Is it safe to charge Li-Ion packs on a lipo setting? RCModelReviews 2021-06-11 | 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.
Jumper T15 radio - why did no other reviewer push this button? RCModelReviews 2024-09-16 | Let's compare the new Jumper T15 radio control transmitter to one of the most popular radios from 20 years ago, the JR9302 or PCM9XII as it was known outside the USA. How far have we come in 20 short years?As for the Jumper T15, it's yet another very capable radio from Jumper with excellent sticks, 1W of ELRS and EdgeTX. Not much to complain about here.Oh and no, there isn't a button to change the color of the radio but it is available in a number of attractive shades.Disclosure: This product was provided for review purposes by Jumper RC.
Review: Runcam Thumb 2 (Id buy one) RCModelReviews 2024-09-09 | Ignore my shaky thumbs -- I didn't stabilize much of this footage.The Runcam Thumb 2 is a surprisingly affordable and capable 4K video camera which (finally) offers frame-rates of up to 60FPS at 4K resolution.pros: - can provide very nice video - ND filters are available - affordable - relatively lightweight - good optics means minimal lens flarescons: - no manual shutter or ISO settings - SD card placement is a nuisance - good optics means minimal lens flares (if you want them) - they only give you one power cable (we want more!)Bottom line: This was sent for review but I most definitely would buy one at the current price-point ($99.99 at time of review).Product link (not an affiliate link):shop.runcam.com/runcam-thumb-2Note to YouTube's ContentID system : The music is licensed from audiio.com so don't waste my time claiming it!
Just in: Runcam OpenIPC digital FPV, Thumb2, Jumper T15 RCModelReviews 2024-08-23 | These products have just arrived on my desk and I'll be doing some in-depth reviews shortly.Runcam OpenIPC: shop.runcam.com/runcam-wifilink-based-on-openipcRuncam Thumb 2: shop.runcam.com/runcam-thumb-2Jumper T15: jumper-rc.comHuge thanks to my supporters over on Patreon:patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Is HackFPV the future of the FPV hobby? RCModelReviews 2024-07-06 | With DJI products facing a ban, could a former 3DRobotics engineer be leading the charge to develop new FPV technology? A recent posting to X by Jordi Munoz hints at a new project that delivers range of up to 20Km with low latency and frequency agility that spans from 800MHz right up to 6GHz.I'll try to get more information and update you as to the possible future of this project.
Review: AliExpress airband receiver - a complete waste of money RCModelReviews 2024-02-22 | Everyone who flies an RC plane or drone should (in my opinion) carry a receiver that is able to receive aircraft transmissions on the aviation-band. This significantly increases "situational awareness" and adds another layer of safety to our hobby -- so important in an era when regulators are just waiting for an excuse to further restrict us.I had high hopes for this DSP radio that is supposed to work on the AM and FM broadcast bands as well as the airband. It would have made a great pocket-sized receiver that anyone could clip on their belt and use to help keep themselves and the skies safe.Sadly, it is one of the worst products I have ever reviewed and has such poor sensitivity on the aviation band that it is effectively useless. Do not waste your money on this piece of rubbish.Stay tuned however, because I will soon be reviewing the R80 aviation-band kitset receiver in the hopes that it is a better alternative.And, before everyone writes in the comments "what about the Baofeng ham handheld?" -- I will also be looking at this option but unfortunately it isn't a legal option for many countries due to its ability to transmit across a wide range of (licensed) frequencies.Thanks to my supporters over at Patreon:patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsNo mid-rolls, no sponsors, just content!
Review: iFlight FPV backpack - after a 10 mile hike RCModelReviews 2024-02-18 | A backpack is an increasingly important part of any FPVer's gear these days and in this review I look at the iFlight backpack and how it performs on hikes that are longer than just the few yards from your car to a bando.Pros: - it's pretty damned comfortable - it has lots of little zips and pockets - it's really well made (strong, tough)Cons: - it's not cheap (but still represents good value) - needs some way to protect quads from dirt/mud on opening - storage is "satisfactory" 'but I'd prefer more (lunch, drink etc) - pockets on the dividers need zips or stuff falls to the bottom of the packIf you're looking for a pack for the spring/summer then stay tuned, I have a couple of more to be reviewed.Big thanks to my Patreon supporters who make it possible to dispense with the sponsors, commercial bias, affiliate links and mid-roll ads in my videos.patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Review: Jumper T-20 RC transmitter (watch before you buy!) RCModelReviews 2023-08-25 | The Jumper T-20 radio is about to become my daily drive for almost all my RC planes, quadcopters (drones) and other RC models, watch this review to find out why that is. However *YOU MUST WATCH THIS VIDEO TO THE END* to avoid potentially wasting your money on what is, in my opinion, a fantastic feeling radio.Unless you enjoy a bit of a gamble, make sure you buy the radio from a reputable and preferably local retailer for the reasons stated in this review.You know that it has to be an impressive radio if, after all the flaws and faults I list, I am currently in the process of moving almost all my models from other radios onto this one.Disclosure: This radio was sent to me for review by Jumper but that (clearly) has not had any influence in the findings of this review.There are no affiliate links here, I have no financial or other interest that benefits if you decide to buy one. If you wish to buy the radio, choose the seller carefully.If you wish to support my reviewing activities and the 100 percent unbiased perspectives I offer then you are welcome to contribute via my Patreon. Note that this money is also put towards my efforts to promote, support and protect the hobby by way of my XJet channel. This support also means that none of my videos have mid-roll ads!patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
The DroneTag broadcast RID module (the cheapest option?) RCModelReviews 2023-05-11 | 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_xdYThanks to those who support this channel on Patreon:patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Could AMD change the face of digital FPV? RCModelReviews 2023-05-10 | #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.The product page for the AMD:xilinx.com/applications/data-center/video-imaging/alveo-ma35d.htmlFor 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=-eaVseMQycYSupport this channel and my work to promote, support and protect the hobby through my XJet channel by becoming a patron:patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Get more flight time with a DIY lithium-ion battery RCModelReviews 2022-12-13 | 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.nzThe Foxeer Aura 7 BNF long-range quadcopter:foxeer.com/foxeer-aura-7-rtf-lr-drone-analog-o3-vista-hdzero-g-465A 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/rcmodelreviews
Review: Foxeer Aura 7 long-range 7-inch quadcopter drone RCModelReviews 2022-12-08 | 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 horizontallySummary:Not a bad option for anyone seeking a BNF long-range multirotor that is quick and relatively easy to get in the air.Manufacturer's product page (not an affiliate link):foxeer.com/foxeer-aura-7-rtf-lr-drone-analog-o3-vista-hdzero-g-465If you would like to support my work via Patreon:patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Drone News: Redcat sells Rotor Riot and FatShark RCModelReviews 2022-11-30 | 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/rcmodelreviews
Foxeer Reaper Extreme and Trex camera, analog FPV excellence RCModelReviews 2022-10-28 | 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.Please also check out Ian's excellent review and teardown:youtube.com/watch?v=x2modRoVMPYProduct links: (not affiliate links):foxeer.com/foxeer-5-8g-reaper-extreme-2-5w-40ch-vtx-g-444foxeer.com/foxeer-t-rex-micro-1500tvl-6ms-latency-super-wdr-fpv-camera-g-308foxeer.com/foxeer-lollipop-4-plus-high-quality-5-8g-2-6dbi-fpv-omni-lds-antenna-g-374Disclosure: these products were provided for review purposes by Foxeer.
Drone News: 21 October 2022 (90 million safe flights!) RCModelReviews 2022-10-21 | 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 hobby04:11 - 54GB of drone tracking data leaked06:46 - GPS outage affects commercial flights08:30 - The looming crisis of blinded dronesDon't forget to subscribe to my XJet channel for fun, laughter and rants as well! youtube.com/user/xjetThanks to those who support me on Patreon... see, no mid-roll ads thanks to them!patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Runcam Thumb HD with Gyroflow stabilization RCModelReviews 2022-10-14 | 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 Patreonpatreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Yaw Washout explained and what it means for DJI Avata owners RCModelReviews 2022-10-03 | 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:Mads Tech demonstrates the bigger issue:youtube.com/watch?v=F16sSbx5DWwTotal loss of Avata drone caused by yaw washout:youtube.com/watch?v=ircY72jh8E0Avata falls into the water with this issue:youtube.com/watch?v=IClS4v97JB4FC Crash initiated by switch from normal to manual mode?youtube.com/watch?v=2jL0LoRPgq8Feel free to become one of the heroes who support this channel via Patreon:patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Drone News (1 Oct, 2022) RCModelReviews 2022-09-30 | In this drone and RC plane news report:00:06 - FPV into an asteroid00:51 - Lilium Jet air taxi folly04:11 - Drone delivery lunacy in Ireland06:09 - Google Wing delivery drone crashes on powerlinesYou can support my channels on Patreon:patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Worst ever DJI Avata FPV Cinema drone review RCModelReviews 2022-09-19 | 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.patreon.com/rcmodelreviewsThis 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-6s
Drone and RC plane news (10 Sept, 2022) RCModelReviews 2022-09-10 | 00:00 Remote ID enforcement deferred by FAA03:16 DJI Avata released with problems07:04 Walksnail and other FPV systems09:07 ELRS for LOS fixed-wing flyers12:19 FAA lists RID compliant dronesThank 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/rcmodelreviews
Runcam Thumb HD review RCModelReviews 2022-08-30 | 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! RCModelReviews 2022-08-02 | 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/rcmodelreviews
Review: Foxeer Foxwhoop, the unbreakable drone? RCModelReviews 2022-07-16 | 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.Product link (not an affiliate link -- my reviews are 100% objective and not based on lining my own pockets):foxeer.com/foxeer-foxwhoop-25-unbreakable-drone-g-438My Patreon:patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Could your ELRS drone or RC plane be hijacked? RCModelReviews 2022-07-08 | 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!threatpost.com/drone-hack-expresslrs-hijacked/180133patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Fatshark Dominator HD / WalkSnail Avatar HD digital FPV RCModelReviews 2022-07-06 | 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:Tommy's review:youtube.com/watch?v=cJ84rpSsOAsJB's original review:youtube.com/watch?v=A-LoIsg2qrwJB on the updated firmware:youtube.com/watch?v=q8YDzdTnirsMr Steele's review:youtube.com/watch?v=8QU_BiUBiOUMad's Tech teardown:youtube.com/watch?v=ivGdai8Y31EYou can support me on Patreon: patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Drone, FPV and RC news (17 May, 2022) RCModelReviews 2022-05-17 | 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 updateA big thanks to all my Patreon supporters:patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Fatsharks new Digital FPV goggles RCModelReviews 2022-05-14 | 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.Other videos you really should watch:Mad Tech's excellent summary of things:youtube.com/watch?v=lruWWg2IFL8Joshua Bardwell's "first look" and interview with Greg from Fatshark:youtube.com/watch?v=NK_SfyNsLdE
Runcam dont love me any more (and other news) RCModelReviews 2022-03-24 | 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/MadRCMy other channel (Xjet)youtube.com/user/xjetNow to the comments with you!Thank you to all my Patreon supporters:patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Review: GEPRC Mark 5 freestyle quadcopter RCModelReviews 2022-03-20 | 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?For more information on the GEPRC Mark 5 please visit the GEPRC website:geprc.com/product-category/drones/4inch-5inch-droneTo 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 important RCModelReviews 2022-02-09 | 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 it RCModelReviews 2022-02-07 | 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/rcmodelreviews
Review: GEPRC Cinelog 35 HD cinema drone RCModelReviews 2022-02-04 | 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 someCons: - 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/rcmodelreviews
Whiteboard: How digital FPV systems actually work RCModelReviews 2022-01-27 | 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.Links:RCSchim's visualisation of Digital(OFDM) and analog RF systemsyoutube.com/watch?v=AiSjij2eatIMy whiteboard video explaining how analog FPV works:youtube.com/watch?v=8x9z36z_wvAMy Patreon page:patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
ToolKitRC M9 multifunction charger (and much much more) RCModelReviews 2022-01-16 | 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 quadcopters RCModelReviews 2022-01-13 | 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!) RCModelReviews 2021-12-27 | 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.For more product info:geprc.com/product/geprc-smart16-freestyle-fpv-droneThank you to my Patreon Supporterspatreon.com/rcmodelreviews
Review: ESky Sparrow RTF RC plane RCModelReviews 2021-12-27 | 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 Hobby RCModelReviews 2021-11-28 | 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.com
Game controller-style RC transmitters compared RCModelReviews 2021-11-22 | 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.com
Whats inside the $40 RadioMaster T8Lite radio? RCModelReviews 2021-11-18 | 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 today RCModelReviews 2021-10-30 | Two interesting RC plane / drone products came in the mail today, let's take a look!Mud Dart RC's channel: youtube.com/channel/UCMDyb2y0S2ESxSbj3qxlKbQ
RCModelReviews news for October 2021 RCModelReviews 2021-10-29 | 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 back RCModelReviews 2021-10-21 | 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 plane RCModelReviews 2021-06-22 | 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 Eachine P51D 400mm RTFbanggood.com/Eachine-Mini-Mustang-P-51D-EPP-400mm-Wingspan-2_4G-6-Axis-Gyro-RC-Airplane-Trainer-Fixed-Wing-RTF-One-Key-Return-for-Beginner-With-3-Batteries-p-1767120.htmlThe 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.html
Considered Review: Skyzone O2O budget OLED FPV goggles RCModelReviews 2021-05-13 | 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 battery RCModelReviews 2021-05-11 | 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 RapidMixAlthough 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.Relevant links:Rekon 3 webpage: rekonfpv.com/collections/new-arrivals/products/rekon-3-nano-long-range-fpv-quadDaveCFPV's YouTube channel:youtube.com/channel/UCkoI3H6exUxzd5pbadisWigAndyRC's review:youtube.com/watch?v=V4IaM95b_Y0Painless360's review:youtube.com/watch?v=M-E2lNS10oEAlbert Kim's Review:youtube.com/watch?v=bzfUiUnFO3EA 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 - ANALOG RCModelReviews 2021-04-13 | 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 FPVLet 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? RCModelReviews 2021-03-29 | 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.AndyRC's video on unlocking the DJI FPV drone:youtube.com/watch?v=HnKkViZMgZAIn 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 supplyA 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 drone RCModelReviews 2021-03-22 | 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.nz
Top 10 reasons not to buy the DJI FPV drone RCModelReviews 2021-03-22 | 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.nz
