2024 BEGINNER FPV DRONE GUIDE - From Nothing To FULL SEND (No Soldering)

[@kaptkrunchfpv]

So to boil this all down, get a simulator, bow before the DJI gods. My 8yr old can build a drone. There is nothing magical about soldering.

[@andyescapes]

that's basically it mate haha your 8 year old may be fearless but a lot of people are scared to solder! time is money haha

[@BlownMacTruck]

Soldering is easy. Soldering well is something you work towards, and not what people will be able to do when starting out.

[@ZEFFENWULF]

I don’t care about soldering, I want to fly.

[@mervyit]

The DJI remote recommendation was laughable. Most DJI pilots even recommend against using the DJI remote. Massive issues when it disconnects

[@Dodo_Technologies]

i got in with a full dji kit for 300$

[@eck0hcobra15]

I really appreciate the efforts you put into making this video

[@andyescapes]

thanks mate, tried to put absolutely everything in

[@StefanoSolazzi]

What could be a current price to enter the FPV world with the components you presented? Thank you for the passion you put into your work!

[@MariusIhlar]

Hi bro! You can use your phone headphones as a lav mic. Recording unto your phone. It will turn your videos into really pro material! 😊

[@andyescapes]

sorry this was before i got a decent shot gun mic

[@MariusIhlar]

@@andyescapes No problem just a tip. would be better than a shot gun even. :)

[@pottyputter05]

DO NOT LISTEN TO THE PROP ORIENTATION YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOUR QUAD IS PROP IN OR PROP OUT. also just open betaflight and use the drones accel shows the angle you want then align the camera with that table youre using to pitch forward on. Highly disagree on the analog knock. Analog is the fastest response and if you want to fly with others and especially race will favor and require analog respectively.

[@TwoWheelerSparky]

I've been thinking about getting into FPV flying to mix up the drone shots, but from what i read we can't even legally fly them in Australia...? (Unless its indoors)

[@FrancisJMotionDesigner]

Thanks soo much for this video! I always find videos split into many so I was always skeptical about missing something but this one cleared up a lot of my confusion, Again, Thanks sooo much! and please keep the content coming and its only a matter of time until this channel blows up! Really high quality stuff from my 1 month of research.

[@andyescapes]

thanks so much for the support mate!

[@georgehowarth5932]

I'm a cheapo.. cheapest options etc.. Proceeds to talk cash in the thousands.. Here's me after hours and hours of research and vids, having just reached the conclusion that the tinyhawk 3 rtf with a few extra batteries is all i need to get going for around 300 quid..! And to start a little drone racing club with a few mates (stock tinyhawks only).. Even gonna start on some homemade rings and gates for the course this week.. Not sure what to make of this vid.. It the guy just talking about something totally film making focused.. or perhaps he's just ultra rich! Im thinking of just ignoring this vid and carrying on with mt plan.. Its either that or forget about the whole thing!

[@andrewbeamon2842]

For a guy that first said he was tight with money sure is throwing a lot of expensive items out there lol.

[@andyescapes]

i've commented this else where but it is even cheaper now with the avata out and in the long run if you are serious about fpv it is much cheaper buying digital out right than cycling through 1s drones, or analog drones etc. that is why you should really make the call after the simulator.

[@andrewbeamon2842]

@@andyescapes sims are for people that don’t wanna leave the house and enjoy the actual hobby. Sims might help but you won’t experience wind or sun glare etc.

[@andyescapes]

@@andrewbeamon2842 just trying to say that if you don't enjoy the simulator then you should decide if you want to fully commit to the hobby and buy digital or not at all

[@andrewbeamon2842]

@@andyescapes sims can help make a decision. But besides all that great video tho. I wish I could fine a transmitter that supports frsky and others but I have no clue what to look for that’s my problem right now and a good pair of goggles for glasses cause I was blessed with crap eye site lol

[@jonathanrovi8932]

@@andrewbeamon2842 just follow Joshua Bardwell amazing FPV channel AND he wears glasses. just ask in the comments, Hes a cool guy and very informative.

[@Mars-un5gp]

I call BS on digital. Yes if U don't race it's better BUT if U wanna fly freestyle or just wanna fly fast you are gonna crash. It's part of the hobby. If U don't crash U aren't learning. 2000$ is way to expensive. I bought everything I needed (with 3 drones) for 700$. Analog is a great starting point.

[@andyescapes]

Crashing is inevitable i would recommend analog to anyone if they weren't going to eventually upgrade to digital however if you just use it as a stepping stone for digital its just a waste of money.

[@ExplorewithZac]

If you get the DJI FPV... You WILL regret it. KZbinrs have not been honest about this drone (not referring to Andy). The connection is POOR. The performance is POOR. The camera quality is BAD. The drone is EXPENSIVE to maintain. I could go on and on... But just trust me and don't get the DJI FPV, you will love it for one month and then get bored with it and want something more serious/capable.

[@ExplorewithZac]

The TBS Tango 2 Pro is better than the DJI Remote Controller 2. The DJI Goggles 2 are better than the DJI Goggles V2. There is nothing from the DJI FPV that you would be reusing if you really want the best setup possible.

[@andyescapes]

yeah i would recommend the avata now but regardless should just get a BNF for the real fpv experience

[@briarlanham8621]

The DJI drone Fs is a better drone but u can crash a build drone a 100 time before it break then as a DJI u can crash it 5 times at the most before it breaks and it’s hard to fix everything so personally as much as this video helped a fpv build I would recommend for beginners because ull be able to make crashes and not worry as much

[@datomimo6814]

I am not hating but you can start with a radio about 50-100€

[@andyescapes]

of course but for a beginner, cheap radio + lipos that you don't know how to charge or have a charger vs tango 2 which is just usb-c. I would much prefer a usb C option

[@rikaisama22]

i stop at 7 hours on sim get myself a tinywhoop. spent about 2 month to actually able to fly 2.5' quad with air mode 😵

[@rockharborlou]

Thank you so much for your video. I am wondering if you go directly through iFlight or if you found a different place to purchase/ship? I am in the states and just wondering. Thank you again you covered everything I was scared of asking on a reddit forum lol.

[@rockharborlou]

Also follow up: sorry for second question. Do the DJI view/radio that will work with analog quads as well?

[@andyescapes]

@@rockharborlou yes but you need some adapter i would just not bother with analog lol in the states i would just buy from iflight unless you find what you want cheapter at getfpv, racedayquads etc

[@rockharborlou]

Appreciate it thanks!

[@krazed0451]

"I'm a tight arse." "Minimum $2k AUD." No.

[@ST-online]

Is liftoff and velocidrone still the best to simulate on?

[@projackson355]

I cant do the grip because i dont have my index fingers

[@evadoodleVR]

i fly at 64 degrees and started 2 weeks ago in liftoff

[@jwdonal]

This was a wonderful and informative video. Thank you!

[@andyescapes]

no worries!

[@jwdonal]

I've been researching the best "beginner" FPV drone for 2 full days now. Your videos was actually one of the best for learning what I needed to look for. I am currently torn between 3 drones and can't decide. 1) GEPRC Mark5 HD Vista 6S - Good: Universally highly reviewed, fairly rugged design, Bad: No GPS or return to home feature, only ~5min flight time 2) HGLRC Rekon 5 Vista HD 6S - Good: ~25min flight time!, includes GPS and return to home feature, Bad: Reviews seem to indicate it's pretty fragile if you crash it 3) iFlight Titan XL5 HD 6S - Good: SUPER rugged/resilient to crashing, includes GPS and return to home feature, Bad: Biggest and heaviest, ~5min flight time Do you have any thoughts on these? Any things to consider that might help me make a decision? I value your input. :)

[@andyescapes]

get whatever nazgul, evoque or titan or diatone f5 v2 (given it has a gps unit) which suits your price range. any of those will serve you great. I wouldnt buy 1) just because gps unit does give you some more security, and i would not buy 2) as its a long range drone will definitely get damaged if you crash

[@evadoodleVR]

im thinking of getting a cetus pro or cetus x

[@LouiDali]

Great video! Getting into FPV myself, havent decided if I wanna go cinelog35 to learn or go straight for the nazgul.. Anyway, is the DJI FPV Controller V2 (the grey smaller one) not usable for other fpv drones?

[@andyescapes]

like I said I am team 5 inch drone!! and sadly the smaller grey controller is no good

[@LouiDali]

@@andyescapes thanks for the answer! Yeh thats unfortunate.. it looks easier to pack haha

[@andyescapes]

@@LouiDali that is true but they are more fragile and as a beginner I wouldn't want to wreck anything

[@lansvill]

Looking into this option because Im assuming you can fly this type of drone anywhere unlike DJI FPV ?

[@andyescapes]

that is a fair point 👀👀👀

[@tectonicshif001]

you say it connects with all the DJI devices but it doesn't work with Avata does it? you have to use remote controller 2

[@andyescapes]

that’s right this video was recorded prior to avata release

[@badapple2221]

This guide has been very interesting and usefull but the sad part is that I have no money I am poor :(( I'll still buy a controller and start with a simulator in hopes of a god given fund xD

[@andyescapes]

that's a good start, sadly it is a very expensive hobby there isn't really any way around it :(

[@cG-es8mb]

I hated the simulator. To me it didn’t feel the same as the real thing. Always had problems with the simulator. I started analog and flew the whoops. Small and don’t take as much damage.

[@andyescapes]

nothing wrong with that but the simulator is the cheapest option for those who don’t want to invest early haha

[@SpartanOfLuxon]

I've been doing the week long search into this hobby, seen hundreds of videos and finally found yours that explains how to get into the hobby. Every other video just tells noobies to buy a controller and do the sim and then buy a drone but with zero help in important info besides that. Thank you so much for this video.

[@baldoyler007]

Currently going through what you went through stating at the sim.😂 Have the flysky controller from my rc airplanes but really want to fpv. Have very little money to start off so hours in the sim incoming and my tinyhawk 3 freestyle be here in a month. Good man for the content. Cant have enough out there when doing a deep dive research. Keep up the good work pal

[@wutzcheezy461]

This is a really good guide on what and how everything works best one I seen so far

[@andyescapes]

thanks mate! my audio wasn't the greatest but we'll definitely make some better vids coming up

[@jwdonal]

Does it matter if I have the V1 or V2 goggles? My DJI FPV came with V2 goggles and I keep getting hints here and there that the V2 has "less compatibility" with other drones than the V1. Is that true? I just bought a DJI FPV but I want to buy a cheaper drone that I don't have to worry so much about crashing/breaking. I'd like to be able to use my V2 goggles if that's possible.

[@andyescapes]

v2 goggles should work with everything, it really doesnt matter if you have v1s or v2s only main difference is like the audience/watching others fly mode

[@jwdonal]

@@andyescapes Thanks!! Would you mind briefly explaining what that "audience/watching" difference is? I don't know enough yet to know if it might be something I care about...

[@andyescapes]

@@jwdonal you could hypothetically watch your friends fly that's basically it lol, the v2 is slightly better than the v1 so you have nothing to worry about

[@MrRichManGuy]

Why can't I find a video with genuine starter drone recommendations? It's always "Just get a controller and hop on the simulator" or "Buy this cheap ass tiny starter pack". And now you're telling me to get DJI goggles and a $500 drone? I just want decent starter gear for a decent price!

[@andyescapes]

like i mentioned get a controller hop on the simulator and then decide if you want to fly or not. the reason we don’t buy cheap starter gear or drones is because the experience is straight up bad and the tech range and everything is just not worth the money. you are way better off buying the good stuff instead of incrementally buying and reselling old gear which you will obviously lose money on

[@eskimofreezy4752]

then buy a toy lol. if you want a drone that performa good you'll have to spend the money. just like everything else, you get what you pay for. however id say it's possible to get a decent started kit for around 1k USD or maybe even less. i spent around 1.4k on my start setup

[@shifufpv8264]

1 problem with ur recomendation i have a 350 £ budget the goggles on there own are too much

[@andyescapes]

fair enough you can go for analog but I would honestly just get in the simulator until I can afford digital fpv cause its really that much better

[@shifufpv8264]

@@andyescapes true but i just have no way off geting those kinds of funds till i a sure that i love this and will do for years as i would have to sell my favorite items my pc and the rest of my setup and that would only get me 900 also with the new digital systems coming out i would rather wait and see the pricepoints they come at before buying the dji system

[@andyescapes]

@@shifufpv8264 fair enough I would just wait and stay put while you find out on the simulator!

[@shifufpv8264]

@@andyescapes i agree as i only have 30 hours in sims so selling things for a plan that could go wrong would be silly

[@FPVFRASHA]

hey ive just bought my first fpv drone the dji fpv kit goggles v2 and im wanting a new quad that will work with my goggles and also a new controller as i know the dji controller with the kit doesnt support other drones. ive only just started fpv so i dont want to put my dji in full acro mode to practice with do you have any recommendations of what i should get to practice with a budget of about $700 or less (i like the look of the tiny woops and the tiny hawk 3 but i dont know if them type of drones are compatible with my goggles? any help much appreciated!

[@stamgero8081]

So to boil this down, just buy a dji avata and attach a gopro.

[@andyescapes]

absolutely no lol that thing would be so unacrobatic, great for really slow moving slots but that's borderline the same as a mavic haha

[@jackofallhobbies1545]

By far the best instructional video I have watched in 2 years I am new to the hobby but have watched almost every video out there. You nailed this one 👍

[@f2f.photography]

Excellent video. OK a super dumb dumb question: Do i simply press record on the GoPro before I take off or do I activate it somehow while in flight? I havent seen any vids on this aspect of this.

[@williamlatorre4006]

Is there anyway you can show us how to connect the goggles to the simulator? Thanks for your tips tho

[@andyescapes]

you just use your computer, it's basically the same experience tbh I never connected it

[@AyanPortraits]

I really appreciate you sir good and neat Explanation im going to start Newly FPV sir which controller is better for me please reply sir

[@jwdonal]

So I bought the Titan! Thanks for the advice sir! Question: How do you charge on-the-go? I'd like to be able to go to a park and be able to charge my batteries like with my car for example. Do you do that?

[@andyescapes]

you need a big lipo to charge small lipos or like a generator of sorts. I normally just fly 3 packs very close to home and thats it. no need to go crazy haha

[@jwdonal]

@@andyescapes Ok thanks. With the Titan's return-to-home feature, will it actually return to the home point setting and also land itself?? Or does it just return to the point and hover in air or what? I can't find any videos that demonstrate it.

[@663]

Great video, was wondering why not gopro 9? i got 3 of them!

[@krakenxvi]

i skipped through a bit, for all the items how much is a good price to get into decent/professional fpv setup. or how much is everything that u listed.

[@gonzafpv2843]

How you have configure your switches on the DJI FPV controller? Could you do an video for that or something? Thanks!

[@msrebuilding5860]

GREAT CHANNEL! How would I apply THE DJI OR TANGO 2 FPV TO MY RC CAR

[@jwdonal]

How much flight time do you get on your Titan? I don't understand all these drones that have like 3min flight times. What's even the point of that?? I mean, by the time you get in the air the flight is almost over. Lol. I need something that lasts at least 15min-ish...preferably closer to 20min. I don't know how a person could ever learn to fly a drone if you're having to land and change out the battery every 3min. ???

[@andyescapes]

about 5 minutes, all that learning should come on the simulator. if you want to fly that long it's time for DJI fpv. honestly 3x5min flights is perfectly fine for me

[@patrickwelch365]

does the dji fpv controller v2 connect to all drones like the v1 (bigger controller)???

[@4ce2watch]

What's minimum budget overall to get in?

[@andyescapes]

just a good 2k aud haha

[@HiltsyAdventure]

I bought the tinyhawk 2 Freestyle kit, with goggles and remote for like $250. even though I built a 5" now I still fly the tinyhawk, it is so fun and very tough. I even stuck with analog so I can use the same remote and goggles when I switch drones. Analog doesn’t bother me, I grew up with everything analog lol

[@davidxing5988]

Yooo Andy thanks for the videos. Just wondering, did you have any issues taking LiPo batteries into flights? Any things to keep in mind?

[@coalfpv]

Charging at max 1C is not hard, but even this video has a bit of confusion. At one point, it says that you should charge at 1A before saying that this translates to 1.6A. The C rating (and why you should charge at 1 unless otherwise specified by your battery OEM) is important knowledge for any prospective FPV pilot.

[@frankeversley5541]

Great video! You got straight to the main takeaways with no BS.

[@nicksherma2086]

hey bro i am in china and can i get it cheaper from taobao ?

[@keenob]

Quick question. I dont have much cash so have downloaded Liftoff and been messing around on it with my Xbox controller. I want to invest in a proper controller however would like it to be usable with an FPV drone when I eventually purchase one. Is something like a FS FlySky i6 up to the job?

[@andyescapes]

you should probably buy a express lrs controller there are a few affordable options

[@TeeWalz]

Deadcat vs squashed x? I’m having a tough time deciding.. how much performance do you lose with deadcat?

[@andyescapes]

if you are a noob you won’t be able to tell so just go dead cat for filming purposes haha

[@deardaughter]

Very helpful. Thank you big dawg.

[@SpaceCodes.]

If I buy a RadioMasterTX16s and a 5" iflight drone, is it possible to use my laptop to view the drones flight till I can afford the goggles?

[@andyescapes]

nope you cant do that sadly

[@Cellus002]

This video was great. Thank you so much

[@jwdonal]

The 2 primary LiPo chargers that I've seen in nearly every video are the ISDT Air8 and the ISDT 608AC. Is there any important difference between them?

[@andyescapes]

just buy the 608ac the ISDT Air8 has some phone connection feature and its more expensive, the 608ac does an amazing job

[@paul-mylesfpv]

analoge flying isnt that bad the statick is better than the lagg and having someone tune in to your drone as you fly is really easy

[@imager09tube]

A little fast but excellent work!

[@FpvSage]

Soldering isn’t so bad. I’ve only bought bnf and trust me at some point you will need to solder. My soldering is not the greatest but it gets the job done.The drl sim is also good

[@roro6064]

Isn’t a cinewoop better for indoors and tight spaces and cinematic shot?

[@andyescapes]

yes but as you can imagine you'll be flying outdoors alot more unless you are someone who would only fly indoors and near people

[@kennyma4904]

Are there budget fpv goggles if I just want to use them in a simulator?

[@andyescapes]

i would just use your computer screen it’s essentially the same and not hard to adjust to at all but i’m sure there is something out there

[@datomimo6814]

THIS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE WAY TO START THIS HOBBY. IF YOU DON'T HAVE SO MUCH MANY TO SPEND YOU HAVE CHIPPER GEAR TO CHOOSE

[@andyescapes]

it is expensive but if you are serious about it it's cheaper just go buy it straight vs cycle through analog etc

[@pavelzapletal7651]

I would really like to start with fpv drones, but this set cost too much to start with. Yea sure i can play around simulator, but it's gonna be boring eventually. Tinyhawk 2 freestyle with some cheaper googles and decent controller is way to go for me or do you have any other suggestions for a kit around 600 bucks?

[@andyescapes]

I mean if you really like fpv the simulator is actually fun i flew it for 100 hours before starting... if you are concerned with money buying a tiny hawk is fine but when it comes to buy a full size drone selling the tiny hawk will just be a loss for you and cost more in the long run... if you are fine with that nothing wrong with a tiny hawk

[@xiggy_]

Super helpful!

[@andyescapes]

nws mate

[@bilalersen4021]

Video smells quality

[@bangriogaskan]

Awesome video, well said and thanks for sharing 🙏

[@ScottMarshNZ]

Hey mate would it be better to go with the 1500mah CHL black over the 1300mah (both 100c) like theres not really too much downside going a little bigger right?

[@andyescapes]

now that I've had some time with the drone I like 1300mah better every gram saved counts otherwise your drones "pop" will suck

[@South-Texas-Drones_5801]

Great video

[@afif3134]

This is the guide i needed!!

[@andyescapes]

i got you mate

[@moyenaak]

Good Video 💯

[@wakingdreamfpv]

Great vid mate! I bought the dji fpv and I’ve loved the ability to get flying asap big 6 months in def ready to upgrade. Got a gopro coming but I can feel how heavy and gutless the dji fpv

[@andyescapes]

not sure what you mean by the last bit but honestly dji fpv is underrated at this point haha

[@wakingdreamfpv]

@@andyescapes yeah in terms of safety and return to home it’s saved me heaps. When trying to freestyle it or do close dives you can feel how heavy and gutless it is though.

[@andyescapes]

fair enough mate full throttle and pray haha

[@creativegreats6924]

@@andyescapes what are key things that make it underrated ?

[@andyescapes]

@@creativegreats6924 basically 0 set up and learning time, gps, incredible range. but like I said if you want to do crazy stuff probably isn't the best idea

[@creativegreats6924]

Is this better camera than DJI FPV drone ?

[@andyescapes]

the gopro definitely is

[@davidhoang1411]

The fpv grind is real

[@fenderaxplayr]

at around 2:40 through 2:50 in your vid, you are showing the sim, are those custom tracks you built?

[@andyescapes]

nope, all default liftoff maps. I can make a liftoff specific video if you want help!

[@fenderaxplayr]

@@andyescapes I've been trying to practice the race modes; i haven't been able to find the style of hoops/targets shown in your vid. the default tracks seem to be a little low to the ground for my beginner skill level

[@andyescapes]

@@fenderaxplayr start on the the farm/barn ones with big gates and go from there!

[@fenderaxplayr]

@@andyescapes Thank you !, Great vids, keep'em coming