GTX from Calgary Alberta Canada

[PeterLester]

I just joined this forum because of technical needs/questions associated with my recent purchase of a WooKong M c/w 550 Firewheel which might be arriving today. I have many years of R/C plane flying experience since 1970 and more recently fly a very small electric helicopter and the MQX quadrocopter. Now ready to move up to something more interesting. One of the biggest mysteries I am trying to resolve is "what is D-bus as mentioned in the DJI Innovations website(s)? Can't seem to find any information on that but lots of info on S-Bus.

 

[Roger Ramjet]

Hi Peter and welcome aboard!

I think you will very quickly realize that multi-rotor flying is just a class apart! You can do low passes and aerobatic type flying if it is your kik or proceed in the aerial videography aspect of the hobby, not to forget the amazing FPV experience, described by many as top excitement R/C has brought to them in many years! All this and more (your imagination is the limit...) with a single plateform: Multicopters!

If you aren't addicted yet, this really is your last chance before it is too late!

Glad to have missed my last chance....

 

[HobieSailor]

Fellow new YYC multi-rotor enthusiast!

I just joined this forum because of technical needs/questions associated with my recent purchase of a WooKong M c/w 550 Firewheel which might be arriving today. I have many years of R/C plane flying experience since 1970 and more recently fly a very small electric helicopter and the MQX quadrocopter. Now ready to move up to something more interesting. One of the biggest mysteries I am trying to resolve is "what is D-bus as mentioned in the DJI Innovations website(s)? Can't seem to find any information on that but lots of info on S-Bus.

Hi Peter

I to am a new MR enthusiast in Calgary. I also have an MqX that I've attempted to modify to the fullest. Clearly it's time for something more robust. I'm definitely interested in FPV & Video but on a budget. Have you selected a model for your next MR?

I'm strongly considering a DJI product certainly with the Naza controller but I'm having my challenges with deciding on a frame configuration and where to source from Calgary without spending a fortune on shipping.

Where are you in your quest?

 

[PeterLester]

I recommend the FlameWheel F550 hexa c/w the DJI-Innovations Naza-GPS...... you can even buy motor arm extenders and increase the prop sizes a bit for heavier payloads..... within reason!
I am now assembling a DJI-Naza c/w GPS on my FLameWheel F550 (hexa-frame). If you are moving forward in small steps from the MQX, a Hexa makes a lot of sense.
Bought all items off the shelf from ModelLand here in Calgary S.W. Just configuring the system now. ModelLand is small but very professional, honest and friendly with their customers and all prices include GST!
You can also order these from RCHeliCanada.com located near Winnipeg including difficult to find Graupner props etc.

Originally I tried to jump from the MQX straight to the DJI-Innovations Woo-Kong M with my F550, but had to order the Woo-Kong M GPS (Sept 13) thru PMHobbyCraft NE. They said it might arrive in as little as 3 days from their Arizona supplier!!!!! By Oct 30 I gave up and cancelled the order..... there was also a factory recall on this controller dug to a serious firmware bug that could not be resolved with a return to manufacturer. Avoid bleeding edge technology and let others fight with it for a few more months.
BTW - Canada is on the fringe of this new technology so be careful. Canada exclusively works through US resellers which adds additional costs, delays, customs, excise and warranty challenges. If Canada operated like Memory Express or SkyWatcher, there would likely be a direct link to China manufacturers c/w less cost, shorter deliveries etc.

 

[HobieSailor]

Thanks Much! Great info. In fact I bought my MqX from Model Land but I figured (incorrectly) that they were too small to carry DJI equipment. I will follow-up. I purchased a Spektrum DX6i with the BNF MqX. Can I use this with the DJI Naza?

Are you doing FPV or video with your F550? Any thoughts as to equipment for these?

 

[PeterLester]

Locally there is a strong preference for Spectrum products (an exceptional and user friendly radio system)..... but they don't offer D.bus or S.bus capability which DJI-Innovations takes full advantage of.
DJI-Innovations is very forward thinking in this respect as the world will eventually shift to smart servos c/w their own internal processors to accomodate s or d bus. and that is what Moore's law is all about...... pushing more smarts cost effectively into the peripheral devices such as servos. Can-bus an extension of Modbus which has been used in the automobile and industrial automation world for years now and Futaba remains heavily involved in the industrial automation world with their wireless overhead crane control systems.
s.bus = serial bus..... not sure what d.bus is (digital bus???) but these are essentially software and/or firmware handshaking communication protocols based on 3 wire communication links which are typically time based.

Specktrum DX6i will do the job for quadrocopters and possibly hexacopters but you might need to add more channels or s.bus to control added items later for your aerial platform.
The Futaba T8FG c/w FASST receivers provides 8 discrete channels but also S.bus which opens the door to expand to more channels, i.e., up to 14 without need to upgrade Tx and Rx.