Today we are reviewing the FuriBee VR01 FPV Goggles. Before the details, I’ll give you my bottom line: I love these goggles!
You can get the FuriBee VR01 FPV Goggles at GearBest. If you are new to FPV, you should check out our FPV Goggles guide.
The FuriBee VR01 consists of a 4.3 inch non-blue screen mounted in a hard plastic case, a 5.8GHz 40-channel RaceBand video receiver and two antennas
Specifications
- Screen size: 4.3 inches (diagonal)
- Resolution: 480 x 272
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- TV system: NTSC and PAL
- Frequency: 5.8GHz
- Channels: 40 channels, including RaceBand
- Operating voltage: 7 – 23V DC
- Compatible battery: 2S 520mAh – 3S 2200mAh (not included)
- Service time: about 3 hours with 2S 520mAh; more than 18 hours with 3S 2200mAh
- Sensitivity: -90dBi
- Antenna gain: 4dBi mushroom antenna; 4dBi planar antenna (included)
- Connector type: RP-SMA
- DVR function: no
- Product weight: 248 grams (without antennas or strap)
- Product size (L x W x H): 15.50 x 14.40 x 11.30 cm / 6.1 x 5.67 x 4.45 inches
Important note: The video Rx has two antenna connectors but it is NOT a diversity video receiver.
What’s in the Box
- VR01 Googles
- Circular polarized antenna (RHCP)
- Planar antenna
- AV Cable (video only)
- Power cable (JST connector to 3.5mm L-connector)
- Manual
Assembling the FPV Goggles
The FuriBee VR01 goggles come mostly pre-assembled. The only thing you need to do is to attach the antennas, and plug in the battery. (The strap was pre-installed.)
It doesn’t matter which sides you put the two antennas on. When flying indoors, I’ve used the goggles with only the mushroom antenna (on either side), and it seems to work fine.
The power cable is 0.75 m (~30 inches), so you could put the battery in your pocket if desired. I use a light-weight, 2s 600mAh lipo and attach the battery the bottom of the goggles with a hook-and-loop fastener (and left the cable “twist-tied” up.) There is a small clip on the side of the goggles to hold the cable.
General Use of the Goggles
Using the VR01 couldn’t be simpler: Power up the video transmitter on your quad, plug in the battery on the goggles, and hit the “Search” button on the left (if necessary – the receiver in the goggles remembers the last channel used.)
You can use the manual channel selection buttons on the right if the scan misses your channel (see scan testing below).
I haven’t tested the “Video in/Audio out” feature yet – I may use this port later for DVR playback when I add a DVR. (Operation of the Menu/Source control is covered below.)
Size and Fit
The size and weight of the VR01 goggles is one of their better features. Compared to my Quanum V2 goggles, they are much smaller, lighter, and more comfortable to wear.
The foam is comfortable on my face and the only light allowed in is around the nose where there is no foam (I will add some foam to block the bit of light there).
I also wear glasses and the VR01 goggles fit perfectly over those. (I don’t wear huge glasses, so be aware that your glasses might interfere a bit.)
The FuriBee goggles weigh in at 298 grams – my Quanum‘s are 462 grams (all antennas attached, but no batteries). The weight difference can be attributed to the smaller screen of the VR01 (4.3” vs 5”), but I actually don’t find this to be a negative.
The straps on the VR01’s are lighter-duty than on the Quanum’s, but they are easy to adjust, both on the sides and the top, and are sufficient to hold the weight of the goggles.
Here’s a side-by-side size comparison of the VR01 and Quanum V2:
“Auto Search” Feature Testing
To test the “Search” (scan) feature, I first set the VTx on my quad to channel E8 (5945). This channel is the farthest away from the next-nearest channel. Note: In the documentation this is called E8 (third row). In the goggles however, it displayed as C8 (the goggles displayed as A,B,C,D,R instead of A,B,E,F,R).
I tested at 2 meters and at 10 meters. In multiple scans for this frequency, it always stopped at the correct channel and never at a nearby channel.
Next, I set the VTx to Channel F8 (D8 – 5880). This is also the frequency of R7. At both 3 meters and 10 meters the scan stopped at both D8 and R7, but it also stopped at nearby channels in A and B. However, it was obvious that it wasn’t a good channel and hitting the scan button again continued the scan without passing the correct frequency.
The test used a 25mW VTx. I was pleased at the accuracy of the “Search” feature.
Menu/Source Function
The M/SRC button allows you to change the video source and to adjust things such as brightness, contrast, etc. A quick press changes the source to the AV input (and there is a blue screen here if no external video is detected). Another quick press returns to video receiver mode. In either mode, a long press of the button brings up the following menu.
Scroll through the menu using short presses of the M/SRC button. Adjust settings up or down (or exit) using the Band and Channel buttons. Note: the menu exits automatically after 3 seconds of inactivity.
Video Quality and Range
I will demonstrate the quality and range with an actual video. The video was captured with a Mobius 2 camera positioned inside the goggles. The 25mW VTx was mounted on a quad that I carried in my hands around my property. Measurements were taken with a GPS app on my phone. It was about 20 degrees Fahrenheit when I made the video so the goggles are placed inside a warm house, near a window. Suffice it to say, it was not ideal conditions for a test like this.
The path I followed took me initially about 80 degrees left of the planar antenna, through and around a garage, and finally nearer the center of the planar antenna’s field-of-view out to about 80-90 meters from the goggles. There are various obstacles that the signal had to traverse (garage, garden shed, various trees, etc). Most of the way out, my body was between the quad and the Rx and blocked the signal pretty severely, so I cut out some of that footage. On the way back, I regained a usable signal at about 70 meters out. There was a lot of brush and trees where I tested, so the video cuts out pretty often. I also didn’t get very good shots of my distance app, but I thought I’d go ahead and post this anyway. (It was bitter cold, so I will wait for warmer weather to test outdoors again.). Interestingly the video signal as I went “around” the house wasn’t too bad.
Keep in mind that the VTx was 25mW and I was carrying the quad by hand in poor conditions, so the video may not be a very accurate indication of the quality of these goggles. The test was also performed with the included antennas. In any case, hopefully it will give you an idea of what you might expect if you decide to get your own.
Pros
- Size and Fit (comfortable over glasses)
- Price (a bargain for what’s included)
- Durable shell (no DIY foam build)
- 2 decent antennas (no rubber duckies)
- Plug and fly (no real assembly required)
- Search/Scan feature works well
- No “blue screen” while flying
- No ugly wiring harness encircling your head (I just hate that)
Cons
- No DVR (I’ve got plans to add one)
- No focal length adjustment (but I didn’t feel like it needed it)
- Even though there are “Duo Antennas”, the Rx is not true diversity (hard to expect for the price)
Final Thoughts
I haven’t tried the VR01 with my 200mW quads. I am expecting the signal to be much cleaner and give much better range. I am anxious to try this to see if they meet my expectations. (I am also anxious to try some different antennas.) The goggles as-is work great for indoor use, even using only the provided circular polarized antenna. They are worth the $54 US for that alone. They will also make a great ride-along set.
Even though the resolution is only 480×272, I thought the video quality was very good (as long as the signal was within an appropriate range). I never felt like the 4.3” screen was “too small”.
For a first set, or an indoor set, I definitely recommend the FuriBee VR01 FPV Goggles from GearBest. I plan on using these goggles as my main set whenever I can. I love these goggles!