3DR vs. Blade vs. Yuneec vs ?

[All_Three_Dimensions]

Greetings Multirotor Pilots,

I've been researching for some time now, but I'm not much closer to making a decision about my first APV quad. The only decision I've made is NOT to go with DJI (Phantom) because it just seems too vanilla and there are too many reports of flyaways.

A little background: I flew gas-powered ARF fixed-wing aircraft back in the day, but like many, I eventually got tired of all the mess, cost, and labor to fly. More recently, I came across a $20 Syma S107G coaxial and fell in love with it (now I have three of them). From there, I bought a couple of Hubsan X4's: first the H107L, and then the H107C with 2MP camera. I love both of those aircraft. Somewhere in there I also got a Syma H5C-1, which I also really dig, but I'm having flight range issues with it. I tried a Cheerson QX-10, but it was defective out of the box so I sent it back for a refund, not a replacement. It's just too darn small. If I do another small quad, it will probably be the Blade Nano QX.

Anyway, I'm ready to step up to a GPS craft with APV capabilities. I think I've narrowed it down to these three models for these reasons:

• 3DR Iris +
  • Components (like the Pixhawk and the transmitter) can be re-purposed to build a new aircraft if I decide to later on
  • US-based company with responsive customer service
  • Waypoint navigation
• Blade 350 QX3
  • Looks like a very stable and agile GPS vehicle that can be used for APV and also sport flying with aerobatic maneuvers
  • I'd get the BNF version and also buy a Spektrum DX9 or similar for use with future models
  • CGO2-GB camera seems nice
• Yuneec Q500 Typhoon
  • Looks remarkable in therms of stability and range
  • Quieter than other similar quads
  • I hear that waypoint navigation is coming
  • It's big, and my vision isn't what it used to be
  • CGO2-GB camera seems nice
• DIY
  • This would be the most gratifying way to go in terms of the pride of building and flying my own aircraft, but man, there's a lot involved with this option

So I thought I'd throw that out there and see what comments it would generate. I think that if the Blade 350 QX3 could do waypoint GPS navigation, it would be a done deal.

For a little fun, here's a link to a video of my dog neutralizing a Hubsan. I have a couple of other silly heli vids on my YT channel too.

Thanks in advance for your words of wisdom!

Cheers!
Justin

P.S. I realize that there is a typo in my member name. Oops!

 

[Old Man]

Welcome! SOnds like you been through all the toys are want to try something with considerably more versatility. I'll relate what I know from experience and leave out things where I don't have any.

I've been the DJI route (Wookong and A2 controllers) and will never, ever go there again. The Wookong was OK but the A2 is a story for another day. For me it's a matter of trust. If it won't work as advertised, has a significant issue with customer service, or a continuing history of going its own way I simply don't want anything to do with it. As the capabilities increase the cost of repair and replacement increases quite a bit and the liability is soon to become an issue. So no DJI for me.

3dR; I don't believe there is a more capable controller on the market, but they are not intuitive (if any of them really are) to work with. You have to get mentally involved with the extensive instructions and learn about how it works and what it can do. The only limit at the moment is input voltage but I don't see that being an issue much longer. The Iris is the entry level for their ARF's and as such has some limitations in lift capability but the Pixhawk is one damn fine flight controller. The FC you get in an Iris is what you buy stand alone for incorporation into bigger and better things. A 3dR ARF can be difficult to work on since they pack a lot of stuff with soldered connections into tight confines, but it can be done. If you use the tools (instructions and programming options) they give you you won't ever have any problems sneak up on you.

I'm currently installing an Eagle Tree Vector in a hexacopter at the moment. Nice controller with expansive instructions and local support but has some obvious limitations. It's limited to smaller copters and I'm past their envelope with an 800mm aircraft. It also has voltage limitations but like the Pixhawk they can't be negated with an input voltage limiting device. The built in OSD is pretty nice. Both the Pixhawk and Eagle Tree have a data logging system you can personally access and review to assess your system. That's a pretty big deal.

I haven't tried the Horizon stuff so I can't go there. I have no idea if their controller is at all transferable to another aircraft later. Building you own can get a bit expensive, no matter how well you plan but the experience is extremely educational. If I was looking for an ARF it would have a Pixhawk driving it. If building your own know what you want it to do before making a FC decision and choose based upon the needs of today and tomorrow. Trust and reliability is everything, which becomes extremely evident the first time you fly over water You want to be able to have some fun and get the job done, not worry, worry, worry about the day everything might turn into a disaster.

 

[All_Three_Dimensions]

Thatnks for your input, Old Man. I'm sold on the Pixhawk and the expandability (or reducability, as the case may be) of the Iris+. I placed the order this morning.