Hello Everyone! I have read around the site (and some other sites) and am trying to decide on my first quadcopter. I have never owned or flown any before, this will be my first date and I do not want to ruin it. So I ask for expert advice. At first I thought (based on my research here and there) that a Syma X5C-1 would be a perfect first. (I was thinking about the WLToys V959 Pro as well, but then dropped the idea in favor of the Syma - maybe I am wrong). But then I read about FPV. Nothing professional, I just think it may increase the fun factor. JJRC H9D Gold FPV came into the picture. (Also Hubsan Quads H107D X4 FPV, but dropped, because I do not want to spend too much on the first quad (gone with the wind, broken after 5 minutes, or simply this is not the hobby I imagined ) I read these are easy to fly, hard to break quads. My question is: which one to choose? Does the entry level FPV really add to the fun? If yes, should I go for the more expensive one (Hubsan Quads)? Are spare parts available for these (I read that cogs, motors, batteries are pretty quickly consumed)? I would go for the FPV, but they are very small, I do not know if this matters... Thank you in advance! Syma X5C-1 - $66 with 5 spare batteries, $56 bare naked WLToys V959 Pro - $58 JJRC H9D Gold FPV - $90 Hubsan Quads H107D X4 FPV - $139
Ok a couple of things here. First off the Syma and V959 are NOT FPV. Just because a quad has a camera on it does not mean it has FPV, it also has to have a video transmitter on the quad and a receiver/screen back on the ground. Those two are just flying cameras, no FPV. The H9D does seem to be FPV, but that one is pretty new and I don't really know that much about it. I have a Hubsan Quads H107D that I use with my fatshark goggles. It's a solid little quad, a minor control issue with the yaw but not a show stopper, and it is fun flying it around the house via FPV. Out of box without the goggles you will be looking at a pretty small screen on the transmitter for FPV. You might want to get a set of Hobby King Quanum goggles to go along with it (about $30 I think) as you will probably get a much better experience like that. Another one you might want to consider is the Ladybird FPV, whiich you can probably get a little cheaper than the Hubsan Quads.
Hi! Thanks for your answer! Yes, I know those are not FPV, I realised the possible fun with FPV after I decided to go with the Syma. That is why I found the other two. I will definitely check the goggles! Are the very small FPVs OK for outdoor use?
Yes and no. You can fly the micros outside, but there pretty much has to be zero wind. Also the radio's on these are generally not very long range, and they're so small that if it flys out of range and drops down into some weeds you're going to have a tough time finding it. I consider these more for indoor flying.
Don't get me wrong, I still highly recommend starting with something the size of the Hubsan Quads. You can have a lot of fun with it, and more importantly you will learn to fly without putting a lot of money or anyone around you at risk. You just need to set reasonable expectations, you're not going to be zipping around though the trees or flying up in the clouds with these things (although you can find videos to the contrary, but those are usually heavily modded quads). My advice, stick with your plan and get the Hubsan Quads or H9D and fly the hell out of it. Once you're comfortable with it you'll be ready for a larger model.
Thanks for your comments. Problem is, I do not have a plan somehow I will need to decide between the four. But thanks for the suggestion, I will go with one of the smaller ones first.
All the advice above is solid. I have both the Hubsan Quads 107 and Syma X5C1, the Hubsan Quads was first and the Syma very soon after, if I did it all over again I think the Syma is a tad easier to learn on than the Hubsan Quads, IMHO. Good luck.
