What is your FPV Racing Setup?


John Locke

Member
For the ARTF field for racers, the Vortex, Blade Mach 25, and the Vengence from Japan all seem to have 2300KV motors. The Vengence is only $300 w/o battery, receiver and RC, the others are over $100 more for the same ARTF package. It would be great if an upcoming podcast article included this model in a "race quad shootout". It seems to have all the right stuff, 8 degree angled motors, Clean flight, 32bit nav controller, OSD, and as a bonus they include a 1 axis gimbal to keep the camera level, which is an interesting idea, but it only has a 600 resolution camera. The price is right, so is this racer a viable choice?
 
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jamesb72

Member
I ran a really cheap setup, which worked brilliantly. $10 FPV250 frame, afro12 ESCs, RCX 1804 2400kv motors (cw and ccw), gemfan 5x3 props, KK2 flight controller with rc911 firmware, cheap 3S1300mah lipos, fatshark 600TVL camera and mobius for recording, was a bulletproof setup I crashed it hundreds of times, only broke props and had to resolder a couple of joints.

For racing through airgates on a short course, you don't need to be going fast, the fun is close racing in a pack, so as long as everyone runs 5x3 props, then a 3S/2400kv setup is as fast as anything, and keeps speed down so you don't get damage in crashes, so you can swap props and get back in the air.

Main thing is to get a few friends together, throw some cheap PVC pipe into airgates and get racing.

Some racing video on cheap $75 course, with 3S/5x3 quads https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7eKbXhE9KT6vGQKy5SdCX3ggxr6u8FrD
 

maxx4wd

Member
Currently I have a couple of mini quads...not sure if they are all out race quads but I like a bit of mixed flying - some freestyle - some gate...current rigs are:

250mm: QAV250 / Naze 32 Rev 5 / ztw 12amp / cobra 2204 1996kv / 600tvl RMRC cam / miniosd with kv mod / 250mw Immersion vtx / futaba sbus (w/ inverter cable) / immersion antennas RHP or LHP depending on what works best with the others playing at the field / 1300 mah 4s.
(yes old school...lol 1 year old setup still flies awesome - not as fast as the current hot setup but not worth swapping - nothing ever burns up just breaks from crashes)

180mm: Neato180 preorder...hoping to start this build next month - more of a pure race setup...not sure what I'll source but have some littlebees 20amp (may try the 30 amp w/ capacitor mod) / 2204 2500kv motor - not sure yet..still deciding / microosd / 250mw Raceband - trying out a new one on the micro right now and so far really like it. / naze 32 rev 6 / frsky sbus rx / 600 tvl RMRC cam - just because I already have an extra /1000 mah rebel 4s - maybe the tatuu offering - depending on stock available...

130mm: pd130 / naze 32 rev 6 / RTFQ 4-in-1 12amp esc / dys 1308 3200kv (may switch to the t-motors once these burn up) / microosd / pico cam / frsky sbus rx / tri-blade props (5x4x3 - cut down to 3") /

All fed to my old school immersion dominators and futaba 14sg (yes I'm probably the only one to run a 14sg with minis...LOL)

(these are the only pics I have at the office...but so far that these guys are just too much fun not to try)
 

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Talon Six

Member
I've got two racers, a stock Vortex and a QAV180. The Vortex is nothing special, just insanely overpowered on 4S batteries.

Here's the QAV:
24729982819_93235986a4_k.jpg


This is a 3S setup with T-motor 1806s spinning 4" HQProp Bullnoses, a Naze/OSDoge stack, and DIY 20 amp ESCs (overkill, I know). I use the Taranis radio for all my non-DJI drones, so there's a DR4 receiver and a 25mw race band VTX on the back end of this racer.

I'm using the Headplay HDs for my goggles (if you can call them goggles).

To the left of the QAV is a Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA or "builder's fuel" as I like to call it. The beer is for size purposes only - drinking and FPVing don't mix since you might spill your beer.
 

Petr Hejl

Staff Member
Moderator
Nice machine, Talon Six, I also have a QAV, only the poh'men's G10 plastic version, lol. How do you like the Headplays?
 

Talon Six

Member
Thank Petr. I went through two of those G10 QAV250 frames before settling on the CF QAV180 frame. Hindsight being 20/20 I now realize that a G10 frame is not a good choice for a new FPV racing pilot prone to spectacular high speed crashes.

To answer your question, I love the Headplays. They're so immersive, in fact, that I have to fly sitting down. If they had a built-in DVR and head tracking capability they'd be perfect for me.
 

Petr Hejl

Staff Member
Moderator
Thank Petr. I went through two of those G10 QAV250 frames before settling on the CF QAV180 frame. Hindsight being 20/20 I now realize that a G10 frame is not a good choice for a new FPV racing pilot prone to spectacular high speed crashes.

To answer your question, I love the Headplays. They're so immersive, in fact, that I have to fly sitting down. If they had a built-in DVR and head tracking capability they'd be perfect for me.
Yep, I have not broken mine yet, but did try real hard. Why did you go to 180?
 

Talon Six

Member
Yep, I have not broken mine yet, but did try real hard. Why did you go to 180?
I felt that the T-motor 1806s that I had on hand were better suited to the lighter weight 180 than the 250 they came off of. 250's AUW was around 575g and the 180 is 420g.

Plus I needed something that was CF and wouldn't break as easily as the G10 frame.
 

maxx4wd

Member
I've got two racers, a stock Vortex and a QAV180. The Vortex is nothing special, just insanely overpowered on 4S batteries.

Here's the QAV:
This is a 3S setup with T-motor 1806s spinning 4" HQProp Bullnoses, a Naze/OSDoge stack, and DIY 20 amp ESCs (overkill, I know). I use the Taranis radio for all my non-DJI drones...your beer.

Sweet setup - I'm dying to get my 180 going. Looks to be a nice size. I'm also thinking of replacing my qav250 with a 210 setup as the 250 seems awed illy large now. Plus the g10 is total crap - mine survived my noob status but decided to delam over the last few weeks - put her back together with gorilla glue but the arms are no longer square. Time for an upgrade. Oh and from one IPA lover to another. Nice choice in beers!
 

Fleet.jpg
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I have a few.

ZMR250 (1)
DYS20a
Naze32
Emax 2204
5045 Bullnose Dal Props
Surveilzone Board Camera
TS5823
Mobius on 15 degree ramp

ZMR250 (2)
DYS20a
Multistar Elite 2204
Naze32
Fatshark 250mw
Fatshark 600 tvl
5045 Dragonfly Props
Xiaomi Yi in Custom 20 Degree Mount

FPVModel ZMR180 Pro
Little Bee 20A
T-motor Navigator 2204
Naze 32
700 TVL Board Camera
Eachine 200mw
Dal 4045 Props

And a Nighthawk 280 Pro Stock Setup
I fly them all from my modified 9X transmitter with a Frsky module and all have D4R-II receivers and Spironet Antennas. I fly with Fatshark Attitudes, and keep a pair of Fatshark Predators for passengers.

This is my first post by the way, love the podcast and glad to be a member of the new forum.
 

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Just picked up a new frame at WRAM yesterday, its a FloRotor Hive 210 Safety Third Special Edition. Stay tuned for build pics to come.
20160228_162322.jpg
 

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