You enjoy to flying your fpv drone but have just inadequate knowledge of its parts. While you do not require to be a pro pilot, you need to learn about the parts to make smart choices when replacing them.
For that reason, I created a recommendation guide regarding a 5’’ fpv drone parts list, together with a information summary of what the parts does and also where it is found on a fpv.
Before reading this post, you can also check out another post on “FPV Drone Components” written by this blog.
FPV Drone Components
FPV quad components can be divided into three different categories：
-The Flight System: The motors, propellers, electronic speed controllers (ESC’s), flight controller(FC’s), and the radio receiver.
-The Power System：The battery and the power distribution board.
-The FPV System：The fpv camera, the video transmitter (VTX), and the antenna.
-The Control System：The Radio Transmitters
FPV Drone Parts List
1.FPV Frame
In addition to the size of props the quad fpv frame is generally among the first parts you will certainly pick and also it will certainly figure out a few of your options for other fpv parts as well.
A more basic introduction to FPV Frame is available here post：FPV drone components #Frame
I’ve recommended some fpv frames for you here as “beginner’s advice”.
- Pick a frame that is easy to set up and has a clear structure,Because it is easy for you to do the repair.
QAV-S Freestyle Frame
It is mentioned on the getfpv website that the QAV-S frame is designed to meet the needs of pilots who are constantly traveling, flying freestyle, and working in the film industry. But I recommend it because for beginners it has enough space for you to build and the manual is very detailed making setup easy. It is very compatible, you can install 20x20mm or 30.5×30.5mm flight control&esc‘s and caddx vista.
It also has the JB edition of the QAV-S frame, which has a somewhat different and more impressive design. But the box does not contain any 3d printed mounts, you can choose to print your own or buy them at getfpv.
Steele 5” frame
I recommend it because it is cheap enough to order for under $30. Although it is ImpulseRC APEX 5 clone. it is stable and compact frame. If you want to make this frame kit, you need to know that it is made for Dji Vista and if you want to change to DJI AIR unit, you need to change the length of the aluminum column and it is compact in space.
On thingiverse you can find printables about it by typing “steele 5”. When you are done assembling the frame, when choosing a propeller, it is best to choose 50XX instead of 51XX. because the 51xx propeller is only a line away from this frame.
MARK5 Freestyle Frame
This FPV freestyle frame is another beautiful frame! It is very compatible and adapts to the vast majority of accessories on the market in terms of cam, vtx, and motors.
They also say the frame vibrates and resonates less, providing a stable operating environment for electronic systems. The 3D TPU print package has almost everything you can use.
2.Flight Controller
The FC (Flight Controller) is the brain of the whole FPV system. The forward and left/right movements, rolls, and dives that we do on the radio gimbal are processed by the FC, in addition to data from the gyroscopes, filter algorithms, and PID controller.
The FC then calculates the thrust required for each motor to execute the pilot commands. the FC sends a signal to the ESC and the ESC adjusts the rate of current pulses to drive the motors at the desired speed.
The specifications of these important parameters of the flight control are (when you buy) to be considered.
- MCU
- Gyroscope
- Firmware
- UART
- BEC output
MCU
The MCU of the flight controller, also known as the processor, is the input/output center of the flight controller. the MCU is probably the largest component on your FC. It is a black square that may or may not have visible pins extending from its edges. the most popular MCU on FPV drones is the STM-32.
The STM32 family is divided into several families, each represented by letters and numbers. Currently, there are FC MCU processors available in the market: F3 / F4 / F7, and the mainstream market is still F4 and F7.
If you want to learn more about the differences between F4 and F7, you can check out the catalog written by ST about: STM-32 High Performance MCUs
I checked those large FPV dealer sales sites and there are more flight controllers with F7 processors than F4 processors.
Gyroscope
The gyroscope is a chip on the vehicle that tells the flight controller how the quadcopter is moving. And it is critical to the operation of the quadcopter. When looking at the gyro parameters in a flight controller, you will see that some flight controllers use the MPU6000 or ICM20608, and even the BMI270. the MPU is considered the old and stable choice, but is limited to an 8k update rate. If I remember correctly, ICM gyros can reach 32KHz, but are more sensitive to vibrations generated by motors or propellers. That’s why MPU6000 is still the mainstream.
If you want to learn more or study the differences between MPU6000 VS ICM20608 VS BMI270, you can check the video posted by Chris Rosser on Youtube.
Firmware
When you are done with your build, you will definitely need to debug it with FPV firmware, some FC firmware is mainly designed for race and freestyle stock flight performance, while others are capable of autonomous GPS flight. I won’t go into the firmware for autonomous GPS flight here, it’s all about the FPV firmware for race and freestyle flight.
- Betaflight
- KISS
- FalcoX (FlightOne)
- Emuflight
- SPEEDYBEE
- INVA
Betaflight
Is still the most popular flight control software used by quadcopter pilots around the world. It is open source, which means that it offers a large number of features and is updated regularly. I highly recommend you give it a try.
KISS
Is a private firmware (closed source), meaning you purchase Kiss flight control before you can use it. kiss has fewer configuration options than Betaflight and is easy for you to set up quickly. Also, many of the top pilots use KISS and recommend the KISS build.
FalcoX (a.k.a FlightOne)
Like KISS, is a private firmware (closed source). It is super easy to use as you can set it up totally from the OSD menu. Unlike Betaflight, you don’t need a computer at all. FalcoX focuses on pure racing and acro flight and is oriented to the F4 flight controller. It is known for its straightforward stick feel and smoothness.
SPEEDYBEE
You can set up your flight controller with just your smartphone and even flash the Betaflight/INVA/Emuflight firmware and use the BLHeli configurator via Speedybee’s mobile app. Since it is a third-party app and not under the control of other firmware, there are times when pilots will encounter certain problems with the app, and it is up to you to choose.
INVA
Works as an app in Google Chrome and allows you to configure the INAV software to run on any supported INAV target. It can support all kinds of aircraft, such as quadcopters, hexacopters, octacopters and fixed wing aircraft.
UART
UART is a hardware serial data port that allows you to connect outside devices to the flight controller. For example, serial radio receivers, telemetry, VTX control, LED light strips, etc.
Each UART has two pins, TX for sending data and RX for receiving. Remember that the TX of your external device is connected to the RX of the FC and vice versa. For example UART5 (pins R5 and T5) You can assign tasks to these UARTs in the Port tab of the Betaflight Configurator.
For your user friendliness, almost all F4 flight controllers have a dedicated pad for SBUS, to which you can solder RX directly. Otherwise, you can use a solution such as using soft serial for SmartPort, or get the same signal from RX.
There is also a receiver port on the flight control for ppm / pwm in which you can connect the receiver.
BEC
BEC stands for Battery Eliminator Circuit. A BEC is basically a step down voltage regulator. It will take your main battery voltage (e.g. 14.8 Volts) and reduce it down to 5 Volts to safely power your receiver and servos.The BEC output voltage of most FPV flight controls is 5V@1.5A，5V@2A，5V@3A，5V@1A
Other functions of flight control
The blackbox is a device that records flight information such as drone attitude during flight, and also provides an accurate parameter basis for tuning. And how to record the data? There are two ways to record your BlackBox data – by storing your flight records on an SD card or integrated flash memory.
If your craft does not have an SD card slot or flash memory for the blackbox, you can buy an external SD card reader (Open Logger) and connect it to your craft via UART.
This feature is not standard on every flight controller though, some have a built-in black box feature while others do not have it. If you want to use the black box data to modify the filter data with Betaflight software to set the filter parameters for motor noise and axial vibration frequency, in order to pursue stable flight attitude, reduce motor overheating, save battery power consumption, and solve the aircraft vibration problem in software.
Then I suggest you pay attention to whether it comes with a blackbox feature when you buy.
There are three types of connections that you can always find on various flight controls.
- Solder Pads
- JST Connectors
- Solder hole
The JST Connectors is very convenient for beginners to connect other FPV accessories, plug and use. The Solder pads and solder holes require you to solder one end of the wire and then solder the other end to the accessories.
I think you often see OSD support mentioned in the features of the controller, so what is OSD?OSD stands for On Screen Display, which loads some information about the parameters of your FPV onto your video source (fpv goggles or fpv monitor).
Allows you to monitor the status of your quadcopter in real time while flying fpv. So OSD makes you fly safer, doesn’t it?
Pressing this puts the FC into bootloader mode. This allows you to “force” a firmware refresh in case a normal firmware refresh doesn’t work.
Flight controls mainly have Micro-USB ports or Type-C ports, and USB-C ports transfer data faster than Micro-USB. Together with the fact that more and more electronic devices are using USB-C, maybe one of the battery charging cables you pick up at hand is a USB-C port, which is why I like flight controls with USB-C ports.
By detecting atmospheric pressure, a barometer gives the FC information about height. Although it serves little function for racing and freestyle quadcopters, it is useful for long-range pilots since it delivers more accurate altitude readings than a GPS.
A quadcopter can activate an altitude hold mode using the barometer to maintain a fixed height while flying.
Types of Flight Controls
-FC Single, AIO FC
AIO FC means try to integrate everything (FC+ESC) on one board, such as processor, gyroscope, OSD chip, BEC, etc.
AIO FC recommendations: If you build a 2″ drone or less, choose AIO FC – 25A ESC; if it is a 2″ drone or more, choose AIO FC – 45A ESC is not easy to burn, because if you use 25A ESC, when the fpv blows up AIO FC burst current is very high, 25A ESC damage chances are high.
The common size of the standard FC is 30.5×30.5mm, 20x20mm, and even 16x16mm, while the AIO FC, generally 25.5×25.5mm, 26.5×26.5mm size.
| Flight Control Size | Type |
|---|---|
| 30.5x30.5mm | 5 inch drone |
| 20x20mm | 5 inch drone/ 3inch drone |
| 25.5x25.5mm | 2.5 inch/3 inch Whoop |
| 26.5x26.5mm | 2.5 inch/3 inch Whoop/Toothpick |
| 16x16mm | under 100mm fpv frame |
3.ESC’s
ESC’s are used to control the RPM of the motor in response to commands from the flight controller. In the early days of FPV were split ESC’s, 4-in-1 ESC’s became active in the public in 2015.
Nowadays, 4-in-1 ESC’s have become the mainstream of the market, you can have many replacements and easy to repair. If you want to use split ESCs, then there are less choices available and repairing and replacing them is not convenient.
When you are choosing ESC, there are some specifications to consider.
- Continuous Current & Burst Current
- Power Input
- Processor & Firmware
- Protocol
- BEC
- Size
Continuous Current & Burst Current
The continuous current of the ESC should be greater than 10 – 20% of the continuous current of the motor. This will prevent it from overheating and provide a little room to maneuver when running at maximum throttle. The Burst current is an important parameter to ensure that the ESC does not burn up when the drones blows up.
These two parameters are very important and will directly affect your choice of the right ESC for different size drones. For example, when you build a 3-inch fpv drone, use a 35A-40A ESC is recommended. If you are building a 5-inch freestyle fpv drone, use a 45A-50A ESC is recommended. To build a 5-inch racing fpv drone, use a 60A ESC is recommended.
Power Input
The Power Input of the ESC depends on how high voltage battery you can use, for 5 inch drones almost all of them are 3-6S battery.
Processor & Firmware
BLHeli is ESC firmware, so BLHeli_32 is written for ESCs using 32-bit MCUs. As the name suggests, BLHeli_S, on the other hand, runs on ESCs with 8-bit MCUs. BLHeli_32 is still the mainstream in the market. For more details about BLHeli_32 vs BLHeli_S, you can check this video.
Protocol
It is the communication protocol between flight control and ESC, you can understand it as a way for them both to communicate the throttle information, motor speed and other information.
The common protocols are Oneshot125, Multishot, DShot600, and DShot1200, Oneshot and Multishot protocols use analog signals such as PWM, while Dshot uses digital signals. The Dshot protocol was originally proposed by Felix at KISS and later adopted by the Betaflight and BLHeli_S development teams. Because Dshot protocol has more accurate transmission signal and high reliability, more and more ESC protocols are using it.
BEC
The same as mentioned above in Flight Control.
Size
- 30.5×30.5mm,M3 for 5 inch drone
- 20x20mm,M2 for 3-5 inch drone
- 25.5×25.5mm,M2 for under 3 inch drone / Toothpick
- 16x16mm,M2 for under 2 inch drone
3.1 Recommend FPV Stacks
Next I recommend three FPV stacks, which are also suitable for beginners.
SpeedyBee F405 Stack – F405 V3 FC + 50A 3-6s BLHeli_S ESC
At this price you get an FC and ESC. be aware that some individual flight controls cost $79.99.
The flight control in this stack gets 4 UARTs for your receiver + VTX + camera + GPS. Comes with 4GB of blackbox data capability with SD memory card. Can connect directly to DJI AIR Unit’s JST connector. And for ESC, with 50A, it is running BLHeli_s firmware, not BLHeli32. this means you will not be able to use features like two-way dshot.
This product has some other features, LED light bar, built-in barometer, type-c port, wireless configuration via Speedybee mobile app.
The package comes with a capacitor that you can swap out for a smaller one when soldering. If you have limited frame space, soldering a large capacitor will make the space more cramped and not conducive to DJI cable installation.
JB also said this “budget” FC has almost the same layout and features as Speedybee’s premium products. So for beginners, this is perfectly enough.
XRotor Stack – F7 FC + 40A 4-in-1 BLHeli_32 esc
This stack starts with BLHeli_32, so you will get all the latest features, 40a ESC is enough for beginners. fc uses stm32f722 processor, with high sensitivity ICM20602 gyroscope. F7 flight control has two camera ports, support dual camera installation, can be configured by BF and then switch camera video screen by remote control. The flight control also has a PIT SWITCH module on board, which can realize the remote control switch vtx function. The interface is perfect, with GPS/compass interface, multiple UART ports can be connected to more devices.
But the confusing thing is that the ESC only has one size hole (30.5mm) and the fc has 20×20 and 30.5×30.5mm. so you can only use 30.5×30.5mm hole in this stack. One more thing, when you buy it stack, the ESC’s xt60 wires are pre-soldered, including the capacitors.
Diatone Stack – MK4 F722 APP FC + 45A 3-6S BHeli_32 128K ESC
This stack has been updated through 3 versions and is now in its 4th gen. It has very large pads, according to diatone increased 30% soldering area to make it as easy as possible for you to solder. fc is stm32f722 processor, with icm42688p gyroscope. With 6 set uart port, can connect more devices.
Esc is 32 bit processor and support 128k refresh rate. They have all the features they should have!
4.Motor
It has brush motor and brushless motor, brush motor it uses brushes to switch positive and negative poles so there is resistance; low efficiency; motor temperature is higher, short life.Brushless motor: need to work with brushless ESC, higher efficiency, more expensive than the brush motor.
Components of the drone motor.
- Magnets
- Coil
- Shaft
- Bearings
Material of Motor
Magnet:
N52SH, N48SH high temperature arc magnets
N48 magnet material is mostly used for 4/5S battery 5 inch freestyle drone.
N52 magnet material is mostly used for 6S battery 5 inch racing drone.
N52 magnets compared to N48 magnets (increased power and response)
Shaft: steel shaft, titanium alloy shaft
Bearing: Japan NSK bearing
Coil: 220 ℃ specific heat-resistant copper wire
Meaning of Motor Model
Take the 2407 1700KV motor as an example. 2407 indicates the motor model name, 24 is the diameter of the stator, 07 is the height of the rotor.1700KV means the KV value.
Maybe you will ask, there are many types of brushless motors on the market, Which is better or how should I choose a fpv motor? You can choose from the size of the motor, KV value, thrust.Then let’s disassemble them step by step.
- Motor Size
What is the difference between 2206 and 2207 or 2306?
Stator = diameter = 22mm
Rotor = height = 6mm;
The wider the diameter, the greater the torque, the higher the height, the faster the speed. So the larger the diameter the more violent.
If you are building a 5-inch drone, 22 series models and 23 series models are the most suitable. The violence rating only depends on the motor model, not the KV value. So,2204<2205<2206<2207<2208<2306<2307<2407
- KV values
2206 2400KV and 2207 1800KV or 2306 2450KV What is the difference between these KV values?
The KV value refers to how many revolutions the motor can make in one minute without load (no propeller) and at a constant current of 1 volt. In short, KV represents the speed at which the motor can rotate.
Voltage x kv is the maximum speed, example: 2300 (kv rating) X 14.8 (assumed voltage) = 34,040 (revolutions per minute)
Note: KV value is large, but the power can not reach the motor can only burn. So when you choose the motor also need to match the appropriate propeller in order to achieve maximum force efficiency.
Remember: High kv value need to match the “small” propeller, Low kv value need to match the “large” propeller. The “large” and “small” here refer to: the size of the propeller and pitch; It is to see the 2 numbers after the propeller.
Like 22-23 series motor, the propeller is to choose 5 inch propeller, high KV value with small propeller refers to 5040, 5043, 5046 these propellers; and 5146, 5143, 51466 these propellers are large propellers.
- Thrust
The thrust of an electric motor is usually measured in grams and varies according to the rotational speed of the motor and the rotating propeller. It can also be understood as the wind force from the rotation, the higher the thrust the higher the wind force.
How to know what motors are suitable for racing and freestyle? Racing motor is below 2000KV, freestyle motor is above 2000KV. Below 2000KV are using 6S battery.
Let’s say 2306 1850KV motor using 4S battery, the power will be insufficient.
4.1 Recommended FPV Drone Motors
Ethixltd v4 motors
This motor is 2306 2345kv, suitable for motor hole 16x16mm frame, motor weight 31.4g, compared to the previous version v3 weight increased by 2g. Considering the durability and smoothness, completely redesigned bell. super durable and long-lasting, while maintaining excellent performance. Nice and fast response time too. All in all, it stands out among other motors of this type.
T-Motor F60 Pro V Motor
This is a motor for racing and you can choose from several kv values: 1750KV, 1950KV, 2020KV or 2550KV. 2020kv is my recommendation.
EMAX ECO II 2306 Motor
You can choose it 2400kv with 4s battery, or 1700kv with 6s battery. this motor seems cheaper than the two mentioned above, only $15.99(1pcs). Does the affordable motor perform well? Many people say it has big thrust and low consumption, plus its price, it is definitely considered a competitive product.
5.Propellers
Propellers are the key component that keeps your multicopter in the air, and they have the most direct impact on how your drone flies. Choosing the wrong propeller can cause your drone to fall out of the sky, make your footage unstable, drain your battery or burn out your motor.
Every outside flight is very likely to make the propellers dirty or damaged, and they will also be the most frequently replaced component. Propellers are installed in a corresponding order, so you must have both clockwise and counterclockwise props, and the clockwise and counterclockwise directions on the drone counteract each other’s rotational forces to keep the drone flying straight.
Propellers are often described using numbers that relate to size, pitch and blade configuration.
Generally speaking it looks like this: Size (inches) X Pitch (inches) X Number of Blades.
When you are shopping for a propeller, these parameters are the variables you will need to consider.
- Size
- Pitch
- Blade Configuration
- Material
- Design
Size
Size is measured in inches. Usually it is determined by your frame, choose a 2″ propeller for a 2″ drone, a 3″ propeller for a 3″ drone, and so on…
A larger propeller will generate more thrust and have better control in the air because it has more surface area and responds better to changes in direction, and the throttle drop feels smoother because the drone will have more air resistance to return from the ground.
On the other side, smaller props will respond faster to input because they have less drag and are more effective at accelerating smaller props, which will make it easier for your drone to change altitude, which can be a good thing if you’re using a 2 inch drone to get through obstacles with smaller props.
Pitch
Pitch is the angle of each blade on the propeller. You can also think of pitch as the distance the propeller moves forward in one 360° rotation.
High pitch usually results in greater overall thrust and top speed, but not so low end torque. You can think of a motorcycle in high speed gear as being fast for sprinting, but not so good for providing extra thrust in complex terrain or fast turns.
A low pitch will result in lower overall thrust and top speed, but more end torque. Still using a motorcycle as an example, at this point you are riding a low gear motorcycle that is not as fast, but responds positively to thrust in fast turns.
Remember this article about the KV value of the motor needing to be paired with the right propeller? Again, the high KV value of the motor needs to be paired with a low pitch propeller, and the low KV value of the motor needs to be paired with a high pitch propeller.
If you can’t remember, there is another way to match. The most common 5″ propeller size, 5040×3-5045×3 will fit most 5″ drones and is a good combination of responsiveness/torque and top speed/thrust.
Blade Configuration
Refers to the number of single blades on the propeller. Increasing the number of blades will increase thrust and grip in the air, but at the expense of some response time and battery power consumption.
In the 5-inch category, it is generally accepted that a three-blade FPV drone propeller provides the best balance between efficiency, thrust and grip.
It’s not that 4- and 5-blade propellers don’t have their uses, it’s just that most people don’t use them because they are adapted to very specific flight styles and expertise.
Material
Originally, propellers were made primarily of fiberglass-reinforced plastic, which was easily damaged in flight by collisions. Nowadays most propellers are made of polycarbonate, which will bend rather than break in a crash in flight. Today’s propellers are made of ABS and PC.
For most pilots in most places, PC propellers will be the most comfortable and durable.
Design
If you open any FPV shopping site you will find that some propellers will have different designs, folding propellers, propellers with LEDs.
No matter what you choose, you will have to make a compromise someplace that will meet your needs and cover what the props areand why they are so important, please don’t overlook the importance of having the right prop it is one of the most important aspects of flying a drone.
5.1 Recommended FPV Props
Gemfanhobby 51466 v2 props
Designed for high speed and agile flight, it weighs only 4.2 grams. The props are smaller in width and therefore excel at higher RPM. The V2 offers better grip and smoother flight characteristics according to MCK, who was a major part of the development of these props.
Even though it is very light, the props is very durable. Even if you bend a prop, you will most likely be able to bend it back and fly it again.It is ideal for freestyle and indoor race.
Gemfanhobby 5043 props
The prop is designed for faster turns, which increases the speed and movement of the drone on complex tracks. Equally suited for freestyle and racing, the prop is insanely, super smoothly torqued.
6.Receiver & Radio Transmitter
6.1 Receiver
A receiver is a device capable of receiving commands from a radio transmitter and interpreting the signals through a flight controller, these commands are converted to control specific actions of the drone.
The receiver usually comes with two antennas for 2.4GHz frequency. For best signal reception, it is recommended that they be mounted on the multi-rotor at a 90 degree angle to each other.
FPV receivers are usually naked, without a box. They are small and covered with plastic film or heat shrink. The naked RX is light weight and easy to install in the small space of the frame.
Receiver Protocols
Analog Receivers – PPM and PWM
PPM and PWM were among the first receiver protocols used by the UAV industry. both PPM and PWM are analog communication standards.
Digital receivers – SBUS, IBUS, XBYUS, CRSF, DSMX
SBUS protocol is used by Futaba and Frsky radios
IBUS is used by Flysky radios
XBYUS used by JR radios
CRSF used by Crossfire modules
DSMX used by Spektrum radios
The receiver must be compatible with the radio, which means that in most cases, the same brand of Rx and Tx will need to be purchased to establish communication. However, some radio receivers may use the same protocol, even if they are not the same brand. This may be useful when you want to build a second drone.
The frequencies on the Rx and Tx must also be the same. For example; a 2.4GHz transmitter can only be used with a 2.4GHz radio receiver.
6.2 Radio Transmitter
It is the device that steers the direction and speed of the drone’s flight, and then the signal or command is received by a radio receiver (RX) connected to the remote control.
Most RC transmitters come with 2.4GHz, which is the most popular frequency today. Both the receiver and the remote control are matched one-to-one and have automatic frequency tuning, but do not automatically find available channels.
There are a number of parameters that need to be considered when preparing to purchase a radio.
- Channel
- Gimbals
- Remote control mode
- Frequencies
- Open TX
Channels
Each channel is sent to a separate action of the traverser: Throttle, Yaw, Pitch and Roll, the four main inputs needed to control the traverser. They each use one channel, so a minimum of four channels are functionally required when purchasing a remote control.
The additional channels are sometimes called “AUX channels” because they can be used for auxiliary controls, such as switches. Basic 4-6 channel remotes are usually the least expensive, and remotes with more than 6 channels are usually more expensive.
Gimbals
The Gimbals also affects the pilot’s maneuverability as well as the smoothness of the controls.
Two types of Gimbals are typically used.
- Hall sensor Gimbals (digital)
- Potentiometer type Gimbals (analog)
Hall sensor Gimbals that use a Hall sensor with a magnet to capture the stick position value and are therefore more resistant to wear and tear. Potentiometer type Gimbals use brushes to capture the value of the rod input, and therefore tend to wear out faster.
Remote Control Mode
Usually remote controls are available in two different control formats, Right hand throttle and Left hand throttle.
Frequencies
Prefer 2.4GHz, the most popular frequency.
Open TX
OpenTX is an open source custom firmware made for RC radio transmitters, providing a large number of options for all types of RC models.
In some radios, there is an option to connect an external transmitter module. This allows the use of different frequencies or different receivers from other brands/protocols. Whether you choose a regular radio, or one with a connected external transmitter module depends on your own needs.
6.3 Recommendations For Receivers
TBS Crossfire Nano Rx
When you’re looking for absolute range and reliability for a receiver, most people choose the TBS. this receiver has a strong signal that doesn’t need to be questioned (1km away with no problems). You really can’t go wrong with TBS.
Frsky XM PLUS
Not only does it adapt to your frsky radio, it also adapts to Radiomaster TX16s which is a great receiver option. It’s easy to get up and running.
It is recommended to buy a high quality Tx radio transmitter when you start flying FPV as it is one of the longest lasting components in this hobby.
6.4 Recommendations For Radio Transmitter
Frsky X9D Plus
For this radio, I highly recommend this radio for anyone into helicopters, drones or wings, or even RC cars.
TBS Tango 2 Pro
When you favor a radio transmitter that is not bulky, it is small and easy to use and the size is perfect. The gimbal is smooth to hold in your hand and the ergonomic design is very comfortable. As for the functionality everything is so practical.
RadioMaster TX16S MKII
The best part is the fully integrated user interface. You can fully program this unit from your PC or Mac, and it also talks to all popular receiver protocols with a simple change of model.
7.Battery
The battery is the main source of take-off power for fpv, just like a gas car needs oil in order to run. Let’s learn the composition and specification parameters of the battery to facilitate our purchase of batteries.
Battery S number – fpv battery is composed of several independent cells connected in series, 5S means that the battery is composed of 5 cells in series, different fpv model to use different S number of batteries, such as tinywhoop may use 1S or 2S, freestyle fpv will use 4S as well as 5S, to participate in the race fpv will generally use 6S of the battery.
| Number of LiPO Cells | Nominal Battery Voltage |
|---|---|
| 1S | 3.7V |
| 2S | 7.4V |
| 3S | 11.1V |
| 4S | 14.8V |
| 5S | 18.5V |
| 6S | 22.2V |
mAh (mAh) – indicates the capacity of the battery, the general 5-inch fpv with 1300-2000 mAh battery.
Battery C number – indicates the discharge capacity of the battery, the need for strong power, we must choose a large C number of batteries, veterans will generally choose more than 100C battery, but newbie do not need to pursue too high C number, enough is good.
The battery extends two wires red for the positive pole, black negative. 5-inch fpv drones used by the battery are XT60 connector, micro and cinewhoop with XT30 connector. Another set of wires is the balance of the battery head.
Battery Connectors
There are multiple LiPO battery connectors available. The yellow XT60 connector, which can be used on about 95% of 220mm-sized quadcopters powered by 3S-6S LiPO FPV Drone Batteries, is the most most used connector. The JST-XH is often used in micro drones like the Tiny Whoop because it offers more current flow from the battery than the JST-PH, which is smaller. The most popular battery connectors are listed in the table below:
| Connectors of Type | Recommended Cells |
|---|---|
| JST-PH | 1S |
| JST-XH | 1S |
| JST | 2-3S |
| XT30 | 3-4S |
| XT60 | 3-6S |
Then How To Buy Batteries?
Currently on the market, the most 1000-2000mah battery, followed by 500-1000mah, followed by 300-500mah. optional battery to the drone you are using, such as 210mm wheelbase 5-inch fpv generally with 1500mah battery, and 2.5-3-inch fpv drone generally with 450-850mah. You can read this post to learn what kind of battery you should buy for your drone.
Tips of Battery
- Do not leave the battery in a full charge or low battery state for a long time, so the battery is easy to bulge damage, if you want to leave the battery for a long time, use the charger “storage” option to charge and discharge the battery to a voltage suitable for long-term storage.
- When flying fpv, be careful not to over-discharge the battery, pay attention to the power from time to time, generally lower than the single cell 3.7V should land.
- When flying outdoors, you can use the large battery connected to the charger as a power source to charge the small battery.
7.1 Recommended Batterys
XILO 1300mAh 4s 100c Lipo Battery
Very good quality. Light weight. High power. Flight time in the cinema is about 5-7 minutes. Not expensive either!
TATTU R-LINE VERSION 3.0 1550MAH 18.5V 120C 5S
A very good battery, their weight to power ratio is good, flight time on a 5″ drone is about 10 minutes.
DOGCOM MCK EDITION 1380MAH 6S 22.2V 150C
The weight to power ratio of these lithium ion batteries is excellent. They are rugged battery packs and are balanced and seem to be very durable. The discharge rate of these batteries is amazing and the high discharge is paired with high KV. This battery is perfect for racing.
Tips:When you choose electronic parts, the order of choice should be: first determine the motor, then the ESC & flight control, and finally the battery.
8.Camera
The camera is what you see in real time with FPV goggles on or in the FPV monitor. There are 2 types of camera variants: those with CMOS sensors and those with CCD sensors.
Generally speaking cameras are available in HD and analog picture quality. Today it is easier to choose when shopping for a camera compared to other accessories.
You only need to focus on these factors.
Camera mounting size: It is whether the frame can hold this camera.
Picture quality clarity: if you build a racing frame, you can choose analog cameras. If building a freestyle, hd camera is recommended, and hd camera is required to be used with vista vtx. Common ones are DJI AIR Unit, Caddx Vista Kits.
8.1 Recommended Cameras
CADDX BABY RATEL 2 NANO
It is probably the best budget analog FPV camera. It is much cheaper than some other options, has good image quality and low latency. For more features, you don’t have to ask for much.
Caddx Polar Camera
You will be surprised when you get into the hd quality. Combined with the Caddx vista VTX it becomes the best combination ever, allowing you to fly in low light environments, for example between trees in a forest or between deep walls in a Bando. So far more and more pilots have seen it has provided excellent performance and superior quality.
Caddx Ratel2 Camera
The video picture and color range of this camera is amazing. Has awesome low light performance. The choice of camera comes down to what you think is good and this is one of the best analog cameras for me.
9.VTX
The VTX is a video feed transmitter that transmits the analog video signal received from the FPV camera to the video receiver.Most VTXs have 40 right different channels, but some have more! They have different power outputs of 25-100-200-600-800mW.
As mentioned earlier, there is also a difference between analog and HD for the vtx. If you are using an HD camera, use the HD vtx that goes with it.
Another important thing, if other people are flying very close to your frequency, if you have a more powerful transmitter than they do, then your vision will actually leak into their goggles and then they will have a very bad signal when they fly. That’s why it’s important to have a good quality VTX.
9.1 Recommended VTX
Caddx Vista / Dji Air Unit
If you are or are going to buy a camera for hd, how can you miss the caddx vista? They are paired together. You can also use dji air unit if you want.
RUSH TANK II 5.8GHz VTX w/ Smart Audio
It allows 8 set of fpv drone to play in the same band without interference.
This VTX has the TBS licensed SmartAudio protocol built in. This can be set up using the RGB LED via the traditional two buttons, and then you can access SmartAudio ti settings and view VTX information via the OSD menu. It has a mounting size of 30.5×30.5mm, so 20x20mm will not work.
10.Antennas
The FPV antenna is the decisive part that defines the range and signal strength of the FPV system. The antenna is connected to the visual transmitter because without it, the signal doesn’t really reach anywhere.
Keep in mind that polarized antennas only work in the same polarization direction. Therefore, if you have an RHCP (right-hand circular polarization) antenna on your UAV, you must also have an RHCP antenna on your VRX.
10.1 Recommended Antennas
TrueRC Singularity 5.8Ghz
They come in left-handed (LHCP) and right-handed (RHCP) varieties, and you must use the same variety on your quadcopter and goggles. Most pilots use RHCP and the product always performs better than expected. The videos are informative and dynamic.
Rush Cheery Antenna
Works is great, reasonably priced, in this price range you just need to confirm which connection type antenna to buy.
11.FPV Goggles
It is the device that finally presents you with the live flight picture. There are two types of goggles, analog and HD, then it is well understood that the traditional goggles, such as Fatshark, skyzone, ORQA. analog ultimately provides lower latency, but also provides lower video quality.
And HD goggles refer to DJI goggles, is in that you use HD camera + HD vtx (Vista Kits) before you use it.
11.1 Recommend Goggles
- Fat shark
- Skyzone
- DJI
Goggles are not too many options, I personally recommend that if you use hd vista kit, without any doubt, choose DJI Goggles V2.
For cheaper goggles you can choose the skyzone COBRA X V2.
As for fatshark you can choose the new model DOMINATOR or the Scout which was launched in 19 years.
So now I hope I’ve covered everything about “parts for fpv drones”. I have posted here about cheap fpv drone parts.If you still have any doubts or questions about this topic, you can contact us or ask in the comments. If you liked this article then please share it with your friends.
FAQ
1.You may ask：Is it cheaper to build your own fpv drone?
Of course, you can build your own drone at an affordable price while still having good quality.Compared to Ready to Fly Quads, self-built drones have more possibilities and combinations.
2.What are 4 components of a drone?
-The Flight System: The motors, propellers, electronic speed controllers (ESC’s), flight controller(FC’s), and the radio receiver.
-The Power System：The battery
-The FPV System：The fpv camera, the video transmitter (VTX), and the antenna.
-The Control System：The Radio Transmitters
3.What fpv drone parts list do I need to build an fpv?
In brief you will need.
A set of frame
Four motors
Four propellers
A set of flight controllers
A set of 4 in 1 ESC (electronic speed controller)
A set of vtx
A set of fpv camera
A set of fpv antenna
A set of receiver & Video Receiver module
A set of radio transmitter
A set of fpv goggles
Some fpv lithium batteries & battery strap
