Starting F550 Build and Have Questions

martin19117 · Jun 16, 2017

It is interesting.

JHook · Jun 20, 2017

rebelyellNC said:
OK guys, just finished installing and testing ALL the FPV gear, so she's finally completed. Well, as most of you know already, a DIY drone is never really completed. There's always more "stuff" to buy, but for now, it's done and ready to fly where I can sit in the "pilot's seat" for a bird's eye view. Here's a few pics of the final version with the FPV gear. Sorry about all the tools in the pics, but I know where everything is, so wifey better not "clean up" around the work area .

View attachment 78606

Sorry about the focus, these old hands ain't as steady as they used to be. Anyway, the shot above is the underside (duh!) of the bird, showing the two power distribution boards. The larger one is just that, a PDB with no BEC or smarts, it just gives solder points for flight battery connections and additions. The smaller board is a PDB for 3s or 4s battery and it includes six points for flight battery voltage, as well as an internal BEC for 5v and 12v. I'm using the 5v connection here to continually charge the Trackimo battery, so I don't have to remove it to charge it from the USB charger. This way, it's always ready to go. The Firefly Q6 camera includes a charging circuit in the A/V cable, to keep the internal battery charged from the flight battery. As amazing as this 4K camera is, the battery life during flights is reportedly dismal, so now it will remain at full charge always, ...no FPV surprises .

View attachment 78607

In this topside view above, you can see the Flysight Black Mamba 2000mw video transmitter. Can't wait to try out and range test on that puppy .

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Finally, in this pic you can see the Firefly Q6 4K video action cam. The mounting device is homemade from a piece of aluminum door threshold, with the side strips machined off and bent at a 20 degree downward viewing angle. I tried the Mobius incline kit, but didn't like the fit. I may go with a custom two axis gimbal from CopterLab, designed especially for the Firefly Q6 at some point, but for now, this will work fine for the type of FPV flying I do.

So I guess that's it. Build over and time to fly. BTW, the AUW has only increased by 229 grams with the addition of the camera, mount, vTx, PDB, antenna, and all the wiring. So it now stands at 2153 grams, well under the 2400 max takeoff weight suggested by DJI. Thanks for your comments and interest in this thread. I was shocked to see over 900 views in the short time it's been up . If anyone is interested in building the F550 Flame Wheel and has questions or problems, you can PM me or just post here and other can learn from the solutions. I'm indebted to the members here at Phantom Pilots forum for their advice and expertise in helping me with the pitfalls and potholes surrounding this experience.

Later...

JHook · Jun 20, 2017

Sorry about the post before this one. I was trying to copy and paste. But I have a question for Rebel.

Do you have any video that you can show me from any flights with your camera that you have chosen to install?

Thanks buddy,
John

rebelyellNC · Jun 20, 2017

John, I haven't uploaded any vids yet to YT with the new camera. They are coming though, as I just got permission this week to fly a new area.

JHook · Jun 20, 2017

As I posted a while back, I mentioned that the owner of the hobby store said that the P4P is a better drone with all of its sensors. Flying time is longer and video is better than any phantom. He wasn't trying to up sale me, I think

But, what do you think? I like all of the flight modes of a P4P, RTH/tracking/follow, etc.

Thanks,
John

martin19117 · Jun 20, 2017

The p3 pro has waypoint, rth, and following I believe. I haven't used those features but I seen something like that on the go app

rebelyellNC · Jun 21, 2017

JHook said:
As I posted a while back, I mentioned that the owner of the hobby store said that the P4P is a better drone with all of its sensors. Flying time is longer and video is better than any phantom. He wasn't trying to up sale me, I think

But, what do you think?

OK JHook, remember that you asked my opinion, so I'm gonna give it to ya, but I know it's probably going to draw fire on here. Ever since the P2 and all the flyaways (yeah, I know, ...pilot error), I have cherished my P1.1.1 all the more. The lack of a smart battery and all the FW updates (limiting the usefulness) just fit the bill for me. So with the P2s, P3s (+suffixes), P4s (+suffixes), and all those other models with deadly expensive batteries and flawed firmware (according to the owners), I wanted a bigger and better drone. So I saw a video of a guy transforming a P1 into a hex. He documented his progress and problems, much like I did on the F550 Build thread, and when I saw that monster take off, I knew I was six-motor bound. I'm sure there are a lot of happy and excited P-whatever owners out there, but I enjoyed building my F550 from scratch, more than I would have if I just opened a box and pulled out an assembled bird. She flies like a dream and I can't wait to experience loops and rolls in manual mode. I got some basic aerobatic fun in with the P1.1.1, but just haven't tried it yet with the F550. The videos while doing these maneuvers should be a hoot.

Oh, ...there's one other thing. I'm just an old guy, so I'm a cell phone-tablet-smartwatch-mobiledevice hater. It's not the tech I hate (being an I.T. Specialist), it's what it's done to our culture. Watching people walk into lamp posts or down open manholes or out into traffic just irritates me (and it's got to be painful for them). Or going to the doctor and seeing EVERYONE in the waiting room with a "device" stuck in their face, just gets under my skin. When I worked for a community college teaching computer repair, one of my colleagues came to the house to visit. He brought his wife and three teen daughters, who sat on the couch TEXTING each other. That was probably what started my lack of love for these things. Anyway, that's about all I see now on the P-whatever forums, is I-this and I-that and will this phone or tablet work for this or that. If you took that away, I bet these folks would actually enjoy hands-on flying much more.

Well, I guess I'll get off the rant stump now and wait for the flames to rush in. Hey, there may even be someone else out there that feels the same way, ...who knows? OK, rebelyellNC out!

JHook · Jun 21, 2017

Wow

I see what your saying about all of the tech. Stuff. But I would like to monitor my flights with a device via phone or tablet of some kind to fly, also to monitor altitude.

And BTW, 60+ is not old

Thanks buddy,
John

JHook · Jun 21, 2017

So when your flying using your DT7/DR16 TX, your not using any type of monitor? I'm confused Which is not uncommon for me.

John

rebelyellNC · Jun 21, 2017

JHook said:
your not using any type of monitor?

Sure I am, check out my sig. It's a Flysight Black Pearl 7" Diversity Receiver/Monitor. Great LCD screen, plenty bright and a collapsible sunshade rounds it out perfectly. Since it's a diversity monitor, it has two Rx channels, so that whichever antenna is receiving the stronger signal from the vTx on the bird, gets automatically processed and displayed. When it's close by, the BlueBeam Ultra RHCP mushroom antenna is online, then when it gets to higher altitude or distance, the High Gain Flat Panel antenna takes over automatically. It's a no brainer machine, and that's what I need!

martin19117 · Jun 22, 2017

rebelyellNC said:
OK JHook, remember that you asked my opinion, so I'm gonna give it to ya, but I know it's probably going to draw fire on here. Ever since the P2 and all the flyaways (yeah, I know, ...pilot error), I have cherished my P1.1.1 all the more. The lack of a smart battery and all the FW updates (limiting the usefulness) just fit the bill for me. So with the P2s, P3s (+suffixes), P4s (+suffixes), and all those other models with deadly expensive batteries and flawed firmware (according to the owners), I wanted a bigger and better drone. So I saw a video of a guy transforming a P1 into a hex. He documented his progress and problems, much like I did on the F550 Build thread, and when I saw that monster take off, I knew I was six-motor bound. I'm sure there are a lot of happy and excited P-whatever owners out there, but I enjoyed building my F550 from scratch, more than I would have if I just opened a box and pulled out an assembled bird. She flies like a dream and I can't wait to experience loops and rolls in manual mode. I got some basic aerobatic fun in with the P1.1.1, but just haven't tried it yet with the F550. The videos while doing these maneuvers should be a hoot.

I agree, building something and watching it fly, its a more better moment than buying a already built Phantom, all the bell and whistle can be added to your built. it might cost a bit more but you have 100 control of it. selecting a Good Flight controller would be the most important thing from the drone. Im building a F650, basically I fabricated the center of a F550 and machined it bigger. You can add only but the best of items to your build and peace of mine will be there.

JHook · Jun 22, 2017

Where do you buy your F550 kits and accessories? I just looked on Ebay and Amazon, really nothing good there. I was told to stay away from helipal because of the high cost of shipping.

Thanks,
John

JHook · Jun 22, 2017

hmmmmm
Just checked Craigslist Dallas/FTW area. some interesting F550 drones, but once again they are RTF. I rather built from bottom up.

John

JHook · Jun 22, 2017

Here is one in Grand Prairie, TX
$400 Firm

DJI F550 GPS Drone (Naza V2) - ($1000)
retractable landing gear - ($200)
Zenmuse HD-3D gimbal - ($300)
Drone case - ($100)
5 inch wireless monitor - flyweight ($300)
Venom Pro charger ($100)
Extra Frame

rebelyellNC · Jun 23, 2017

Hey J, take what Martin said to heart. If you build it yourself, the rewards are much greater. In the end, it's your decision, but the folks that have done both, almost always side with build over buy RTF.

JHook · Jun 23, 2017

Thanks rebel,
Your both right, I will get more satisfaction in building my own.
So here we go

My first step is to find a kit that has the Naza V2
Having issues trying to fine a good company to buy from.

Any advice!

John

martin19117 · Jun 23, 2017

You can buy them From DJI. They offer Free Shipping and youll get them in less than 4 working days. All my stuff is straight from DJI. http://click.dji.com/AC3N3u3D5aLvgu0OANw?pm=link&as=0001&ch=1205
Click the link and youll see the pricing, go onto components and ull get the F550 section. Just buy the DT7 combo kit from helipal or from getfpv.com (florida location) and ull be straight.

JHook · Jun 23, 2017

Thanks

rebelyellNC · Jun 23, 2017

JHook said:
Having issues trying to fine a good company to buy from.

You bet you'll have issues finding one. I searched for literally weeks before I scored mine, then saw an ad for the EXACT same thing for $100 less after I finished building it. Anyway, I went through two entire pages of Google search results and only found one that was less than the worldwide standard of $549. It's at the DJI store, here's the link...

Buy F550 ARF KIT + Landing Gear + Naza-M V2

If you want to do your own search, be absolutely sure to include these terms:
DJI F550 Flame Wheel ARF kit, NAZA M V2 (not Lite), Landing Gear

If you don't put ARF, you'll get a bunch of hits for RTF completely built birds. If you don't put NAZA M V2, you might get an ad for a kit with NAZA M Lite (which has less features). If you don't get the Landing Gear, the bird will sit just an inch or so off the ground, which means no camera and it will kick up tons of debris when taking off.

Just a few hints that I hope will work. There's a place called Rotor Logic which sometimes sells the ARF kit on Ebay and Amazon, but they are currently out of stock. In fact a lot of sites are out of stock. This is one popular bird. If you want to be dead sure you are getting the real deal, post the link right before you buy and I'll scope it out for you.