MR Wannabe - new build

[GertJL]

Hi All,
I am interested in building a MR
my Cons - no RC experience at all
my Pros - Strong electronics background, employed in the electronics industry.
Hands-on

What I want to achieve with the MR -
Build a rig to enable me do vid/photography
Hobbyist and hopefully growing my ability to one day use it to provide a service, maybe?

I want to start with a frame/components selection which will last me for a while,
before I have to upgrade to more semi-pro equipment.

>>Lastly, to have FUN<<

In addition, I intend to buy an inexpensive quad to gain basic flying experience.
Yes, I realize with no RC experience, my goal may become expensive,
however, I really keen to venture into this, eyes wide-open.....

Can someone recommend any RTF rigs (Quad?), cheap-ish?.....

I have seen various affordable combo RTF/ARTF kits which touch on my requirements,
but no cigar... It seems to me that most have components, that, granted with my limited RC knowledge, may be on the limit.

Other RTF kits, which have all the 'proper' components are just way out of my budget.

I would like to list my component selection,
and seek to get input/advise/recommendations from the forum to help me choose
the optimized components to start a new build.

I was thinking along -
Frame, Tarot FY680
PixHawk FC/AP
Gimbal for GoPro
appropriate Motors/Props/ESC/Batts etc.

Can I list the components and which of the forum topics is suitable?

The alternative is to request a build from a person,
with my broad guidelines and end-requirements.

I hope to get some feedback and support in good time from this forum.

Thank you for reading!

Regards,
Gerhard
Cape Town, South Africa

 

[JoeBob]

Read/skim this thread:
http://multirotorforums.com/threads/group-build-2014-dji-naza-f450-quadcopter.13431/
Holy Smokes! It's up to 78 pages.
At least watch the excellent videos that Bart made showing step by step how to build an MR. He even teaches basic soldering.

I love Pixhawk - but it can be a challenge if you have no experience.

While you're waiting plunk down the big bucks, get one of these to practice with:
http://multirotorforums.com/threads/most-economical-first-non-toy-multi.25436/#post-205170

Welcome aboard. I'm sure we'll have electronics questions for you...

 

[GertJL]

Hi JoeBob,
Thank you for your warm welcome and reading material
Gerhard

 

[GertJL]

Hi JoeBob, re PixHawk - Are you using the original 3Dr or clone.
If clone, which?
Else, do you know or can you recommend any 'good' clones?
Regards,
gG

 

[JoeBob]

Pixhawk Original. Costs $200 with no GPS or it's a fake. Some fakes work okay. Many don't. As a newbie, how will you know if a problem is you or the FC?
https://store.3drobotics.com/products/3dr-pixhawk?taxon_id=34

GPS add $90.
https://store.3drobotics.com/products/3dr-gps-ublox-with-compass
***
However, there is a new FC coming out that is built on the APM open source code. Pixhack.
http://team-blacksheep.com/products/prod:pixhack_autopilot

At $250 this is only $40 less than an original Pixhawk, but it does have a few advantages:
Includes a better GPS : NEO M8N vs LEA 6 - I get double that satellites in side by side test.
Internal vibration dampening for the IMU
Aluminum case shields some EMI
Slightly smaller size
Different connectors. The DF13 connectors used on the Pixhawk are fierce.

Disadvantage: You'll be dependant of DIYDrones for support:
http://diydrones.com/leaderboards/topcontent/week
instead of the official Pixhawk forum:
http://ardupilot.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=21

I'll consider this augmented Pixhawk, the Pixhack, for my next build that requires a small FC.
A smaller FC would have been nice here:
View attachment 24855
But that's a 250 Danaus, not a 680 Tarot.

 

[crayfellow]

I don't know if I agree with JoeBob re: 'clones' but I'm not terribly experienced myself (although like you @GertJL I am an EE). PX4/Pixhawk are open source projects and thus the hardware is open to be produced by anyone. I have heard of both bogus clones and poorly soldered "official" 3DR boards.

I use the "Fixhawk" from rctimer. $149.99, so $50 less than 3DR, then $56.99 for an M8N-based GPS, which again is better than the 'official' current 3dR GPS.

So for less than $210 you have a Pixhawk-compatible FC and the best GPS module currently available.

The TBS Pixhack looks nice but I can't speak to it since I've not seen one. Changing the connectors seems arbitrary due to the smaller form factor, I wouldn't assume it's an improvement.

There is also the "Pixhawk 2" coming in July from 3DR, which will be smaller and have different connectors as well, but I don't know much about that one yet.