Syma Forum

Syma Freak said

I looked at the Husban 501-S the other day, nice looking quad with brushless motors , for a cost of around $300 is not to excessive with having gps and fpv.The other problem is trying to view your flight looking at the remote video feed is a pain to me as so hard to see in sunlight, goggles are better, however it does have a shader to pull up on remote.I noticed a few people saying it flew out the box with out having to update the firmware, I feel it will be some time to get a quad with gps etc that will not need to be put on a computer to upgrade and set.

I have a old DJI Phantom and at times I have to update firmware or reset after a crash, I must admit can be trying as to be really safe you need to remove all the props and often the quad will not recognize a update. Things will eventuate on the style of quadcopter you want as most people like you just want to fly out of the box not to have to take a laptop to the park to tweak things.

Syma needs to push into the quadcopter market a bit more with changing to brushless motors etc, i must admit have had huge fun with my X5C, now imagine that upgraded with all the bells and whistles would sell well, would it need computer tinkering I guess so at this stage.  

Yes.  Exactly what I have in mind -- an x5c with all the goodies and no computer tinkering requirement.  And the way this industry is moving forward I'm confident we'll soon be seeing something like that.  I always look to Syma because my experience with the 107 and the x5c has shown me they have the right idea.  

Hello, S/F.

In keeping with my intention to wait for this extremely competitive drone industry to introduce something with all the desirable features of the latest DJI and Yuneec models -- but at affordable cost and without all the requisite computer-tinkering; Hubsan has marketed the 501-S, which is a well-designed, apparently well-made drone that features GPS, altitude-hold, FPV, headless and follow-me modes, a nice camera, 1/2 mile range and 20 minute flight time.  The price is below $300 and I was leaning forward until I checked on some reviews at Amazon and learned there is a computer-tinkering (firmware updating) requirement -- which switched me off like a blown fuse.  

I'm recalling the early computer days when one needed to write a few lines of code to get from the opening screen of MS-DOS to any of the four or five available applications.   It appears the dronesmiths have mastered the electronics and the nano-mechanics of quads sufficiently to mimic the sophisticated performance of the $1,000+ versions but they haven't managed to eliminate the need for "firmware" updating -- which is anathema to computer dummies like me.  

I would like very much to fly a GPS controlled drone with a few other sophisticated features, but not enough to get involved with all the downloading this and that and moving this and that and the inevitable frustration of failure and so on.  For me, that aggravation is comparable to moving back to the computer technology of the mid-80s.  

If Syma is listening, PLEASE release a drone with all the features of the Hubsan 501-S but without the software-tinkering requirement.  I want to take it out of the box, put the batteries in, calibrate the compass (that part is okay) -- and fly it!  PLEASE find a software engineer who can create a chip that eliminates the need for "firmware updates."  

Syma Freak said
Hi MK,

Correct the Syma X5C is a great Syma Quadcopter to progress with. I did a review on the Syma X5WH that has fpv but only for smart phone, know not that hard to have a transmitter to use say on fatshark goggles, pretty sure this will be available soon  

Hello, S/F.

Re: the smart-phone requirement.  This is one very big reason why I've never gone ahead and bought a Phantom.  I have a basic flip-phone, which is all I need.  Adding a phone to the cost of a drone and having to clip it onto the controller is a major turn-off for me.  

The Yuneec Typhoon has a really nice controller with a built-in 7" display.  But it's $1,400, which is a bit over my budget, especially now that I've decided to wait for industry competition to put out a good drone with all the major features and price it in the $500 - $600 range -- and I have no doubt that it's coming.  

Right now there are a number of toy-grade quads (and one hexacopter) available with fpv, altitude-hold and RTH for around $75.  I have one and it's very impressive compared to what was available just one year ago.  If my JXD509g had GPS, greater range, 20+ minute flight time, and were priced at around $200 - $250 it would be exactly what a lot of people are looking for.  I'm sure something like that will soon be available and I'm surprised Syma hasn't come out with it yet.  

Hello, S/F.

Good hearing from you.  In keeping with your projection that Syma will probably introduce a quad with all the goodies like GPS, altitude-hold, RTH and built-in FPV, all for around $200, I agree.  That's what I intend to wait for -- and I don't think the wait will be that long.  Considering the parade of competitive advances we've seen in just the past year it won't be long before the full package will be available in the $200 - $300 price range.  

I was thinking the Syma X5c is the perfect platform to expand on.  

Hello, everyone,

It's been awhile since my last meandering, so I'll bring anyone who might be interested up to date.

A couple of months ago my neighbor saw me flying my X5c and told me his son had "got one of those he paid a thousand dollars for."  When that raised my eyebrow he told me his son was coming to visit on Sunday and he'd ask him to bring his drone, which by description sounded to me like a Phantom.  

That Sunday his son, Ted, shows up with a sad tale in place of the expected drone.  It seems what he'd had was indeed a Phantom 3 Professional.  He told me it worked only nominally with his smart-phone, which was too small.  So he bought an Apple tablet for $275 and that worked very well.  He said he'd had to do a bit of computer tinkering to get the drone set up to fly.  He said he believed the reason why most people, including him, run into problems is human nature in that the first time you get your drone in the air you tend to keep it within 50' height and 50 yards range.  Next time you increase that cautious limitation to 100' height and 200 yard range.  As confidence grows that gradual expansion continues until the invitation to disaster is finally accepted.

Ted said after about a month of daily adventures with his Phantom he decided to fly it under a bridge at Long Beach Island, then turn around and come back over the bridge.  But he'd gotten cocky and wasn't thinking of one very critical factor: when he flew under the bridge the gps sensor lost contact with the satellites and his drone started to sharply drift.  When he panicked and hit RTH the drone rose straight up, bounced off the bottom of the bridge -- and he watched a thousand dollars tumble and splash into the Atlantic inlet, and sink.   

That's why I haven't been around in a while.  That sad tale was all it took to cancel my already wavering intention to buy a Phantom.  If something like that happened to me I would become catatonic.  So the $960 difference between the Phantom and my X5c, plus the need to buy an Apple mini-tablet, plus the required computer tinkering, plus the imposing new FAA regulations, have combined to put my intention to fly-with-the-big-guys to rest.  

Rather than risk spending that kind of money on a possible disappointment (or tragic mishap) I've decided to wait for the rapidly advancing evolution of this technology to produce what I want at reasonable cost.  Again, my first computer cost $2000 and was a toy compared to what is available today for $300.  And while my first VCR cost $850 it wasn't nearly as good as the last one I bought for $150.  

About two months ago I bought a JXD-509g drone, which is about 1/3 the size of the Yuneec Q500 but otherwise is physically identical to it.  This little visual knock-off comes with an FPV monitor which attaches to the controller and provides surprisingly clear images.  In addition to that it is equipped with barometric altitude hold, which effectively eliminates the need to control altitude while flying.  Overall the 509g is a very stable flyer with two downsides:  one is jello effect of the camera, the other is three minute flying time with the camera connected (twice that with the camera disconnected).  While I paid $125 for my 509g I recently saw them advertised for under $100.  

So my position now is waiting and watching.  I don't have a smart phone, nor do I want one, and I don't like tinkering with the software requirements of the presently advanced drones.  So while we now have access to quality FPV, efficient altitude hold and relatively stable flight for under $100, competition in the drone industry is severe and I'm anticipating addition of budget-priced gps next.  

rbethman said
MikeK,

You do have the FPV options with Phantoms.  The biggest issue is the price point.  You won't do it under $1K as far as I can see.

They do have a 7" FPV system with a sunshade.  So far I have been flying with a Samsung Galaxy S5.  The only real advantage with the FPV is seeing what the camera sees, and all the telemetry is also displayed with altitude, speed, number of satellites locked, and the different battery levels.

Smartphones are not all that computer like in most ways.  I get more use out of it flying than otherwise.

The other thing it gives me is a complete record of the entire flight.  I can load it into my computer and then see the Lat., Long., altitude, speed, and all the other recorded elements of the flight telemetry.

Still flying when the weather permits.  Haven't changed rotor blades to the fiberglass filled nylon yet.  I've had a bunch of other things going on around here.  Like getting rid over 30 inches of snow, managing to strain the right knee ligaments in the process, and now waiting for the darn winds to die down some!

I've been getting avg. of 11 to 12 MPH, current @ 14 - 16, with peaks hitting 20+.  Not going to fly in those conditions!  Even on Hover Lock it would eat up battery like crazy to hover!

Keep them flying!

Old Sarge

Sarge,

You mention, "they" do have an FPV system with a sunshade."  Do you mean Yuneec?  I know the Yuneec Typhoon Q500 has a 7" screen with a pop-on sunshade.  

The Yuneec Typhoon is a good-looking drone.  The price is $1,000.  It comes with a carrying case an extra battery and a handle for using the gimbal-controlled camera.  But reading the customer reviews tells me the Yuneec is subject to a couple of problems.  Those reviews suggest that if you order a Yuneec you have a 50/50 chance of getting one with problems.  You either get a lemon or a peach.  

Based on what I've read, Yuneec's customer service is excellent while DJI's couldn't be worse.  Both companies are China based and sending a drone in for repair involves a substantial shipping cost and an average month to six-week wait for return.  That fact alone is discouraging and I'm not aware of any domestic full-service dealers for either brand.  The Apple stores sell DJI but they do not service them.  

Re: DJI prices:  They just released Phantom 4.  The price is around $1,300.  What I've read is the only really significant new feature is object avoidance: If there's something in your flight path Phantom 4 will sense it from 25' distance and it stops, waiting for you to redirect it. That is a worthwhile feature and I read Yuneec is working on a 360 degree version of object avoidance that will sense 20' proximity anywhere near the drone, not only in front of it, which is good if you're flying near buildings or trees and there is wind.  

The price of Phantom 3 Professional was just reduced to $1,000.  Phantom 3 Advanced is $800.  The Standard is $500.