Bicycle


Some pictures with the Wookong M fitted though the receiver will be moved + I still have to get all the other electronics installed. The camera mount on the front was designed for a different frame so I fitted a couple of carbon fibre rods in a rail fashion to the landing mounts. I can use these rails to mount all the goodies to then adjust forward or aft to correct any COG issues. Spent maybe 10 mins configuring the controller with the laptop and have to say its very very simple for the initial setup.
Will get more into building the groundstation this week, i have a 10.4" LCD display one of those plastic cases from Jaycar. Will be a bt of a challenge to get it all to fit in 1 box and make it tidy, I plan to later on look at antenna tracking solutions but for now I'll just go with what I've got.
 
#17 ·
Wow Krusty, that looks like a lot of fun to build! I'd love to see what sort of footage you could capture with that quadcopter, I'm in the same mindset of taking some pictures and making some dosh on the side, but all these regulations and certifications have me a bit worried.

Keep up the great thread, I'm going to be building my own quad system soon and this thread is all the inspiration I need :)
 
#18 ·
That is a seriously flash bit of kit Krusty. Looking forward to seeing some of your footage.

Dont mean to sound like a spoil sport but i would suggest learning to fly it bare bones before you go throwing $1000's worth of FPV gear on it.

I've been looking into building a tri and just about every one recommends learning to fly LOS first then starting FPV with a very basic set up before getting serious.
 
#19 ·
Way ahead of you....I designed the equipment mounting rails in such a way that I can remove all the fpv kit and fly it bareass visually. All the fpv gear / datalink can just be unplugged and removed on the rails as a unit. Longterm I'll build a few different sets of rails with the gear required fo the specific task. Toying with the idea of a way to drop launch an r/c aircraft from altitude, a shoebox sized container with bomb bay doors, maybe even a Losi seeking missile for open day at SSME. ( I have a bit of a thing against Losi's since 1 shattered my leg a few months back) - Insert Evil Laugh here-.
 
#20 ·
haha cool! Rather than a box, you could maybe make a small release clip / pin of some sort. It would mean you'd have to fit a suitable latch to the plane though??
 
#21 ·
If you can blow up my baha ill let you pay me 10k....not a bad deal mate

Sent from my HTC Sensation XL with Beats Audio X315b using Tapatalk 2
 
#22 ·
Been a busy week but the last package of goodies arrived yesterday and i have started to build the ground station. I only planned to use 5.8Ghz for video but having decided on the Eagletree ground station with diversity I decided to add an aditional video feed. I bought the 1300mhz 1500mw package from ReadyMadeRC along with the antenna tracker with optional high torque servo's. Proceeded to then spend a few $$ at hobbyKing to get all the OSD / Datalogger & sensors to fill out the full package of telemetry / OSD & Antenna tracking. I'll relegate the EasyOSD to the spares draw for the time being. Having glued the ply frame together and mounting the bulk of the parts I'm considering stripping it down and painting it with a good quality clearcoat to protect the ply from moisture. The quality of the cut ply is very impressive, appears laser cut and every part fits perfectly and without any slop, just press together and apply CA. Thinking I'll reglue the major joints with Araldite before painting.
I added the optional LCD panel to the groundstation as it'll display the last know GPS co-ordinates in the event of a crash so recovery should be an easier task n the event of a long distance crash. I was originally thinking to use a camera tri pod to mount it all on but found a HD Speaker stand at Jaycar that is near perfect for the job http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=CW2860 it's aluminium, extends to almost 2M and allows the head to be rotated and locked during initial setup. I milled a recess near the mounting slots to accept the base of the antenna tracking mount. (I finally bought my mini mill after years of wanting one).

Pictures :)

Office equipment Office supplies Desk Peripheral Computer desk
Door Curtain Sewing Gas Machine

Product Shelving Gas Wood Electronic device
Circuit component Amber Passive circuit component Audio equipment Wood
Input device Electronic instrument Computer Computer keyboard Gadget
Automotive tire Gas Font Circle Auto part
 
#24 ·
Have been way too busy with family, work & doctors the past couple of months to do much with this hex but I have been doing some work on my ground station setup to simplify the wiring and make it a bit more user friendly.
Also bought a new Hex, the DJI S800 Spreading Wings along with the Zenmuse Gimbal fully loaded with a Sony NEX7. Using the rubbish pancake lense at the moment but will save up for the 24mm Zeiss then rebalance the gimbal.
The S600 I've change the configuration to match the S800 and have been trying to fly as much as I can. The S800 is still unflown at the moment, I've done all the setup and next I'll replace the gimbal with some lead weights for the first dozen or so flights. That thing is way too expensive to risk on an unproven frame. S800 as shown cost close to $10K so I'll be taking it very careful for a while but hopefully it'll capture some great pictures and video and even better once I've got the Zeiss lens.

I have 3 major projects on the go at work so will be busy till maybe February but will try to update this thread as time permits.

Plant Flooring Wood Machine Metal





Plant Wood Camera accessory Gas Flooring
 
#25 ·
That looks good Brett....maybe you can get good at flying and take some aerial video of us racing at the ssme !!

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk 2
 
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