Drone suggestion

[ovrszd]

Did you try it? At 60 fps you get very smooth video when you pan around. 30 fps can be jerky on a lot of play-backs.

Next time out I'll try it. Thanks!!!

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I guess Rob that your best move would be to find somebody with a drone to test fly at your place. That's about the only way to find out for sure.

Here is my video of our local village.

Nice video

 

[newbury]

Well I gave up and ordered a Mavic Mini bundle from Costco for $390.
https://www.costco.com/dji-mavic-mini-bundle---gray.product.100652321.html
With recent experiences in stuff "slowing" down at the Post Office and load getting dumped on other shippers I wanted to get that this summer.

Well ordered on the 16th from Costco, delivered on the 24th, charged and flying on the 25th.

Looks like I better get the ladder out and clean off a roof.
Good pictures and I've found out there is software to do waypoints.

/edit -
One thing I noticed was it's a little underpowered to blow leaves off my driveway, had to make 3 passes.

 

[5030]

Careful with those tree branches. Drones and branches don't get along well. My wife says mine sound like a bumble bee. You did good. I waited 2 months for my Autel.

 

[5030]

Don't like water either. Does bad things to the electronics.

 

[Alien]

I have returned my FIMI X8 SE for a refund. I loved the drone BUT the range was not what they claimed. It is supposed to get up to 8 klm but I could not get more than 900 meters maximum before it went into RTH.
Some people seem to get the range but others have had problems and had drones replaced.
I found FIMI Customer Service to be atrocious for a drone with 1 year warranty. I had trouble getting any communication with them at all. so I requested a refund and they eventually obliged.
I am disappointed as I really liked the drone and it flew extremely well. It was just the range issue. No good to me.

 

[dragoneggs]

I suppose it is the old adage, you get what you pay for. The FIMI looks sort of a knock off to DJI Mavics. I spent a lot more on my Mavic 2 Pro but I sure like it. Zero issues. Expensive toy for me. I keep thinking I could make some money with it but I don't have the time to invest.

 

[BigBlue1]

I have returned my FIMI X8 SE for a refund. I loved the drone BUT the range was not what they claimed. It is supposed to get up to 8 klm but I could not get more than 900 meters maximum before it went into RTH.
Some people seem to get the range but others have had problems and had drones replaced.
I found FIMI Customer Service to be atrocious for a drone with 1 year warranty. I had trouble getting any communication with them at all. so I requested a refund and they eventually obliged.
I am disappointed as I really liked the drone and it flew extremely well. It was just the range issue. No good to me.

Sorry to hear that. I was pretty close to buying one but the research I did turned up a lot of comments like yours. That it didn't live up to the specs and customer service was challenging. I'd like to get back into a drone that can be easy to operate and control the camera (remote view) but not $1200 worth that it seems like it would take for a DJI.

Rob

 

[Alien]

Well I will wait for the farm to sell and then start looking again. Just wanted to update everyone.
Most folk are happy with theirs and can get service where I could not. Must not like talking to upside down people.
Anyway I just got a new RC plane today and have another coming next week so I have plenty to keep me occupied.

 

[dragoneggs]

Well I will wait for the farm to sell and then start looking again. Just wanted to update everyone.
Most folk are happy with theirs and can get service where I could not. Must not like talking to upside down people.
Anyway I just got a new RC plane today and have another coming next week so I have plenty to keep me occupied.

View attachment 671661

That looks like fun... been 30+ years since I built and played with RC airplanes. Good to see it is still a thing.

 

[Alien]

Things have changed a lot dragoneggs. I am almost over (Well I AM over) designing/building planes. ARFs are cheap now, well built and cost less than buying materials and starting from scratch. The new radios are brilliant too. That plane will take a max of 2 hours to fit the motor and gear. Love it.
Been building since primary school. I started with chuckies.

 

[5030]

I think you'll like it and... It's the right color too Richard. In a way, I'm sorry I bought the EVO instead of the EVO II but the EVO does everything I need. Least you didn't opt for the thermal imaging (FLIR) option. That puts the II in the ballpark of 5 grand, a bit mich for the hobby droner.

LIPO batteries all seem to peter put after while but I do believe that the packs are rebuildable. You might want to join Autel Pilots . Com. Lots of good stuff on there, good video's and many experienced pilots too. I'm a member there as well as Tello Pilots . Com as I also have a pocket drone. The Tello is a hoot to fly and you can carry it in your pocket and it flies entirely on a cell phone. Lots of fun for cheap.

 

[Alien]

Yeah, I was thinking the batteries may be re-buildable as well. I watched some vids on the Evo II Dustin Dunnill on you tube did a test on it.

Autel EVO 2 Flight Test Review IN-DEPTH - How good is it...REALLY!? - YouTube


Might have to change my engine to a smaller one. LOL VERY little prop / ground clearance.

 

[Alien]

Holy Smokes! Good way to run a business but it may be a warning for you re their customer service?

 

[5030]

Yeah, I was thinking the batteries may be re-buildable as well. I watched some vids on the Evo II Dustin Dunnill on you tube did a test on it.

Autel EVO 2 Flight Test Review IN-DEPTH - How good is it...REALLY!? - YouTube


Might have to change my engine to a smaller one. LOL VERY little prop / ground clearance.


View attachment 671727

Possibly a smaller 3 blade?? Nice engine. Came a long way from the old Cox 049's.

 

[5030]

I'm pretty sure service will be thru Autel Robotics. I've dealt with them over the years and have always gotten very good service.

I think Autel Pilots is simply a distributor.

I thought it odd that Autel Robotics said they were "out of stock" on this Drone. And Autel Pilots said they had it in stock and could ship today.

Don't crash it and you won't need service Richard.....

Believe it or not, I have not crashed my EVO I yet. I spent all my 'crashing' time with the Tello and it's very crash worthy. Buddy was flying it in his living room the other day and crashed it in his wife's hair. Not a good scene. The Tello is amazingly stout and it comes with prop guards. I did some 'tree trimming' with it. Best 135 bucks I ever spent. Beats crashing the high buck Autel.

So, when does it come?

 

[5030]

Have no idea. Couldn't complete order yesterday. Ball is in their court now. I'm sure there will be no progress until Monday. If then.

I've got a log on with Autel Pilots Forum. Not sure if Autelpilots.com sales is connected to Autel Pilots Forum or not.

No, not at all. They may advertise on the site (paid advertiser), but that is all. Lots of good stuff on there. In fact I've gotten stuff from a couple of their advertisers. One always needs 'stuff'.

I wonder if Autel Robotics is still in lockdown and everyone operating remotely. It was last time I called them for something. Everyone was teleworking.

I always wonder about supply chain issues. After all Autel Robotics is merely a repair facility and distributes the EVO's that are shipped to them via overseas containers. Right now, China isn't all that prompt about shipping stuff. I will day the tech are knowledgeable and helpful when you call them. My EVO operates flawlessly but then I don't ask it to do insane stuff. I don't even fly in 'Ludricous' mode. To fast for this old fart

 

[Alien]

5030
It is a Saito petrol 4 stroke. Very handy. I ran out of chainsaw fuel the other day so I filled it up with my Saito petrol and carried on. LOL

 

[5030]

5030
It is a Saito petrol 4 stroke. Very handy. I ran out of chainsaw fuel the other day so I filled it up with my Saito petrol and carried on. LOL

Pretty neat. Amazing how advanced they (engines) have become since the old 049's with the spring assist start and a sore finger. You say it's a 4 stroke? Does it have a crankcase with lube oil in it too? I was on Bangood the other day looking at the minature hit and miss engines that fit in your hand for 250 bucks. Amazing. Are they still glo plug ignition or something different?

 

[Alien]

5030
Mine is high voltage spark ignition and has a spark plug.
You can now buy glow plug petrol engines but they are close to $1000 (Australian) There are some reasonably priced glow engines out there but once you go to petrol there is no going back. LOL. Saito also make excellent glow 4 strokes.
I tried running mine on a (special) glow plug without the ign system and it ran quite well but idle was a bit unreliable.
I have a FG-11C and a FG-14C, both 4 strokes. They use very little fuel. I can fly for an hour on about 8 oz of fuel with the FG-11. I flew 4 times on Saturday on one tank.
Glow fuel is getting quite expensive and very hard to procure nitro methane in some countries. Hence the popularity of petrol engines, albeit a lot more expensive initially than a glow engine. Running costs make up for that.

I might add that the Glow Plug Petrol engines have a special platinum element that causes a catalytic reaction with the fuel to help keep them hot.

The oil mix in the fuel goes through the crankcase to lubricate the conrod and bearings. There is a crankcase drain nipple for excess oil.
The petrol carburettor has a built in pump unlike the glow engines. A new carb is around $200.

My next engine will be a 3 cylinder radial petrol 4 stroke 19CC. There are 5 cylinder radials as well and in fact pretty much anything you can think of.