Any one into drones or Quadcopters?

[bluerock]

Is anyone on the forum into Quadcopters etc?
I fancy investing in one of these DJI Phantoms and wonder if they are the best value. Any advice appreciated.

If I had more dosh I think this Octocopter would be the best.

 

[wonder_lander]

I bought 60% of the parts I need to build one from scratch but it's all still sitting in the garage untouched!

Good luck with whatever you do!

 

[jasman]

Just bought a Hubsan X4 a week ago. I started out with one of the cheapest quadcopters on the market to get the hang of flying these things and intend to get something better later on.

At first it seemed practically impossible to keep it steady, but then I realised they had shipped it with the propellers installed on the wrong axes (the 4 propellers are not all the same). After switching them around it was much easier and I picked it up pretty quickly after that.

Then got a bit too confident and flew it about 50ft up and it brushed against a branch of a tree, lost control and plummeted. Even though it landed on a stone slab, it's fine apart from one of the axes which got bent.

I was pleased to discover you can get spare axes, propellers, LEDs etc for a just a few quid too. Pretty glad I didn't start off with an expensive model anyway!

 

[anthony]

www.team-blacksheep.com/

These guys don't rip you off.

 

[bluerock]

Just bought a Hubsan X4 a week ago. I started out with one of the cheapest quadcopters on the market to get the hang of flying these things and intend to get something better later on.

At first it seemed practically impossible to keep it steady, but then I realised they had shipped it with the propellers installed on the wrong axes (the 4 propellers are not all the same). After switching them around it was much easier and I picked it up pretty quickly after that.

Then got a bit too confident and flew it about 50ft up and it brushed against a branch of a tree, lost control and plummeted. Even though it landed on a stone slab, it's fine apart from one of the axes which got bent.

I was pleased to discover you can get spare axes, propellers, LEDs etc for a just a few quid too. Pretty glad I didn't start off with an expensive model anyway!

LOL thats why you did the right thing and started off with a cheapy model. Think I'll try one of those first.

 

[bluerock]

www.team-blacksheep.com/

These guys don't rip you off.

Have you dealt with them before?

 

[anthony]

Have you dealt with them before?

Not personally, but I guy I worked with had a kit shipped over. I think he paid something like two grand for it, which seemed a lot to me, but he assured me it was great value for money.

I've lost touch with him since our employer went bust, but I'll try pinning him down for some opinion. If successful, I'll forward it to you.

 

[bluerock]

Not personally, but I guy I worked with had a kit shipped over. I think he paid something like two grand for it, which seemed a lot to me, but he assured me it was great value for money.

I've lost touch with him since our employer went bust, but I'll try pinning him down for some opinion. If successful, I'll forward it to you.

Thanks Anthony, really appreciated.

 

[bluerock]

I've seen the DJI and it looks great however a friend of mine is glad he started off with a cheapie because it didn't take him long to lose it in the grounds of a military base close to the open space he was flying it. The wind can turn on you and blow the thing off course. He's replaced it with a slightly better model but isn't going to spend £1k on a DJI until he feels he's very confident controlling it.

The trouble with these things is they seem great in theory until you realise you are not permitted to fly them within 50m of a structure (Google Robert Knowles of Barrow-in-Furness for the first conviction of someone that did). There was also a photographer from Lancashire that received a caution for using a drone fitted with a camera to take photographs for commercial use (that requires a licence).

You can fly them out in open spaces but, personally, that seems like it could become quite boring rather quickly. In my view being able to fly close to structures to take photographs would make owning one more interesting than flying one around in circle out in the open taking pictures of the ground.

In theory I'd like one and I live close to a decent sized open space where I could fly it. In reality, after a couple of hours flying it around that open space I think the fascination might be over.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Thanks Invincible, that was an interesting post.
I know a few high end estate agents and they struggle to get people to do the aerial stuff so thats what Ive got planned after getting CAA approval. A couple of years ago I looked at a LR Defender that was equipped with a telescopic tower with a camera attached at the top. Apart from a helicopter charter that was how things were done. Im glad I didnt go for it as thats now so out of date. I agree unless you are looking to do it commercially you could get a little bored.

 

[bluerock]

The trouble with these things is they seem great in theory until you realise you are not permitted to fly them within 50m of a structure (Google Robert Knowles of Barrow-in-Furness for the first conviction of someone that did).

Heres this guys video that incriminated himself. Apparently he videod his reg plate when taking off! You actually see the plane land in the sea as he lost control of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hriyv8WRHg4

 

[retired_member36]

Heres a video my mate has recently put together with his DJI Phantom 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxJk-zwE0aw

 

[mally]

Heres a video my mate has recently put together with his DJI Phantom 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxJk-zwE0aw

Some cracking footage there

 

[Simon]

http://www.quest-pods.com/packages

If your looking to spend some proper money...

I did a degree in Remote Sensing and GIS and took some modules in aerial surveying. Would love the "agri package" for precision agriculture purposes but there would be a lot more costs in running a business based round it. :cry:

 

[denchomsky]

I own dronies_co_uk , think it's about time to develop, dronie videos, drones and spare parts.