How to Build an FPV Drone Tutorial (DJI & Analog)

by Oscar
How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Analog 3d Printed Parts

In this comprehensive tutorial, I’ll walk you through the process of building an FPV drone from scratch, providing detailed guidance for both analogue and digital FPV systems. We’ll cover everything from selecting the right components, to wiring and assembly, and even share insider tips and tricks to ensure you have a reliable and enjoyable FPV drone experience.

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. I receive a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these affiliate links. This helps support the free content for the community on this website. Please read our Affiliate Link Policy for more information.

Can Beginner Build FPV Drones?

Without a doubt, beginners can absolutely build FPV drones even without any experience!

Sure, it might be tempting to simply purchase a ready-made drone off the shelf, but where’s the fun in that? By assembling your very own drone from scratch, you’ll not only gain valuable knowledge about how each component fits together, but you’ll also be better equipped to repair it should anything go wrong.

Now, I won’t sugar coat it – building your first FPV drone is going to be challenging, and it might take hours or even days to complete. But fear not! Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to seek guidance from seasoned pilots online or, if you’re feeling adventurous, navigate the learning process through trial and error. In the end, the sense of accomplishment and the skills you acquire will make the journey incredibly rewarding. So, let’s dive in and embrace the challenges ahead!

Mastering the Basics

Before we embark on this exciting tutorial, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the basics of a quadcopter. To start, ensure you have a basic understanding of what an FPV drone entails by checking out our introductory guide:Getting Started with FPV Drone.

As you delve deeper into the world of FPV drones, you may encounter various acronyms and technical jargon. Don’t let these terms intimidate you! Simply refer to our comprehensive glossary: Decoding Acronyms and Technical Terms in FPV.

With these resources at your fingertips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming an FPV drone aficionado in no time.


Parts List

In this tutorial, we’ll be using the following parts to guide you through the FPV drone building process. I just want to make it clear that the links provided are affiliate links. Making a purchase through these links won’t incur any additional costs for you, but it will provide me with a small commission. This support helps keep this blog running and allows me to continue sharing my passion for FPV drones with you.

If you have a small budget, here is a list of the cheapest 5″ drone parts in 2023.

If you want more options, here is a list of parts that I recommend.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Parts List Analog.jpg

Analog Build

Frame TBS Source One V5 GetFPV | Amazon | AliExpress
FC / ESC Speedybee F405 V3 + BLS 50A 4in1 ESC GetFPV | RDQ | Amazon | AliEx
Motors 4x iFlight Xing2 2207 1855KV Banggood | GetFPV | Amazon
Propellers 4x HQ 5×4.3×3 V2S RDQ | GetFPV | AliExpress
Receiver Radiomaster RP1 ExpressLRS GetFPV | Banggood | RM
FPV Camera Caddx Ratel 2 Banggood | GetFPV | RDQ
VTX Speedybee TX800 RDQ | GetFPV | AliExpress
Misc. Part Battery Strap (20x220mm) Banggood | GetFPV | RDQ
Optional Upgrade VTX Antenna NewBeeDrone | RDQ

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Parts List Dji Digital

Essential Tools and Supplies

To successfully build your FPV drone, you’ll need the following tools and supplies. Some of these items may already be in your toolkit, while others can be easily found online or at your local hardware store:

For those truly passionate about the hobby, here’s a comprehensive list of tools that you may find invaluable on your FPV drone-building journey.

The Frame

Tbs Source One V5 Fpv Drone Frame Front

A frame is a sturdy structure that holds all the components.

For this tutorial, I’ve selected the latest Source One V5 frame, an excellent choice due to its affordability and open-source nature. The design has evolved over time, thanks to constant updates from the dedicated community, ensuring compatibility with current hardware, and optimizing performance and usability. Check out my detailed review of the TBS Source One V5 frame here.

Another great advantage of the Source One is the plethora of free 3D printing designs available on Thingiverse. These designs allow you to enhance and customize your FPV drone build even further.

FC and ESC

Speedybee F405 V3 Fc Esc Stack

Selecting an “FC stack” – which includes both a flight controller board and a 4in1 ESC board – is a wise choice for beginners. With minimal soldering required, these stacks are often plug-and-play, making assembly smooth and straightforward.

For this tutorial, I’ve opted for the Speedybee F405 V4 stack, one of the best value stacks on the market in 2024. It boasts an array of features, including built-in Bluetooth for Betaflight configuration via your phone, and much more! Check out my in-depth review of the Speedybee F405 V4 here.

If, for some reason, you’re unable to acquire the Speedybee F405 V4, don’t fret! Here are my other flight controller recommendations to suit your needs.

Motors

Iflight Xing2 2207 2306 Motors Fpv Drone

While popular motors of similar sizes often have comparable performance, the key differentiator typically lies in their build quality. For a 5″ FPV drone, motor sizes such as 2306, 2207, and 2208 are all viable options – here’s an explanation of why I’ve selected 2207 for this tutorial.

Another important factor to consider is motor KV, which is determined by battery voltage. For 6S LiPo, KV values ranging from 1600 to 1900 are common, with higher KV values providing more aggressive and power-hungry performance. In this build, we’re using 1855KV motors, as I plan to use 6S LiPo battery. While 4S builds are also popular, I personally prefer 6S over 4S for these reasons.

In this post, you’ll find a list of other motors I recommend – each of which delivers impressive performance.

FPV Setup

Currently, the two most popular FPV systems are analog and DJI. In this tutorial, we’ll cover the installation and setup for both systems.

Keep in mind that there are other digital FPV systems available, such as HDZero and Walksnail Avatar. The wiring and setup for these systems are largely similar to DJI, so this tutorial remains applicable.

For the analog build, we’ll be using the Speedybee TX800, an affordable and high-performance VTX that easily mounts in the Source One frame. If it’s unavailable to you, here are other VTX options I recommend.

Speedybee Tx800 Vtx Video Transmitter

For the DJI build, our choice is the Runcam Link VTX and Wasp Camera combo.

There’s a wide variety of DJI-compatible cameras on the market, each with its own pros and cons. In short, if you’re after the best daytime image quality, I’d recommend the Nebula Pro, which has image quality almost identical to the original DJI camera. However, it’s often out of stock and performs poorly in low-light conditions. For better low-light performance, the Caddx Polar is an excellent choice, but it lacks a low latency mode (120FPS). The Runcam Wasp offers a balanced option with decent image quality, low-light performance, and the ability to operate in 120FPS low latency mode. While it isn’t a perfect camera, it boasts features that are, in my opinion, not deal breakers. Make sure to read my review to make an informed decision.

Runcam Link Wasp Fpv Camera Dji Digital

Radio Receiver

Radiomaster Rp1 Expresslrs Elrs Receiver External T Antenna

Your choice of radio transmitter dictates the type of receiver (RX) you can use. If you followed my radio recommendations, your radio should support ExpressLRS, which is currently my top choice for a radio link in 2023. ExpressLRS is affordable, high-performance, and incredibly reliable! Read my article on why I love ExpressLRS to learn more.

Numerous manufacturers produce receivers and transmitter modules for ExpressLRS. You can choose any of these, and as long as they’re ExpressLRS, they’ll work together. For this tutorial, I’ve selected the Radiomaster RP1 receiver, which I’ve been using for several months now. It delivers excellent performance and has consistently remained in stock.

To help you set up ExpressLRS, I’ve put together a step-by-step tutorial.

Other Equipment

To fly a quadcopter in FPV, you’ll need the following accessories. Take a look at my everyday gear for inspiration. Here is a summary:

For other FPV Drone parts that I’ve tested and recommend, visit: https://oscarliang.com/tag/recommend/


Steps of Building FPV Drone

Click the link will take you to the section in this article:


1. Frame Assembly

Before building, it’s a good idea to prepare the frame, although this step is optional:

  • Sand down the sharp edges on carbon fibre pieces, particularly on the outer side of the arms and plates. Sharp edges could cut your wires and battery strap in a crash. Chamfered edges can also help reduce the likelihood of carbon fibre sheet delamination in crashes.
  • Wash all carbon fibre parts in soapy water to remove any remaining carbon dust from cutting, drilling, and sanding (keep in mind that carbon fibre is conductive). Then, dry the parts thoroughly with a towel.

To assemble the frame, start by positioning the arms and arm lock on top of the front bottom plate.

Tbs Source One V5 Fpv Drone Frame Assemble Arm Wedge Bottom Plate

Next, place the rear bottom plate (which has push nuts) on top of the arms, and fasten it with screws from the bottom. Lastly, install the eight aluminium standoffs, but be mindful of their different heights – the four front standoffs are longer.

Tbs Source One V5 Fpv Drone Frame Assemble Bottom Plate Split Deck Standoffs

2. Installing Motors

Now, it’s time to mount the four motors to the arms. It’s recommended to use threadlock on the motor screws, as vibrations from the motors can cause screws to loosen over time. Fortunately, the screws that come with the Xing2 motors already have threadlock applied, so there’s no need for additional application.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Install Motors Screws Threadlock

The arms are 6mm thick, making the 8mm screws the perfect length. There’s no need to use washers.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Install Motors Screws

If you’re using ordinary screws, be sure to get some Loctite (thread locker). Opt for the blue liquid type, as the red liquid type is designed for permanent use and can make removing the screws later quite difficult.

Lastly, ensure the motor screws aren’t too long and touching the motor winding. If you’re uncertain about the screw length, follow this guide on how to check if your motor screws are too long.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Install Motors Screws Not Touching Winding

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3. Wiring Diagrams

Before proceeding, it’s a good idea to create a wiring diagram on a piece of paper outlining how to connect all the components. If you’re using the components I recommended, here are connection diagrams you can follow.

For the Analog build:

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Wiring Diagram Analog

For the DJI build:

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Wiring Diagram Dji Digital

Before soldering any wires, you can “dry fit” all the components in the frame. This process allows you to gauge wire lengths, determine component placement, and identify any potential spacing issues.

Analog build:

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Dry Fit Analog

DJI build:

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Dry Fit Dji Digital

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4. Installing ESC

Begin by replacing the four shorter screws in the frame with the long M3 30mm bolts that come with the Speedybee F405 V3 stack. Avoid using nylon standoffs for installing FC, ESC and VTX, they break easily in crashes. Use metal bolts instead.

Use metal bolts for installing stack (with a metal nut at the botttom), it reduces vibration and wobble, makes the drone fly better and easier to tune.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Stack Screws

Slide the 4in1 ESC and FC boards onto the four long screws, ensuring the ESC board’s power pads face backward and the motor solder pads face up. The front of the frame is identifiable by the cut-outs for the camera mounting plates.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Install Esc Fc

Inspect the bottom of the ESC to ensure it’s not touching the frame. Additionally, check for any contact between the ESC and FC.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Install Esc Fc Rubber Grommet Space

Next, you’ll do some soldering. If you’re new to soldering, refer to the tutorial “How to Solder for Beginners“.

Determine the required motor wire lengths, leaving a little slack, and cut them accordingly. Secure the motor wires on the arms with cloth tape or electrical tape.

Some people like to use braided mesh tubes over the motor wires for protection/aesthetics purposes. Personally I don’t use them, they are a pain to install and they don’t really provide much protection or benefits.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Motor Wire Length

Then, strip about 2mm off the tip of the wires and tin the ends.

Using the trimmed off motor wires, solder two of them to the input power of the ESC (ideally on the bottom side). Mark the positive wires with a piece of tape to solder the capacitor to later. You can also use any 20AWG or 22AWG silicone electrical wires.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Solder Wires Capacitor

Tin all the solder pads on the 4in1 ESC. To prevent solder from accidentally dropping onto the components and causing electrical shorts, cover the areas of the board where you’re not soldering with tape, such as electrical tape, kapton tape, or masking tape.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Tin Esc Solder Pads

Solder the motor wires onto the ESC. Don’t worry about wire order and motor direction yet; you can change this later in the software. If you have the skills, you could try to solder motor wires side way, make it nicer to grab the quad.

Solder the XT60 power lead to the power pads on the ESC, making sure to maintain the correct polarity (positive and negative). This step may be challenging due to the amount of heat required to melt the solder on the large copper pads. Be patient and use a higher temperature on your iron.

Soldering Tips:

  • Use a good amount of solder and solder flux (solder paste) for the large pads, ensuring the solder joints are shiny and full. If you can see the wire strands, you haven’t applied enough solder.
  • Apply more flux if the solder “sticks” to the tip when you remove it from the joint.
  • Feel free to use a high temperature when soldering large solder pads, but be quick and avoid overheating the pads for too long. Use 450°C (840°F) for motor wires and XT60, and 380°C for signal wires.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Solder Motors To Esc Xt60

Now solder the 1500uF capacitor that comes with the Speedybee stack. Bend and shorten the legs with pliers, then tin them with solder.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Solder Capacitor Cut Legs

Apply a small piece of double-sided tape to the bottom of the capacitor.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Solder Capacitor Double Sided Tape

Solder the capacitor to the wires connected to the ESC power pads earlier, being mindful of the polarity. The side with yellow marking is the negative side of the capacitor.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Solder Capacitor Install

A capacitor is used to reduce voltage spikes and electrical noise generated by the ESC and motors. It can also help when bent props create more noise. To learn more about why adding an extra capacitor to FPV drones is useful, see this post.

Finally, connect the FC to the ESC using the provided 8-pin ribbon cable. When installing the flight controller on top of the 4in1 ESC, ensure the arrow on the FC points forward.

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5. Testing ESC and Motors

Before plugging in a LiPo battery for the first time, ensure there are no electrical shorts. Using a multimeter in continuity mode, test the positive and negative terminals of the XT60 (or directly on the solder pads). If there is a short circuit, the multimeter will beep continuously. In this case, do not plug in the battery, as it may damage your components. Instead, troubleshoot and fix the issue that is causing the short circuit.

For more information on using a multimeter to test your drone, check out this tutorial.

Pro-Tip: A short beep followed by silence may occur when testing continuity due to capacitors charging. This is normal and shouldn’t cause concern. As long as it stops beeping after a second or two you should be fine.

Use a smoke stopper when plugging in a battery for the first time. While not mandatory, it’s a recommended investment to avoid damaging components.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Smoke Stopper Power Lipo Battery

Do not install propellers yet. To test the motors, plug in the battery and connect the USB cable to the flight controller. In the Motors tab of the Betaflight Configurator, spin up the motors one by one (move the slider to around 10%) and verify if they are spinning in the correct direction.

To reverse a motor spinning in the wrong direction, use the Betaflight Configurator (Motors tab) as explained here.

Also make sure the spinning motor number matches the diagram, e.g. motor #1 is the rear right, motor #2 is front right etc.

If the motor order is wrong you need to fix it using the “Reorder Motors” tool in the motors tab, and following the instructions. You can also fix it using CLI commands but it’s a lot more complicated, just use the tool :)

Betaflight Configurator Motor Order Animate Gif

Troubleshooting tips:

  • If motors aren’t spinning, ensure the battery is connected. And the ESC should beep as soon as you plug in the battery. Make sure the ESC is connected to the FC, and that the pin connections are correct.
  • If all motors spin except for one, that particular ESC, motor, or the ESC signal from the FC might be faulty. To troubleshoot, swap the non-functioning motor with a working one on the same quad to determine if the issue lies with the ESC or motor.

For further assistance, ask in the forum: https://intofpv.com

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6. Receiver Setup

To solder the RX to the FC, you’ll need your own 28AWG or 30AWG wires, as the RP1 does not come with them: https://oscarliang.com/wires-connectors/

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Radiomaster Rp1 Expresslrs Receiver Wires

Mount the RX in front of the FC using double-sided foam tape or a zip tie. You can mount it anywhere with enough space in the frame.

It’s best to keep the top of the FC clear of any wires, avoid running wires on top or next to the gyro which could cause vibration during flight.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Radiomaster Rp1 Expresslrs Receiver Solder To Fc

Secure the RX antenna under the closest arm with zip ties and wrap the antenna wire with tape to prevent it from getting caught.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Radiomaster Rp1 Expresslrs Receiver Antenna Mount

Bind the receiver to the radio (TX module) following the guide on setting up ExpressLRS. In the Betaflight configurator, apply these configurations:

  • Go to the Ports tab and enable “Serial RX” for the UART connected to the receiver (UART2 in our example).
  • In the Receiver tab, select “Serial (via UART)” in Receiver Mode and choose “CRSF” in Serial Receiver Provider.

After this, confirm that the receiver is working properly in the Receiver tab. The bars (channels) should move when you move the sticks on the radio. If the wrong channels are responding, try a different Channel Map such as “default (AETR)” or “TAER.”

Betaflight Configurator Receiver 10.8

Set up at least two switches on the radio (instructions) for arming and beeper. You might also want a third switch for flight mode (e.g., angle mode). Confirm that these switches work in the Receiver tab, with AUX1 and AUX2 responding when you flip them.

For any questions, post in the forum: https://intoFPV.com

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7. Installing Analog FPV Setup

This section is for the analog build. If you’re using the DJI FPV system, skip to the next section.

Install the camera between the side plates.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Analog Fpv Camera Frame Plates

Place the camera inside the frame and cut the camera wires to length. Twist the wires to keep them tight.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Analog Fpv Camera Wires Cut

Solder the camera wires to the FC: Red goes to 5V, black goes to GND, and yellow goes to CAM.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Analog Fpv Camera Wires Soldered

For installing the VTX, you could consider just use double sided tape and zip tie, instead of using standoffs. It’s easy, secure and weight saving if you don’t care how your quad look, just performing well.

Apply double-sided foam tape to the bottom of the VTX, ensuring that it covers any copper to prevent contact with the frame when mounted.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Vtx Tape

Insert 2mm zip ties through the mounting holes and tighten. Simultaneously tighten down the battery leads.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Install Vtx

This is how it looks from the bottom of the frame.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Install Vtx Zip Ties

Solder the VTX cable to the FC and make sure it doesn’t dangle around.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Install Vtx Wires

Strap the VTX antenna to the standoff.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Install Vtx Mount Antenna

To setup the VTX in Betaflight, go to the Ports tab and, for the UART that you have connected the IRC pad to, select IRC Tramp under Peripherals.

Copy the VTX Table snippet below into the CLI for the Speedybee TX800. This will enable you to change VTX settings in the OSD menu.

# vtxtable
vtxtable bands 5
vtxtable channels 8
vtxtable band 1 BOSCAM_A A CUSTOM 5865 5845 5825 5805 5785 5765 5745 5725
vtxtable band 2 BOSCAM_B B CUSTOM 5733 5752 5771 5790 5809 5828 5847 5866
vtxtable band 3 BOSCAM_E E CUSTOM 5705 5685 5665 0 5885 5905 0 0
vtxtable band 4 FATSHARK F CUSTOM 5740 5760 5780 5800 5820 5840 5860 5880
vtxtable band 5 RACEBAND R CUSTOM 5658 5695 5732 5769 5806 5843 5880 5917
vtxtable powerlevels 5
vtxtable powervalues 25 200 400 600 600
vtxtable powerlabels 25 200 400 800 800
save

8. Installing DJI FPV Setup

Follow these steps to install the Runcam Link and Wasp camera in the DJI build:

Mount the Wasp camera between the side plates and install it inside the frame, similar to the process in the analog build.

Take the DJI Air Unit cable that comes with the FC, cut the ends, and solder it to the Vista. Here’s the pinout of the Vista:

You won’t connect the SBUS and GND pads in the Vista, so cut those two wires off in the cable.

Apply double-sided foam tape to the bottom of the Runcam Link (Vista).

Optionally, run the camera cable beneath the 4-in-1 ESC board for a cleaner build. You can disconnect the camera cable from the video transmitter if necessary.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Dji Runcam Link Vista Tape

Install the Vista in the frame using 2mm zip ties (ideally 15mm or longer), and strap the VTX antenna to the standoff as shown:

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Install Dji Runcam Link Vista

In order to have OSD for displaying battery level and other flight information on screen, you need to configure Betaflight.

To configure Betaflight for OSD (on-screen display) to show battery level and other flight information. This page explains how to do it in detail. To sum it up, in Betaflight configurator, you need to:

  • In Ports tab, UART1 enable “Configuration/MSP
  • In Configuration tab, under Other Features, enable OSD
  • Inside your DJI Goggles, go to Settings, Display and turn on Custom OSD

That’s it!

As a final check, power the drone from a LiPo battery again using a smoke stopper to ensure everything works properly before moving on to the next step.

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9. Finishing Off

To complete your drone build, follow these steps.

Secure FC with nylon nuts, fasten with your hands to avoid over-tightening, they should just touch the rubber grommet. Compressed grommets reduce vibration damping and defeat the purpose of soft mounting.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Fc Stack Nuts

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Fc Stack Nuts 2

Strap the capacitor to the camera plates using a zip tie.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Capacitor Install

Install the top plate and thread a battery strap under and through it. The Source One V5 comes with a rubbery battery pad that works well, but if you prefer a top-notch option, consider the Ummagrip battery pad. It’s sticky, washable, and its thickness keeps your battery safely away from the bolts.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Top Plate Battery Strap

The weights of the finished drone are as follows:

  • Drone: 360g
  • Drone + 6S 1100mAh LiPo: 560g
  • Drone + 6S 1100mAh LiPo + GoPro 7: 680g

This is actually really light for a 5inch and that ensures great flight performance. As a rule of thumb, avoid exceeding 750g with a 5inch including battery and gopro otherwise it flies like a tank and do not feel nice for freestyle.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Plug In Lipo Battery

When installing the propellers, pay attention to the different rotations—CW (clockwise) and CCW (counter-clockwise). Ensure they are installed on the correct motors; otherwise, your quad may not take off or could flip over when trying to.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Finish Propellers Mount

Use M5 nylon lock nuts to hold the propellers securely on the motor. Tightening might be challenging at first but will become easier over time. Avoid overtightening to prevent prop hub shattering. Tighten just enough so the prop can’t move when you try to rotate it with your hand while holding the motor bell.

A dedicated prop nut tool can speed up prop changes.

When mounting the battery (and GoPro), ensure the COG (center of gravity) is as close to the drone’s center as possible. To check if the battery is placed correctly, grab the middle of the top plate with two fingers and see if the quad stays level.

It’s essential to maintain the COG at the center of the four motors. If the quad is front-heavy, the front motors will work harder than the rear motors to maintain a level position, negatively impacting flight performance.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Check Cg

And we are ready for a test flight!

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Finish Side

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Finish Back Battery

Here’s the DJI build:

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Finish Dji No 3d Printed Parts

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10. Using 3D Printed Parts

For a cleaner, sleeker, and more durable build, consider using 3D printed parts. You can find various designs online by searching for “Source One V5” on Thingiverse.com. Parts for other frames might also work on the Source One. One recommended source for 3D printed parts is https://3dprintsfpv.co.uk/. If you can’t find the parts you want in their shop, send them a message with the Thingiverse link and the filament color you want, I am sure they are happy to help.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Analog 3d Printed Parts

Here are some good ones I found:

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 3d Printed Parts

One of the most immediate and visually apparent modifications I recommend is the addition of 3D printed arm protectors. These are not just decorative; they serve a crucial role in preserving the integrity of the carbon fiber arms. Without them, the arms are prone to splintering at the ends upon impact. The beauty of 3D printed arm protectors lies in their ability to absorb and distribute shock, significantly reducing the risk of damage.

They also protect the motors during crashes. These guards can prevent bending of the motor shafts and protect the motor bells from dents and scratches, which can affect performance.

To use arm guards, you may need longer motor screws, such as M3 10mm.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Front Bumper Arm Protectors

In the analog build, using a 3D printed antenna mount allows you to utilize the MMCX to SMA extension cable that comes with the TX800 and upgrade the VTX antenna to a circular polarized one for better signal quality.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Analog 3d Printed Parts Vtx Antenna Mount

3D printed parts can also be used to mount the camera and capacitor.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Dji 3d Printed Parts Camera Capacitor Mount

The DJI build with 3D printed parts offers an improved appearance:

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Finish Dji

A 3D printed mount holds the Vista antenna at a more optimal angle for flying.

How To Build Fpv Drone 2023 Dji 3d Printed Parts Antenna

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11. Setting Up Betaflight

To set up Betaflight for your first flight, follow the instructions in this guide: “how to setup Betaflight for the first time“.

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12. Tuning

Tuning your quadcopter involves adjusting it to fly and behave the way you want. Betaflight has come a long way; you don’t have to tune your quad, and it will likely fly just fine with stock settings. However, if you’re serious about performance, there’s more to learn!

For most people, tuning a mini quad involves adjusting these settings:

If you don’t know how to use Blackbox, this is how to tune your FPV drone in 10 simple steps. If you’re familiar with Blackbox, check out this in-depth guide on tuning filters and PID.

The following is my PID and Filter tune for this build, but it might not work well for you if you’re using different components. It’s an aggressive tune, so perform a short test flight and check your motor temperature before using it. It’s highly recommended to tune your build from scratch following this guide.

Sourceone V5 Fpv Drone Build Bf4.3 Pid Tuning

Sourceone V5 Fpv Drone Build Bf4.3 Filter Tuning

My rates for freestyle are (Actual Rate):

  • Center Sensitivity 180
  • Max Rate 750
  • Expo 0.56

13. Learning How to Fly

If you have little to no experience flying a mini quad, consider checking out these tutorials to get started:

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.

You can check my past build guides from 2020 and 2018:

Improvements and Upgrades

Once you’ve mastered the basics of building and flying your FPV drone, you may consider making some improvements and upgrades to enhance its performance. Here’s a list of potential upgrades and improvements you can make:

These upgrades and improvements will help you get the most out of your FPV drone and enhance your overall flying experience. Remember that as you grow in skill and knowledge, there are always new techniques and technologies to explore in the world of FPV drones.

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78 comments

Geoff Griggs 1st September 2024 - 3:48 pm

Hey Oscar, great guide thank you! I’ve mostly used the same parts as you have suggested and it looks like everything is working correctly although I haven’t flown the drone yet. My question was regarding temperatures. What sort of temps SHOULD the TX800 and a camera such as the CADDX Ant get up to? My TX800 is too hot to touch when powered up. My camera is fairly warm too, although not too hot to handle.

Reply
Oscar 2nd September 2024 - 6:29 pm

It’s normal that VTX gets very hot. Make sure the VTX antenna is attached when you plug in the battery. It’s important that you don’t leave the drone powered on the ground/bench for too long without proper cooling / airflow. Always try to take off as soon as you plug in the battery to avoid VTX overheat.

Reply
Mike 24th August 2024 - 8:16 am

Hello,
Thank you for this guide. I am new in the FPV world. I already bought a DJI FPV with Dji controller 2 and Dji googles V2. Is the controller and googles compatible with this build? I dont want to buy all new equipment :)

Reply
Oscar 27th August 2024 - 6:39 pm

Yes.

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Galaad 25th October 2024 - 5:37 pm

Hi Oscar, thanks a lot for your amazing work. I’ve built this exact setup in digital. I’ve run into a problem, I can’t mange to enable OSD. I’ve double checked the solderings, and flashed the firmware on my Integra googles and on the video transmitter. I’ve been trying to solve this problem for a couple of days but I can’t find what’s wrong.. Any idea ?

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Oscar 28th October 2024 - 4:59 pm

Are you using the Vista? It might be this: https://oscarliang.com/caddx-vista-vtx/#OSD-Disappear-Fix

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Viktor 1st August 2024 - 11:42 pm

Hi,
How do you get the TX800 to transmit audio?

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Oscar 4th August 2024 - 1:11 pm

You can’t, it doesn’t have a built-in mic, nor does it have an audio input for external mic. You will need a different VTX if you want audio.

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Leroy 5th June 2024 - 6:52 am

Hi Oscar,

I can’t seem to get the osd up im using dji goggles integra andy help would be gratly appreciated.

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Rubin 22nd May 2024 - 12:05 am

Hey man. How do you record your session while flying? Following your build exactely as is and I have a TX16s radio with dji goggles v2

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Oscar 23rd May 2024 - 3:28 pm

You can record video inside the goggles, it’s called DVR.

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my_head_hurts 7th May 2024 - 3:44 pm

damn, its something wrong with me bc i no more can’t focus. i can’t read all that i am giving up. i don’t have money eighter and i am stupid.

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Gus (Gsatelite) 27th April 2024 - 7:35 pm

Oscar, excellent guide. I build one (the first one) using your guide entirely.
The issue that I’m facing is that out of nowhere it goes crazy (like a runaway), if you see the black box log… it is stable until it is not and for no apparent reason.
Motors go from 0 to 100% and then 0% back again… I lost already a 6S pack on the first flight. Now, I’m testing in the bench with no propellers on. I tried everything flashed to early versions, check and recheck orientation and flight controller mount, frames cracks, etc. I’m inclined to disable the PID setup in the flight controller and starts from scratch on its configuration.
Any clue what could be the reason for suck behavior and what should I look out first?
how can I show you the log?

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Oscar 29th April 2024 - 4:06 pm

maybe you can put your log in google drive or dropbox, then send me the “share link”?
A bit more info would be helpful – like pictures of your build.

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Gus (Gsatelite) 29th April 2024 - 6:57 pm

Thanks Oscar.
drive.google.com/file/d/1D-aM6fpYLmCKemfkgUjDI-KNjnxDd52q/view?usp=sharing
drive.google.com/file/d/1Bt6_7wG4rK2gRYB7QJ-GGGtAz0q8iiDM/view?usp=sharing
I’ll take some photos of the build, but it has the same parts that you used in this article :)
SpeedyBee F405 V3
MAX ECO 2306-1900KV
TBS SOURCE ONE V5 5INCH

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Oscar 30th April 2024 - 12:10 am

First thing first, your mid points need calibrated properly (both sticks), they are not centered when resting, causing the drone to drift. Follow this guide: https://oscarliang.com/adjust-tx-channel-mid-end-point/
And after you take off, the 2nd motor and 4th motor (front two motors) just goes to zero output which is weird, could be related to the mid point issue – do you have a video of the issue? I’d like to see what actually happens.

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Gus (Gsatelite) 4th May 2024 - 6:51 pm

Hi Oscar, Thanks for the reply.
Done, I run the setup of mid, low and high points. I have a Jumper -T little running 2.9.4
Correction note: Motors are EMAX ECO II Series 2207 Motor – 1900Kv

I have collected photos and logs of this afternoon test.Also I add a backup on the configuration.
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IXL8Pf_f5kZJVrTdUDlNTy1FF9YuABQD?usp=sharing

Could it be a faulty capacitor?

Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it, so I can move forward with this interesting hobby.

Oscar 4th May 2024 - 7:15 pm

Are you testing this on the bench without props? If that’s the case I’d suggest putting some propellers on, and test it outside where it’s safe.
The motors ramp up because of “air mode” when it’s on the bench, and that’s normal.
By the way, your center points of the right stick is still not centered properly, but that’s just a minor issue, shouldn’t prevent you from taking off.

Gus (Gsatelite) 6th May 2024 - 11:04 am

Hi Oscar,Thanks for the reply.Yes, I’m testing it without the props because it was a mess when it failed the first time.  As the log shows, it goes “nuts” for no reason and (as far as I can understand) randomly. Because of this, I have removed the props and I’ll connect them once the unit behaves on the bench. :)Also, I have disabled airmode from betaflight, also, I have set it up Master Multiplier at 0.5 (same behavior that at 1)
My expectation is that the drone should arm, motors should spin “forever” until a command is given. This (sometimes) is not happening as the log shows.
Could this behavior be related to a bad capacitor or soldering issue?  Do you mind checking the logs, I see no parameter going off prior to the morotos oscillating between 0-100.
I’m on my way to change the flight controller.

Oscar 7th May 2024 - 4:57 pm

Right okay. Looking at the logs again, I think it could be a faulty Gyro on the flight controller – the Roll and Yaw axis are super noisy compared to the pitch and I think that could be why it went nuts. Glad you have a new FC coming to confirm this.

Gus (Gsatelite) 8th May 2024 - 9:35 am

Thanks Oscar,
I’ll keep you posted.
FYI, in the meantime I’ll try to re-soldeir the capacitor to see of this had an effect based on this article from SpeedyBee speedybee.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/22722846255131-The-Impact-of-Capacitor-Wire-Length-on-Gyroscopes
Regards
GS

Oscar 8th May 2024 - 10:11 am

It’s true that longer wires reduces low ESR capacitors effectiveness, but what they don’t tell you in the article is how long the “long wire” is and what gauge wires they used in the example. It also depends on how noisy the quad was in this demonstration without capacitors. You will be surprised how well the capacitor still works well within a reasonable wire length and using the my recommended wire gauge. If the wires were 28 gauge thin and 1 meter long, it would be like not having a capacitor at all. I’m not saying they’re doing that just to make a point and shift the blame to the user, but we are missing some key information in the testing they’ve done.

Gus (Gsatelite) 11th May 2024 - 1:20 pm

Hi Oscar,
FYI – You were right. No change with he re-soldering, shorter capacitor. I’m waiting for a new FC to swap the top section and see if the problem disappear. In the previously shared google link I have updated a folder with photos and copy of the last log showing the persistent random issue. keep you posted and talks for the support :)

Gus (Gsatelite) 19th May 2024 - 4:26 pm

Hi Oscar,
I replaced the FC (top part) and the issue seems resolved. (I’m still wearing the helmet during testing jejejeje). I have updated some picts/logs in the same shared folder for everybody reference.
Thank you for your help and ideas….for sure I’ll bother you again.:)

David 1st October 2024 - 2:37 am

I had this issue and found that switching from DSHOT600 (default on my FC) to DSHOT300 fixed it perfectly.
Used all the recommended parts in this build tutorial

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Jason 13th April 2024 - 11:34 pm

Hi, I used your guides to build a killer drone. They are all so good.
Ware I am stuck at, Oscar is what would I enter in the CLI in Betaflight for the VTX TX800 Ultra I want to be able to use the 1.6W in the OSD?

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Caden McCullough 29th March 2024 - 3:42 am

Absolutely amazing guide! I’m going to copy the majority of this build! My only question is do you think there’s a way to keep the capacitor mounted in the back of the quad? It looks like there is some room around the vtx area. Just curious!

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David 16th March 2024 - 3:00 pm

Hey Oscar, just wanted to say thanks for putting all this information out there, your website was my go to when I recently found out about the hobby.

I copied about 90% of the analog build and I’m having a blast, I’m finally starting to be confident to move like I do in simulators, I hit my first powerloop yesterday!

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Tim 5th March 2024 - 11:16 pm

Hey Oscar, just wanted to thank you so much for this tutorial. Was my first 5″ drone and I’ve had an absolute blast with it as a beginner pilot. I made a YT video going over the parts/build process to first flight and linked all your info.
https://youtu.be/_-fTIqS6Oiw?si=UR-4pEPigkM8Ejnw

Thanks again! Tim.

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Tim 3rd February 2024 - 1:35 pm

Hey Oscar – I’m about to try this exact build (digital version) for my first build! Thanks so much for the tutorial. One question – I only have the DJI controller 2, will I be able to use that controller with the vista and just not bother about soldering the ELRS receiver? It does say that you can do that on the runcam website but just wanted to be sure.

I would like to swap over to ELRS eventually but for now I’d rather save the extra money and use my DJI controller.

Thanks again,
Tim.

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Oscar 5th February 2024 - 4:02 pm

I am not entirely sure as I don’t have the DJI Controller 2, but according to this compatibility chart it looks like it’s not compatible with the Vista: https://oscarliang.com/dji-o3-air-unit-fpv-goggles-2/#Compatibility

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Michael 25th January 2024 - 5:01 am

Hi,

This is a great guide. I was wondering if you had any suggestions to maximize the flight time for this build (like, 20 min per charge). I just like to enjoy the sights and don’t really need a super agile racing drone. I’m thinking of using the Digital DJI build but with the new O3 unit like others here have suggested. For this case, would it be better to:

Swap out the 6S LiPo battery with a 6S Li-ion? And if so, is there a good mAh range to consider?
Reduce the kV of the motors to something like 500 kV to 900 kV? Would that make it underpowered? Not sure what the sweet spot would be.
Maybe slightly different propellers? Larger ones might get more lift but there’s only so much you can fit on a 5″ frame.
And could I keep all of the other components the same? I.e. same FC & ESC Stack? The SpeedyBee F405 V4 looks pretty good as an upgrade from the V3.

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Oscar 25th January 2024 - 9:08 am

I have a guide on extending flight time here: https://oscarliang.com/improve-fpv-drone-flight-time-efficiency/

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Andrew 22nd January 2024 - 10:33 am

Do I need to use Receiver rp1elrs if I want to use same build but with dji o3 ?

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Tim 3rd February 2024 - 1:36 pm

No you can just use the o3 alone :)

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Bob 14th January 2024 - 10:40 am

Hi Oscar! great tutorial, however when I plug my drone into my PC the VTX does not light up. Is it faulty or could it be my soldering job?

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Oscar 17th January 2024 - 2:47 pm

The VTX only gets power when you plug in the battery. The USB connection to the FC won’t power the VTX.

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Andrew 13th January 2024 - 4:56 pm

Is the instalation of dji o3 is similar like you did it here with wasp cam ? Considering everything else is the same

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Oscar 13th January 2024 - 9:59 pm

Not really it’s more complicated to installed in this frame. But You could probably just double sided tape it down and zip tie it to the frame. However for the camera, you will need some sort of 3D printed adapter because the lens is too big to fit inside the frame.

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Joel 28th December 2023 - 5:58 pm

Wonderful stuff!
Have you considered hands -on training? Or are you already doing physical training or online? There could be some good business for you , if you are interested. Thanks a alot.

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Oscar 30th December 2023 - 10:29 am

I am not doing hand on training currently, but if there’s an opportunity I would definitely consider it :)

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Andrii 20th November 2023 - 6:08 pm

Will this frame be compatable with dji o3 air unit ?

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Oscar 21st November 2023 - 3:54 am

Yes but you need an 3D printed adapter to mount the camera as it sticks out in the front

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Andrii 24th November 2023 - 10:27 am

Could you suggest something where I should look for ?

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George 6th November 2023 - 10:55 pm

Hey Oscar, this is probably a noob question, but I’ll ask it anyway. I’m going to build my first drone, will be following your amazing tutorial, but I am going to use Walksnail Avatar for fpv. Can you recommend a camera will be a good choice for Walksnail? Don’t really care about image quality as far as it’s not analog :)
Thank you!

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Oscar 7th November 2023 - 6:28 am

If you mostly fly during the day, I think the V2 camera is a great option. For low light, the Pro is the best option.
For budget option the new V3 nano kit is also worth considering though the image is not as good as the other two cams.

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Nadav 8th September 2023 - 10:40 pm

Hello, the tutorial and everything looks very special and great and everything. but how do i fly it? i mean with what controller? how do i connect the controller? and gow to i get the video that the camera is recording, and mainly how do i connect the fpv it self indp a vr goggles or a phone???

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Anthony 3rd September 2023 - 11:22 pm

Hey Oscar, Thank you so much for this guide. This is my first fpv drone and just flying around has been a blast. I was sent the dji goggles 2 by mistake when I ordered the v2 goggles. With the goggles 2 I can’t seem to get the osd to work which makes flying a little worrisome as I can’t see the battery voltage. Is there a fix or workaround for the goggles 2 or do I just need to wait until there is more aftermarket support available for them?

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Oscar 4th September 2023 - 4:41 pm

Betaflight OSD is fully supported with the Goggles 2, including drone battery voltage. Take a look at the setup guide if you haven’t already: https://oscarliang.com/dji-o3-air-unit-fpv-goggles-2/#OSD

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Tim 5th February 2024 - 8:05 pm

It says on their website that it works with the OG DJI controller – praying it works with the DJI C2. Otherwise happy to switch over to ELRS anyway. Thanks Oscar, looking forward to doing this for my first build and appreciate the tutorial.

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Robin 28th August 2023 - 8:49 pm

Hi Oscar! Love your guides, helped me a ton getting into FPV and setting up my first quad.
So I built pretty much the same quad as you except for the frame and I use an DJI O3. But when I try to tune my quad like you did in the guide and enable RPM filtering with my Speedybee F405 V3 stack, I can’t figure out how to get my GYRO/FILTER/PID rates/hz down to 3200. I’ts pretty much always at 3250 to 3255 even with it’s stock config. So I can’t get it to less then 1% that you mention in your RPM filtering guide. Been trying to search the internet and get some answers but atm I’m just lost.
Would love to hear your response!
Keep up the awesome work!
Best regards Robin

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Oscar 29th August 2023 - 4:44 pm

In your case, I personally wouldn’t worry about it, the “1% difference” is just to give people a rough idea what they should be looking for. What we don’t want to see is the Gyro/PID drops below its target, which could be an indication that the FC processor is not keeping up. Take a look at your CPU load also, ensure it’s no higher than 75% (per Betaflight Developers’ recommendations), then you should be good to go. Do some test flight and make sure it’s working fine before further changes.

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Robin 16th September 2023 - 9:02 am

Thanks alot for your respone! My quad is flying great and I’m loving it! Thanks for what you do and keep doing it!
You’ve helped me alot with getting into FPV your guides and I’m learing so much!
Have a great day and keep up the awesome work!

Best regards Robin!

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Chris 12th August 2023 - 8:31 am

Hi there thank you for your detailed instructions on how to build a drone it’s very clear and awesome. However I would like to build a larger drone from say 7inch upto around 12inch. Maybe larger if possible. I would like it to be a long range drone aswell. Really I would like to create a monster of a drone high speed altitude and 3d capabilitys and I was wondering if you could help me a bit regarding your knowledge many thanks

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ffff 4th August 2023 - 8:27 pm

tankk you for great toturial ….good job

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Jacob 14th June 2023 - 9:42 am

Hey, after I plug in cable connecting ESC with FC and testing it with multimeter I have a beep. After disconnecting cable beep is gone. Can it be that connector cable is broken, or should I look somewhere else?

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Jacob 15th June 2023 - 8:47 am

Hey, I found the issue – pin in the plug were touching

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Mahesh Kadam 7th May 2023 - 11:16 am

What’s cost of this kit?

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Bart Janeczko 31st May 2023 - 9:48 pm

Around 350-400$

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Nick 16th April 2023 - 3:05 am

Love all the detail! Thanks a ton! I got this put together a few weeks back and have been having a ball getting used to everything since it’s my very first FPV built. I did notice that the video quality coming to my DJI FPV goggles v2 is quite a bit pixelated. From 5m to 100m in a clear field the feed is no where near a clear picture. I’m honestly afraid to fly further since it’s so difficult to make out the image. Interestingly to me, it’s worse when I’m low to the ground and closer than when I am higher and just a bit further away.

Any suggestions, tips, tricks I should try would be greatly appreciated. I’m think that it might be interference and was thinking about resoldering the vtx with more twists in the line (I feel like I read somewhere that it’ll help shield from electrical interference).

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Oscar 16th April 2023 - 10:01 am

your video link doesn’t sound normal and you should troubleshoot it.
– check all the antennas (on your VTX and Goggle) if they are attached properly.
– change to anther channel (avoid flying in channel 8 / channel P, that’s public channel)
– increase your output power if possible
– try flying somewhere else and see if that improves? maybe interference nearby.

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T karthik 7th May 2023 - 5:41 pm

Very helpfull

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lilik kustanto 30th March 2023 - 4:42 am

This artikell is detil and help me to learning about drone FPV.

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Abhishek dash 16th March 2023 - 2:42 am

Hlw,
Your work has been really helpful to me.
I am still waiting for the Speedybee f7v3 build.
Pls make it

Thanks in advance,
From india

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Cliff Losee 6th March 2023 - 9:50 pm

I really like the presentation! Trouble is, I want to build something more like the Air 2s : lots of flight time, great pix ! Is it too hard ? Cliff

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Alex 27th January 2023 - 4:54 pm

Oscar, thanks for the great tutorial! I have started the project following your tutorial but i want to use 4S batteries since I already have them from another hobby – could you please suggest what should be changed in the project? Which motors and propellers should be used according to your experience? Thanks in advance.

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Oscar 28th January 2023 - 1:53 am

Simply get the 2755 KV version of the motor I suggested (you can pick on the product page I linked to), or any other 2207 motors with around 2400KV-2700KV should also work fine for 4S.

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ben 22nd January 2023 - 3:22 pm

What is the range of this drone with the circular polarised antenna and the speedy bee vtx and something like the machine ev800d???

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Getulio Alves 11th January 2023 - 11:03 am

Very, very Good.

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Jack 7th January 2023 - 4:44 pm

I am looking at building the DJI build what controller and fpv headset is needed thanks for the step by step and all the links

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Jeff A 29th December 2022 - 6:46 am

Thank you so much for creating this wonderful resource. I’m helping my son work through this to build his first FPV drone. Your instructions have been invaluable.

I would be grateful if you could explain this note from section 8:

We won’t connect the SBUS and GND pads in the Vista, so we can cut those two wires off in the cable.

How do you know not to connect these two wires? What would happen if we went ahead and connected them?

Thanks so much!

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Oscar 29th December 2022 - 2:51 pm

So the Vista has built-in receiver capability if you have a DJI FPV Remote to use with it, it outputs SBUS signal you can connect that to the flight controller.
But because we are using an external radio receiver, in this case an ExpressLRS receiver, we won’t need to connect the SBUS pad. You can connect them but they won’t do anything.
I recommend using an external radio receiver, the receiver in the Vista normally loses signal (giving you failsafe) before you lose video so it’s not really ideal.

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James singleton 23rd February 2023 - 9:04 am

Hey Oscar, great tutorial here. I just had one question. I want to install the caddx vista and presumably I would need to install the receiver as I am using the DJI remote v1?

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Oscar 23rd February 2023 - 12:23 pm

if you are using the DJI remote v1, then no, you can use the Vista as your radio receiver, just connect the SBUS pad on the Vista to your FC, and configure it in Betaflight. See instructions here: https://oscarliang.com/dji-fpv-system-setup/#Using-DJI-Remote-Controller

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dadhang 20th December 2022 - 8:47 am

Hi Oscar your information is very good, and very informative, we already modified from analog to Digital, we used Runcam Link, but we ran into some problems after that, the battery dropped to 10 volts (Lipo 4s) after flying for less than 1 minute, can you advise for this trouble ?

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CubeOne 8th November 2022 - 3:59 pm

I am new to the whole scene and looking into building my first fpv drone and have a question regarding the battery used and the total weight. How much would using a 4S battery impact the total weight of the drone? Would you be able to build a similar 4S quad which is less than 500g, considering sub 500g quads can be flown basically everywhere where as there are some restrictions on drones heavier than 500g where I live. Or could this also be achieved by using a smaller capacity 6S battery than used in the guide?

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Oscar 8th November 2022 - 4:50 pm

It’s totally possible to build a 5″ drone that weighs below 500g (including battery), for example the Emax Hawk Apex. Ultimately it just depends on the components you want to use and what kind of performance you want to get out of it.
The weight of a battery does not depend on cell count, but the total watt hour (energy stored in the battery). For example, a 4S 1500mAh battery would weigh similar to a 6S 1000mAh, because they have the same watt hour (= voltage * capacity).
You can totally use a smaller 6S battery with the drone we build in this tutorial, the only downside is shorter flight time. By reducing the weight of the drone, you can get some of the lost flight time back, for example, by using lighter components.

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FURRYCATxD 30th December 2023 - 2:13 pm

Hi Oscar,
I had recently built a quad using this guide, it was really helpful. For motors I had used Emax Eco 2 2207 1900KV.
It flies pretty well on a 4s, but on 6s it seems to be freaking out sometimes. How could I proceed as, on 4s it feels underpowered..

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