Soldering basics for RC planesRCModelReviews2013-11-22 | Here are is some basic info for those who fly RC planes and want to know a little more about the theory and practice of soldering.
It was intended to be a short video but, as usual, it became a long one.
Sorry about that.The DroneTag broadcast RID module (the cheapest option?)RCModelReviews2023-05-11 | If you fly a drone or RC plane in the USA then as of 16 September 2023 then you will probably need to fit a broadcast remote ID module to it. DroneTag have come up with their 'Basic Solution' unit which is a pared-to-the-bone option but unless you buy it on special, it is almost exactly twice the price the FAA quoted as their expected figure for such things.
Hopefully I'll get my hands on one of these and check out whether the GPS antenna is good enough to allow it to double as a source of GPS for your flight controller and whether there are any "gotchas".
This is the Drone & Sundry livestream in which the developer speaks about the DroneTag BS unit: youtube.com/watch?v=WJb_6Xn_xdY
Thanks to those who support this channel on Patreon: patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsCould AMD change the face of digital FPV?RCModelReviews2023-05-10 | #rcplane #drones Chipmaker AMD has announced a new high performance video codec ASIC that points the way for future digital FPV systems. With latency as low as 8mS and resolutions of up to 8K with support for the highly efficient AV1 format, as well as older H264 and H265, silicon like this will only make our digital FPV experience even better.
For more information on why a codec like this is so important, check out my video explaining how the DJI and HDZero systems work: youtube.com/watch?v=-eaVseMQycY
Support this channel and my work to promote, support and protect the hobby through my XJet channel by becoming a patron: patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsGet more flight time with a DIY lithium-ion batteryRCModelReviews2022-12-13 | Whether you fly a drone or RC plane, using a lithium-ion battery instead of a lipo can give you more flight time and, if you build your own, even save you money. In this video I build a 6S Li-Ion battery using 21700 cells and take it for a test flight on the Foxeer Aura 7 quadcopter where it delivers 20 minute flight times.
Links (not sponsored or affiliate): Where I got the batteries : 18650batteries.nz
A huge thanks to those who support me on Patreon and thus free *everyone* from the tyranny of sponsorship segments, mid-roll ads and affiliate links. patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsReview: Foxeer Aura 7 long-range 7-inch quadcopter droneRCModelReviews2022-12-08 | Everyone should have a 7-inch long range drone in their collection and the Aura 7 ticks most of the boxes.
Pros: - good quality components and good overall design - wide range of RC and FPV equipment options - as close to a true BNF as you'll get - excellent efficiency and flight-times - the folding props are very convenient and work well - should work well with DJI O3 (props hardly in view)
Cons: - base of the arms could be beefier (order spares) - attention to detail in the build could be better - CRSF/ELRS antenna mounted horizontally
Summary: Not a bad option for anyone seeking a BNF long-range multirotor that is quick and relatively easy to get in the air.
If you would like to support my work via Patreon: patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsDrone News: Redcat sells Rotor Riot and FatSharkRCModelReviews2022-11-30 | Consumer drone businesses Rotor Riot and Fatshark have been sold by RedCat Holdings to Unusual Machines Inc. Is this a good move for the hobby? Are there smoke and mirrors involved designed to make RedCat's ledgers look a little more healthy? What does the future hold for RR and FS under the umbrella of Unusual Machines Inc?
You can support my efforts to inform, promote and protect the hobby via Patreon if you've a mind to do so:
patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsFoxeer Reaper Extreme and Trex camera, analog FPV excellenceRCModelReviews2022-10-28 | Is there still a place for analog FPV on RC planes and drones? I think there is and if you want a really impressive system, the combination of the Foxeer Reaper Extreme VTX and TRex camera can produce outstanding results, as you will see in this video.
Disclosure: these products were provided for review purposes by Foxeer.Drone News: 21 October 2022 (90 million safe flights!)RCModelReviews2022-10-21 | Another edition of the RCModelReviews Drone News bringing you important stories about the hobby of drone and RC plane flying.
00:06 - The FAA gives the finger to the hobby 04:11 - 54GB of drone tracking data leaked 06:46 - GPS outage affects commercial flights 08:30 - The looming crisis of blinded drones
Don't forget to subscribe to my XJet channel for fun, laughter and rants as well! youtube.com/user/xjet
Thanks to those who support me on Patreon... see, no mid-roll ads thanks to them!
patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsRuncam Thumb HD with Gyroflow stabilizationRCModelReviews2022-10-14 | Is the Runcam Thumb HD a cinema camera? No it most certainly is not but when teamed up with the free Gyroflow stabilization software it produces some very acceptable results for such a budget-priced camera.
I'm sorry that YouTube is probably going to mangle this footage with compression artifacts but I'm sure you'll be able to decide for yourselves whether this camera is worth the money for your type of flying.
A big thanks to all those who support my YouTube channels through Patreon
patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsYaw Washout explained and what it means for DJI Avata ownersRCModelReviews2022-10-03 | All multirotor drones suffer from the effects of yaw washout to some degree but "whoops" are most affected, for the reasons explained in this video.
For examples of yaw washout affecting the DJI Avata, check out these videos:
Feel free to become one of the heroes who support this channel via Patreon: patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsDrone News (1 Oct, 2022)RCModelReviews2022-09-30 | In this drone and RC plane news report: 00:06 - FPV into an asteroid 00:51 - Lilium Jet air taxi folly 04:11 - Drone delivery lunacy in Ireland 06:09 - Google Wing delivery drone crashes on powerlines
You can support my channels on Patreon:
patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsWorst ever DJI Avata FPV Cinema drone reviewRCModelReviews2022-09-19 | In a 13 minute flight I tell you all you need to know about the DJI Avata cinewhoop FPV drone and you may be surprised at what is revealed near the end of this video. Watch and be amazed.
Thank you to my Patreon supporters for making it possible to create these videos without mid-roll ads, affiliate links or sponsorships. There are no commercial imperatives influencing the results of these reviews.
This is the GEPRC Cinelog 35 HD quadcopter flown in this video (not an affiliate link): geprc.com/product/geprc-cinelog35-hd-w-vista-nebula-pro-system-4s-6sDrone and RC plane news (10 Sept, 2022)RCModelReviews2022-09-10 | 00:00 Remote ID enforcement deferred by FAA 03:16 DJI Avata released with problems 07:04 Walksnail and other FPV systems 09:07 ELRS for LOS fixed-wing flyers 12:19 FAA lists RID compliant drones
Thank you to all my Patreon supporters. If you'd like to contribute to the mid-roll-free experience on RCModelReviews then please consider signing up for as little as $1/month.
patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsRuncam Thumb HD reviewRCModelReviews2022-08-30 | It's not the best HD recording camera in the world for your RC plane or drone... but it's only $50 at the time this review was made so how could you not buy one? I mean... it's so cheap that it's almost disposable!
Stay tuned for the review of the Thumb 4K if you might want something a little more expensive with higher resolution.This changes EVERYTHING... I am *NOT* kidding!RCModelReviews2022-08-02 | No more BNF or PNF RC planes or drones in the USA, thanks to the Remote ID rule which comes into effect on 16 September 2022. That's right, be prepared for manufacturers to stop making BNF/PNF models and watch for empty shelves at retail and online stores.
The handbrake has just been put on the hobby by very, very bad rule-making and complacency withing the groups who should be advocating for it.
I thank my Patreon supporters for making it possible for me to continue crusading to inform, promote and protect this wonderful hobby. patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsReview: Foxeer Foxwhoop, the unbreakable drone?RCModelReviews2022-07-16 | Foxeer have made a pretty bold claim when they called the Foxeer Foxwhoop 25 "unbreakable". I'm going to test that and also take a look at why this is a drone I think is actually worth the money they're asking for it.
Disclosure: This product was provided by Foxeer for review purposes.
My Patreon: patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsCould your ELRS drone or RC plane be hijacked?RCModelReviews2022-07-08 | ThreatPost has published a story (linked below) claiming that drones and RC planes are at risk due to a weakness in the ExpressLRS protocol. Should ELRS users be worried? I don't think so but what do you think?.. to the comments with you!
patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsFatshark Dominator HD / WalkSnail Avatar HD digital FPVRCModelReviews2022-07-06 | Here is my meta-analysis of the reviews of the latest HD digital FPV system to hit the market for drone and RC plane flyers. Hopefully this video adds some valuable extra perspectives to the challenging question of whether you should buy this system right now.
If you do decide to buy, please support your favorite other channel by using the affiliate links in one of the videos linked below:
You can support me on Patreon: patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsDrone, FPV and RC news (17 May, 2022)RCModelReviews2022-05-17 | More news from the world of drones and RC planes.
This week: - Fatshark Digital -- stop worrying - HDZero video goggles revealed - CASA on FPV - ADSB alarm update
A big thanks to all my Patreon supporters: patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsFatsharks new Digital FPV gogglesRCModelReviews2022-05-14 | Fatshark has unveiled their new Digital FPV Dominator goggles today and all we know is that we do not know much. Let's look at what we do know and speculate about just what is going on behind the scenes.
Joshua Bardwell's "first look" and interview with Greg from Fatshark: youtube.com/watch?v=NK_SfyNsLdERuncam dont love me any more (and other news)RCModelReviews2022-03-24 | An update on things relating to the channel and all things RC plane and drone related, here at RC ModelReviews.
In this video: - how much money do my videos earn? (0:00) - Runcam hate me now? (08:48) - I have a new graphics card (10:30) - Drone/RC news (13:30) - This changes everything (16:15)
A link to Mads Tech, a great channel for info on DJI drones and HDZero: youtube.com/c/MadRC
Thank you to all my Patreon supporters: patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsReview: GEPRC Mark 5 freestyle quadcopterRCModelReviews2022-03-20 | Can the GEPRC Mark 5 freestyle drone keep up with a gas-turbine powered RC model plane? Let's make this review more interesting than most drone reviews shall we?
To purchase, please support your other favorite reviewer by using *THEIR* affiliate links (and tell them I sent you).
Disclosure: The product reviewed was provided by the manufacturer for review purposes but, as the lack of affiliate links here clearly indicates, I'm an honest reviewer whose findings and opinions are not influenced by "freebies".Why RC antenna polarization is importantRCModelReviews2022-02-09 | Why is the polarization of your RC plane or drone antennas important? In this video I explain how to get most consistent RSSI and LQ out of an RC system by using vertical polarization for the transmitter and receiver antennas.Radiomaster Zorro the best and worst of itRCModelReviews2022-02-07 | Is this the perfect radio for your next RC plane or drone? Well although this is a very good radio, it isn't perfect (nothing is). Find out the things I love about this radio and the things that don't thrill me nearly as much.
If you want to buy this radio, please use the affiliate link posted by your favorite other reviewer. If you want to support this channel and reward me for the lack of mid-roll advertising and commercial imperatives, please consider giving me as little as $1 per month via patreon.
patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsReview: GEPRC Cinelog 35 HD cinema droneRCModelReviews2022-02-04 | I can honestly say, hand on heart, this is now the best Cinequad I have ever flown. It's still not perfect but it is significantly better than any other I've tried.
Pros: - very, very smooth flying - acceptable flight endurance (5 mins on a 4S 1000mAH pack) - sturdy design with good quality components - less noisy than some
Cons: - still noisier than an open-prop quadcopter - still some jello (but less than all the others except the Cinequeen 4K)
Disclosure: this product was provided for review by GEPRC.
If you'd like to reward me for the lack of mid-roll ads, sponsor segments and other commercial imperatives, why not toss me as little as $1 a month via Patreon: patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsWhiteboard: How digital FPV systems actually workRCModelReviews2022-01-27 | DJI and HDZero both have digital FPV offerings for RC planes and drones. In this video I try to give you some technical insight into how they work so you can better decide which one best suits your needs.
My Patreon page: patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsToolKitRC M9 multifunction charger (and much much more)RCModelReviews2022-01-16 | If you fly an RC plane or drone then a good battery charger is an essential part of your kit. The ToolKitRC M9 charger talks but that's not as significant as the fact that it also includes a lot of other functionality such as ESC tester, power meter, receiver scope, servo tester and more.
So far this little unit seems very nice and quite configurable. It will now be placed on the "torture bench" where countless others will poke and prod it in temperatures of 40 degrees C whilst charging their lipos.
If anything goes wrong, I will let you all know.First Look: Jumper T-Pro RC system for RC planes and quadcoptersRCModelReviews2022-01-13 | The new T-Pro from Jumper appears to be an excellent little radio with many improvements over the original T-Lite unit. In a couple of weeks I'll drop another video with follow-up information after a few weekends of hard-use.Review: GEPRC Smart 16 micro-drone (its fast!)RCModelReviews2021-12-27 | Can this micro-drone keep up with a racing gokart? Watch the review and find out.
This is NOT a tinywhoop, it has the speed of a much larger drone and the handling to go with it. It's not perfect but it delivers more fun per gram than any other quad I've tried in this class.
Thank you to my Patreon Supporters patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsReview: ESky Sparrow RTF RC planeRCModelReviews2021-12-27 | This RC plane from ESky is just so much fun. It is simple and easy enough for beginners but even the most skilled pilots can have a ball with it. It floats around on calm days but is surprisingly capable even in a stiff breeze.
Everyone who has flown it loves it and this is definitely a recommended buy if you are looking for something quite different to your average RTF foamy.
More info can be found at: esky-rc.com (not an affiliate link)Review: ESky EYAS with floats from Zonda HobbyRCModelReviews2021-11-28 | The Esky EYAS when fitted with the optional floats makes a fantastic first float-plane due to its great flight characteristics and fantastic stability on the water. For this video I got Bill to do the flying and he was as impressed as I was with this great little model. This is definitely recommended if you want to fly from water or perhaps snow.
Disclosure: the plane and float kit were provided for review purposes by esky-rc.comGame controller-style RC transmitters comparedRCModelReviews2021-11-22 | Whether you fly an RC plane or multirotor/drone, you will need a radio control transmitter. Radiomaster T8, Jumper TLite, Tango2 So what's the big deal with these small PlayStation style controllers? Are they any good? Should you buy one and if so, which one will be best for you?
For more info on the people who sent the teeshirt: wings-sim.comWhats inside the $40 RadioMaster T8Lite radio?RCModelReviews2021-11-18 | How can they make an 8-channel radio for $40? Let's take a look inside and see if we can find out. RC plane, drone, multirotor.Mailbag: RC stuff that arrived todayRCModelReviews2021-10-30 | Two interesting RC plane / drone products came in the mail today, let's take a look!
Mud Dart RC's channel: youtube.com/channel/UCMDyb2y0S2ESxSbj3qxlKbQRCModelReviews news for October 2021RCModelReviews2021-10-29 | RC planes, multirotors, FPV, technology and information -- that's all coming up in the new season of RCModelReviews and in this video I explain what's been happening and what's about to happen.RCModelReviews is backRCModelReviews2021-10-21 | RC model plane, drone, transmitters, receivers, FPV gear -- it's all reviewed and explained here on RCModelReviews and a new season is about to kick off after a bit of a break caused by supply-chain issues. Get ready for a return to business as usual.FPVing the Eachine Mini-Mustang 400mm P51D RC planeRCModelReviews2021-06-22 | The little Eachine 400mm RTF warbird series of RC planes from Banggood are fantastic models for beginners and experts alike -- but can they be converted to fly FPV?
In this video I convert my P51D to FPV using a Runcam camera and 200mW VTX board with excellent results.
Below are the links to key parts on Banggood but you can buy these things from a lot of other places. These are NOT affiliate links and you should check to see which BG warehouse has stock and the best shipping before ordering.
The Runcam 200mW VTX used in this build which will work with any of the micro/nano cameras: banggood.com/Runcam-TX200U-5_8G-48CH-25mW200mW-Video-FPV-Transmitter-VTX-For-RC-Drone-p-1283633.htmlIs it safe to charge Li-Ion packs on a lipo setting?RCModelReviews2021-06-11 | Lithium Ion batteries are great for the long range and endurance flying of RC planes and drones but should you use the Li-Ion setting or the LiPo setting on your charger when charging them? In this video I explain the pros and cons of each option.Considered Review: Skyzone O2O budget OLED FPV gogglesRCModelReviews2021-05-13 | If you want to fly a drone, quadcopter or RC plane using FPV then you will need a set of FPV goggles and the O20 goggles are a lower-priced set of OLED goggles from Skyzone.
This review represents my findings and opinions after weeks of using the O30 goggles, rather than just a quick unboxing and list of specifications.
Pros: - lower priced than most other OLED FPV goggles - excellent receivers and RapidMix operation - very nice video image quality (they're OLED!) - comfortable and well sealed against light leaks - narrower field of view (if you prefer wide FOVs)
Cons: - still more expensive than many LCD goggle offerings - the screen-saver caught me out (but just once) - DVR uses motion-JPEG (MJPEG) rather than H264 - narrow field of view (if you prefer larger FOVs)
Conclusion: If you're on a budget but must have OLED technology in your FPV goggles or if you don't like the wide FOV of the 04X goggles then these are a something well worth taking a look at.
Disclosure: This product was provided for review purposes -- but that doesn't influence my review findings and you won't find any affiliate links here so there's no commercial imperative behind my findings.
Thank you to my Patreon supporters who make these videos possible without commercial considerations and without mid-roll ads.HGLRC Rekon 3 - how to fly an 18650 batteryRCModelReviews2021-05-11 | The Rekon 3 from HGLRC Rekon FPV is a very interesting little quadcopter or drone. You can take it out of the box and fly it "as is" but I think its real value may be as a starting-point for experimentation with this sort of "flying battery" quadcopter.
Pros: - ready to fly (available with a range of receiver options) - it works - good VTX gives excellent range for analog FPV
- novel and interesting - small and light (half the 250g limit in many countries)
Cons: - can't use all the Li-Ion battery's capacity due to voltage sag - fragile (several reviewers broke theirs while reviewing them) - noisy video - linear VTX antenna - no boost regulator so browns out easily - not very powerful - no buzzer/beeper so could be easily lost - camera/VTX not compatible with Skyzone RapidMix
Although billed as a "long range" drone, this thing will probably get you about 1-1.5Km from a video perspective and you may want to be careful where you fly it for fear of losing it in the grass.
Bottom-line: If you're interested in the concept then this is a great starting point and offers a huge opportunity to experiment and try out your own ideas for a relatively low cost. Even as a novelty, this thing has value - just be gentle with it because it will break quite easily - although mine's still intact.
A big thank you to my patreon supporters who make it possible for me to make these videos without commercial pressures and without mid-roll ads.Explained: How FPV technology works - ANALOGRCModelReviews2021-04-13 | RC planes and drones increasingly rely on first-person view (FPV) video systems. This is a new whiteboard video explaining exactly how analog FPV technology for drones and RC planes works. This is part of a series of videos in which I will explain the technology behind the three major FPV systems: - analog FPV - Fatshark's digital FPV - DJI's digital FPV
Let me know in the comments if the virtual white-board will do the job or if I should blow $500 on a new "real" white-board.
Also, if anything was unclear, feel free to ask a question.No more reviews at RCModelReviews?RCModelReviews2021-03-29 | RCModelReviews is changing tack slightly in order to make sure the reviews of RC planes, transmitters, FPV gear etc., you see here are more valuable and accurate than might otherwise be the case. Instead of being "first", I want to be "best"... and that requires that I use products for longer before making judgement and listing all the pro's/con's.
If you think this is a good idea, please tell me. If you'd rather the reviews were less in-depth but quicker out the door then tell me that too.
In the "reviewed as a user" queue right now are: - Jumper TLite - BetaFPV 95X V3 cinewhoop - Holybro Kopis cinewhoop - SkyZone O20 OLED FPV goggles - Freewell ND filters for the DJI FPV drone - Dolphin FPV wing - Orca FPV twin - Toolkit RC power supply
A big thank you to my Patreon supporters who make it possible for me to focus on serving YOU, the viewer rather than chasing ad-dollars with mid-roll ads and by rushing reviews out the door.Top 10 reasons to buy the DJI FPV droneRCModelReviews2021-03-22 | If you're looking to justify the purchase of DJI's new FPV drone then this video will provide you with 10 great reasons to buy.
Disclosure: The review sample was provided free of charge by DJI and Ferntech New Zealand (the following is NOT an affiliate link):
ferntech.co.nzTop 10 reasons not to buy the DJI FPV droneRCModelReviews2021-03-22 | Here are 10 reasons why the DJI FPV drone is really not such a good option for existing freestyle drone fliers.
Disclosure: The review sample was provided for review purposes by DJI & Ferntech New Zealand (the following link is NOT an affiliate link):
ferntech.co.nzCan you race the DJI FPV drone?RCModelReviews2021-03-08 | A far better pilot than me shows how well the DJI FPV drone performs on a traditional racing course and in some aerial "follow video", catching other RC models in action. Please watch the original videos and consider subscribing to their channels if this is the sort of content that interests you.
Video 1 (BMSWeb) DJI FPV Combo - First Look, Unboxing & Flight Testing
Video 2 (BMSThomas) - excerpts shown from this video FPV - DJI FPV Debut! - A slice of my week youtube.com/watch?v=k3_BIMDLuLwDJI FPV drone (the good and the bad)RCModelReviews2021-03-02 | A first look at the good and the bad of the new DJI FPV Combo drone. Flight and tear-down videos to come -- don't miss them. (There are no mid-roll ads in this video)
This product was supplied for review purposes by DJI and their NZ distributor Ferntech
ferntech.co.nzReview: SkyZone Cobra X FPV box-gogglesRCModelReviews2021-02-02 | I fly FPV drones and RC planes. Before I tried the Cobra X box-goggles I was just not a fan of box goggles for the reasons stated in this review. The Cobra X units have changed my mind significantly. These are the best box goggles I have ever used and are possibly the best passenger goggles you can buy right now.
Pros: - all the fancy electronics (except the OLEDS) from the SkyZone 04X goggles - super sensitive receivers - fully self contained if you add a single 18650 Li-Ion battery - not tiring to use, fantastic optics - cheaper than conventional goggles
Cons: - these ones are black -- the get too hot in the mid-summer sun. - pricey for box goggles but better than all the rest
Product link (not an affiliate link, use some other YouTuber's affiliate links if you plan to buy -- share the love): http://www.skyzonehobby.cn/cobrax.html
Disclosure: This product was provided by SkyZone for review but, as you see, there are no affiliate links here so my reviews are 100% objective and not influenced by any commercial pressures -- thanks to my wonderful Patreon supporters!Review: Skyzone 04X FPV goggles for drones and RC planesRCModelReviews2021-01-28 | Find out why 80% of my FPV flying is done with analog FPV and why these SkyZone 04X OLED FPV goggles are now my goggles of choice.
- fantastic colors and dynamic range - great FOV (not too big, not too small) - excellent user-interface for menus etc - spare module bay (for different bands or receiver modules) - super comfortable with no light leakage - can be used with the Fatshark digital system - DVR is not too shabby!
Cons: - not the cheapest goggles on the market but still great value - I prefer the old antenna layout
More product information is available on the SkyZone website: http://www.skyzonehobby.cn/sky04x.htmlRC Model Reviews Weekly News (15 Jan 2021)RCModelReviews2021-01-15 | RC planes, drones, FPV, reviews, flying regulations and other topics all addressed in this edition of the Weekly News.
- Outrageous postal charges - Unbelievable flight-times on a 5-inch miniquad - UK regulations - The V2 DJI digital FPV goggles that seemed to disappear - The world's lightest digital FPV fixed-wing?
My other channel (XJet) youtube.com/user/xjetSome FPV recording camera comparisons (SMO 4k vs Tarsier 2)RCModelReviews2020-12-28 | (No ads) In this short video I compare the Insta360 SMO 4K with the Caddx Tarsier 2, both flown on the Cinequeen 4K that I have reviewed elsewhere on this channel.
Some of the Insta360 footage was in my review of that camera but I have since added their flow-state stabilization to that footage to make it smoother.The Postal Service does their best (to crush)RCModelReviews2020-12-21 | What's in the box an did it survive the loving attentions of the postal service at Christmas? #RC plane #FPV