So if i purshase a FC like the F7 mini from Aikon i guess i need a receiver but how does one connect a transmitter and a receiver to a FC?
#Need help understanding how FC and transmiter works
karmic steppe
umbral hearth
just copying to make sure we're back on track in the convo
Most FC's don't have a receiver built in, but some do (especially the small stuff). If they do, they will specify that as a selection or as a feature. Most often these are "SPI" receivers.
Typically, you will buy a receiver that's compatible with your radio.
Do you already have a radio / ordered / picked?
karmic steppe
No but i was loooking at the Radiomaster TX12 and Radiomaster T8-Lite 8ch D8-Protocol
umbral hearth
I would recommend checking out the TX12 MKII and Jumper T-Lite V2
Those both come in a variant that has an ExpressLRS transmitter module internally.
For that you would then buy an ExpressLRS receiver (like a Happymodel EP1) and wire it up to the FC.
quiet locust
the TX12 is a far superior radio, for not much more money. However, forget about FrSky protocols like D8/ you'll want to start with ELRS
umbral hearth
yeah, the standard TX12 CC2500 is not something I'd recommend. That also does FRSKY protocols, D16/D8, but it's just not great.
The hobby has moved on past those days.
You can get MILES more range with ELRS over FRSKY.
ELRS (ExpressLRS) is an open-source long-range system, developed by some very clever people in the community. Currently it's completely steamrolling the competition, even in price. It even runs on ESP 😉
quiet locust
ELRS is a LoRa protocol, with roughly 100 times the range and penetration at the same power level.
umbral hearth
more like 10x theoretical, but in reality it's just so much more reliable anyway.
karmic steppe
Ah, I found one in Norway called
Radiomaster TX12 MKII Hall 12ch ELRS the price was very cheap i assumed it would cost more than 400$
umbral hearth
One of the things that the hobby has managed to do is the squashing of radio prices 🙂
quiet locust
typo! yes. 10 times.
karmic steppe
I also found this:
ELRS EP1 Nano Reciver 2.4GHz
assume this would work with it?
umbral hearth
Yup
quiet locust
that should be it, yes. what brand?
umbral hearth
if you want superior reliability, there's also the EP1 Dual that recently came out (two receivers in one package, switching based on which one has a better signal)
karmic steppe
Looks like Radiomaster
quiet locust
perfect.
karmic steppe
There is one slight problem, only 1 in storage and i'm not sure if they are getting any more inn, i would not want toi purshase outside Norway as the MVA is like 25% the price
umbral hearth
Look around for other ELRS 2.4GHz receivers
there's also ELRS 900MHz, so make sure you're not mixing them up
quiet locust
Lots of companies make the EP1 and EP2 recievers, they are all interchangable.
karmic steppe
Found one from Matek Systems
Mateksys ELRS-R24-D 2.4GHz Receiver
karmic steppe
I found another one from Radiomaster it's a RP1 Nano
quiet locust
best to avoid Matek ELRS. the rest of their systems are fine
umbral hearth
as far as I know, the RP1 should be okay too? Not 100% sure though.
quiet locust
I believe the RP1 is Radiomaster's name for the EP1 version. no one has realy adopted any solid naming conventions yet
umbral hearth
they have both, I think they use a different "brain" chip
quiet locust
hmm, both show to use the ESP8285
I found the EP1, though. I only knew of the RP1 from them
umbral hearth
then I have no clue
😄
they're probably just banking in on the popularity of the "EP1"
karmic steppe
Creating yourself a drone is rather expensive but a bit cheaper than buying one, i better not destroy this one..
umbral hearth
Creating yourself a drone is rather expensive but a bit cheaper than buying one,...
prebuilts are often cheaper nowadays
because the manufacturer can use all in-house parts and slap a smaller margin on the whole package
helps them move more stock
karmic steppe
Atleast you can create parts yourself and get better wuslity with your own as a custom frame for your liking
Quality*
umbral hearth
custom frames are rarely any kind of good xD
there's a lot of know-how necessary to design a frame correctly, or even manufacture it correctly
RDQ took the freely available plans of the TBS Source One V3 and manufactured it themselves. They however didn't get the carbon weave orientation correctly, resulting in extremely fragile frame arms.
karmic steppe
Atleast you can enjoy the pain of making one
quiet locust
schadenfreude is taking pleasure in other people's pain. I wonder if there is a word for taking pleasure in your own pain? 😆
If you have the means to cut carbon safely, then the plans for the TBS Source One and Source Two line of frames have been made opensource, and would be a good place to start, as they have been optimized by community feedback through 5 revisions so far.
But if you haven't worked with carbon fiber before, it's got some serious heal concerns if done wrong, so do a lot of research. I work with carbon fiber and fiberglass. I have a cleanroom to do it in, and am working on a water table for a router to cut carbonfiber in
umbral hearth
If you have the means to cut carbon safely, then the plans for the TBS Source On...
I don't think V5 has public plans yet 😦
karmic steppe
I wonder how it os for planes aswell, are prebuilts cheaper than made ones?
quiet locust
I don't think V5 has public plans yet 😦
quiet locust
I wonder how it os for planes aswell, are prebuilts cheaper than made ones?
generally, yes. Or rather, pre cut frames.
to buy sheet carbon to cut a frame is about $30 right now. Plus the gloves, masks, and cleaning supplies you'll use doing the work. Frames can be bough for less than $30
quiet locust
Oh, these are unofficial
Hmm, it's suppose to be there. I just re-found Trappy's gethub page and the V5 isn't there. It might be worth emailing him to see if he will release it. it was suppose to be under opensource
@karmic steppe also, the screws, press nuts, and standoffs that come with frames usualy run $10 to $20 alone, if you try to source them out your self.
karmic steppe
Hmm makes me wonder if i should cancell my order on a 3D printer snd just purshase the parts or kir itself
umbral hearth
did you intend to 3D print a 5" drone frame?
quiet locust
3d printers are super handy for lots of reasons! 😁
But you realy can't print a frame. just the accesories
umbral hearth
3D printed frames work well for things that are NOT 5"
5" finds itself in kind of a deadspot of material properties
karmic steppe
Who said it needs to be such small?
umbral hearth
5" isn't exactly small @karmic steppe
that's the prop size
It's not big, it's kind of.. normal sized xD
quiet locust
they fail for things at 2" we tried to develop a frame, made many dozens of revisions. half the problem with development is a 3d printed 2" frame has so much flex and vibration that it was impossable to tell if the frame was good or not.
umbral hearth
I had a 5" 3d printed frame break because of thrust 😂
slammed full throttle and an arm slapped the frame
karmic steppe
Perhaps i can 3d print the prop then and buy a custom frame
umbral hearth
Perhaps i can 3d print the prop then and buy a custom frame
and you definitely can't 3D print propellers
that's even worse
quiet locust
The bigger the quad, the more expensive it gets, the more damage it does when it crashes, and over about 5", the harder it will be to fly anywhere that isn't the open countryside
karmic steppe
Well i saw someone on yt do it so i thought it was possible?
umbral hearth
Well i saw someone on yt do it so i thought it was possible?
yeah the whole video was about how shit they were iirc
karmic steppe
Well atleat i can 3d print a new grip for my joystick or a cover ror my rasberrt pi
umbral hearth
for drones, the most common 3D printed parts are holders and protectors
camera holders, receiver holders, arm protectors, etc
all out of TPU (so direct drive is recommended)
quiet locust
the amount of science that goes into a prop design isn't something an armature could do and have it be good, even if 3d printing would work. it takes an aeronautical engineering team years to get the background to make a good prop design
umbral hearth
an armature
there are actually good prop designs available in 3D form
printing them would require a very good SLA printer
quiet locust
I can't type today! I blame my nails! 😆
umbral hearth
and they'd be weaker than bought anyway
karmic steppe
I was planning on getting a premade prop and print it not make rhe design myself
And im on phone so thats for my typing..
umbral hearth
yeah but if you have a FDM printer, then you'll never get anything near well balanced or resilient
quiet locust
I don't have that excuse 😄
karmic steppe
Well as long as it works im happy 🙂
quiet locust
I've blown apart props in normal flying, that were not 3d printed. they're under an enormous amount of stress
karmic steppe
Tell it to relax a bit then 🙂
quiet locust
😆
karmic steppe
So what can you print then that dosnt break?
quiet locust
The camera mounts, the antenna mounts, the arm guards, the reciever and VTX holders.
usualy out of TPU
I usualy end up desiging my own antenna and camera mounts, then printing them my self
karmic steppe
So you purshase frame snd print the holders etc?
quiet locust
Usualy. many come with printed TPU parts, but I like to pick my own color and design
umbral hearth
you purchase a 3D printer and print parts for all of your drone friends 
karmic steppe
Who said i have friends? 😄
quiet locust
quiet locust
I designed and printed all the TPU parts for this.
quiet locust
the frame is a standard Race frame. Pyrodrone Hyperlite V1.1. 2 pieces + 4 standoffs.
thanks! 😆
With a 3d printer, you can turn about any frame into anything you want it to be.
karmic steppe
So if you find a good drone frame online you better purshase it pre made instead of printing it even if you are not designing ir?
quiet locust
It's the best idea.
OR! you can get them custom cut by places like CNCmadness.com
umbral hearth
Didn't Armattan also offer cutting services?