Instruments, Gear, and FPV Drones I Use Each Day: Oscar Liang’s Suggestions

August 9, 2024

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On this publish, I’ll share the instruments, gear, and FPV drones that I exploit each day. I take a look at and assessment merchandise repeatedly, and whereas I like to recommend varied merchandise, those talked about listed below are my private favorites. I attempt to replace this publish as usually as I can, however please do test the edit historical past on the backside to be sure you are getting the most recent data. Please let me know if this publish will get somewhat outdated and I’ll replace it asap.

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Disclaimer: I’m not sponsored by any firm; all opinions are my very own.

Radio and Receivers

For radio hyperlink, ExpressLRS (ELRS) is my go-to alternative for the time being—providing the very best worth, efficiency, and choices.

In terms of radios, I actually like those from Radiomaster. Their radios are stable and extremely advisable. You may’t go mistaken with them. Listed here are the radios I like to recommend: https://oscarliang.com/radio-transmitter/#suggestions.

Nevertheless, my present each day driver is the T20S from Jumper. It’s compact and feature-packed. I favor the non-Gemini model because it’s cheaper and presents sufficient vary. See my assessment right here: https://oscarliang.com/jumper-t20s-gemini/

My T20S has undergone varied DIY modifications to swimsuit my preferences and wishes: https://oscarliang.com/setup-jumper-t20s-radio/.

Most ExpressLRS receivers are fairly related, so select one that matches your funds and model choice. See receiver picks right here: https://oscarliang.com/setup-expresslrs-2-4ghz/#receivers

FPV Programs and Goggles

I’ve flown each FPV system on the market, and my favorites are DJI and Walksnail as a result of they excel in long-range flights with stable video hyperlinks and top-notch picture high quality. I additionally nonetheless fly analog, primarily for tiny whoops. Analog is the most affordable FPV possibility and the lightest, which is ideal for whoops. There are execs and cons to all FPV programs; see my purchaser’s information: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-system/

For every system, it’s greatest to make use of their devoted FPV goggles. Whereas some goggles assist a number of FPV programs, it may be clunky and never present the very best expertise. If you wish to fly analog, get a set of analog goggles. If you wish to fly Walksnail, get a set of Walksnail goggles.

Right here is my FPV Goggles purchaser’s information: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-goggles/.

I exploit DJI Goggles 2 and O3 Air Unit for the DJI system—this combo presents the very best picture high quality, vary, and penetration. For Walksnail, the Goggles X and Walksnail VTX V2 are my favorites.

For analog, the Skyzone SKY04X Professional is my go-to. It presents the very best picture high quality, a really vast discipline of view, and focal size adjustment, which is helpful for individuals who put on glasses.

The perfect funds analog goggles can be the Cobra SD Though they’re field goggles with an LCD display screen, picture readability continues to be very respectable! The superior built-in OSD menu considerably improves person expertise and even helps exterior receiver modules.

Analog Video Receiver Module

For analog receiver modules, there are solely two choices value contemplating: ImmersionRC Rapidfire and TBS Fusion. See my comparability right here: https://oscarliang.com/rapidfire-fusion/.

Rapidfire

TBS Fusion

For antennas, there are numerous good choices. Try my FPV antenna suggestions for some concepts: https://oscarliang.com/best-fpv-antenna/

LiPo Charger

My each day driver is the ToolkitRC Q6AC. It’s highly effective, has 4 ports, and might be powered by AC and DC. See my assessment right here: https://oscarliang.com/toolkitrc-q6ac-lipo-charger/

Though this charger has a number of ports, I nonetheless use parallel charging boards. Even when not parallel charging, it makes plugging in batteries a lot simpler 🙂 My favourite parallel charging board for the time being is the HGLRC Thor: https://oscarliang.com/hglrc-thor-pro-6-parallel-charging-board/

For discipline charging, I favor one thing extra moveable. I just like the iSDT Q6 Nano. It’s light-weight, can cost 1S to 6S batteries, and is inexpensive at solely $30. The SkyRC B6Neo can also be an excellent different: https://oscarliang.com/skyrc-b6neo-lipo-charger/

In case your charger doesn’t have a built-in energy provide and requires DC enter, you will want an exterior PSU.

You may get a server or pc energy provide if you understand how, or you should buy one off the shelf like these:

100W PSU:
240W PSU:
360W PSU:
400-460W PSU:
600W PSU:
1200W PSU:

Some PSUs output 12V whereas others output 24V. Sure chargers put out extra energy in the event you provide them with the upper 24V, however be sure that your charger can assist 24V enter earlier than shopping for. It’s also possible to use these PSUs to energy your TS100 soldering iron!

If you’d like an inexpensive and easy charger that comes with an influence provide that you may plug straight into the wall, the the ISDT 608AC is an efficient newbie possibility. It’s not very highly effective however will get the job performed.

To cost a number of batteries concurrently, think about using a parallel charging board. Make certain to learn this text to discover ways to parallel cost LiPo batteries: https://oscarliang.com/parallel-charging-multiple-lipo/.

For charging batteries within the discipline, I exploit these massive capability batteries.

Instruments

Listed here are a few of my favourite instruments. There are others you may discover helpful, as defined on this publish: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-tools/.