Latest ViFly tech: Don't wait for GPS lock ever again!

[@shadowofchaos8932]

I love my smoke stopper v2 from vifly. I use it after every repair to test for the unseen.

[@johncarold]

Hi Mr. P I have owned a Vifly smoke stopper for a while now and it has saved a build I did that had a bad ESC that could have costed me. I really like the V2 and can't wait until my first one breaks and I can get a new one. The strobe would be nice for my wing , I don't have a reason for the GPS mate. I have a Flywoo Explorer lr that the GPS is junk on being able to lock on 5 satellites. What I did was use the USB port to power the GPS without powering up the VTX. Then I have a phone battery backup that I use to get a lock . Thanks again for the video and information about Vifly newest products.

[@fastfred529]

Just ordered the smoke stopper and the strobe light. Thanks for the video.

[@retrodudefpv]

That gps mate would be great as a combined lost drone buzzer 🙂

[@Videolinquency]

I have been fitting Vtx switches to slow-fixing planes to avoid frying the units; the GPSmate seems to be a much smoother solution to a very real problem. Thanks for the tip.

[@mtlfpv]

You could use smart audio and set your FC to keep the vtx at 25mW until it is armed

[@IzzyBoop]

I do something similar, my vtx has pit mode so I just flip the pit mode switch on my LR quad until i got lock, but this thing looks kinda cool

[@Llegando_Tarde]

Nice! I believe you need a visible light at 3 miles for part 107 For flying at night

[@urlawyer]

Both look neat. FWIW, Betaflight has a low-power-on-disarm feature that lets you keep your vtx at its lowest power setting until you arm it. I have that enabled on all my quads to minimize heat/power consumption while my gpa is getting lock. You can set the feature so that it is only active until your first arm (so if you crash and have to disarm your vtx won’t flip back into 25mW mode).

[@100SteveB]

I have fitted some GPS units that always take ages to get a good lock, I don't stick with them for long! And strangely it always seems to be the newer gps modules that take their time. I personally still love to use the old Beitian BN880 - been around for years, and they never take long to get a lock - even from a cold start. I think it must be because they have their own small battery built in, which I guess a lot of the smaller units don't have. I like Vifly stuff, the smoke stopper is a fantastic little device, had it for nearly a year now and love it. But when it comes to the gps battery module, nah, i would prefer to use a gps module that does not take an age to get a lock.

[@loc4725]

That strobe looks interesting. And thanks for reminding me; I need to get another lost model alarm next time TCB does a bonus offer.

[@samavella8831]

Thanks for the review. Definitely meet and useful tools. My only gripe with the GPS aid module is that it’s just another component to add to your build. It would have been handier and more practical if it was designed as a standalone module where you would plug your existing GPS connector from the FC to the module and then your GPS to this new device and let it do its thing. Then once the GPS acquires the required number of satellites, unplug everything and plug the wiring from the FC back to your GPS.

[@SCFPV]

Having the gps module itself, come standard with an onboard start-up battery would be great. Just for cold boot, then the fc can take over and power it afterwards.

[@jasonmurphy9319]

I have Gps modules that have battery backup. M7N models from 7 years ago. they hold the gps lock for months. Should be possible to do it with newer gps types

[@Autocharge1]

The gps gizmo sounds well good, as for the selector switch for volts to the gps I don't understand why they did not make a jumper pad for this. Once set you would not need to change the volts also this could easily knocked and changed blowing or stopping working the gps.

[@MCsCreations]

Awesome stuff, Lee! Great review! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@narnasqueneth]

Inav has a setting whereby the VTX will be in low power mode until first arm. Still, this will be useful for those runnings software that doesn't have that feature

[@paulhope3401]

Nice review and that is a very cool GPS mate unit, I'm very weight conscious though and don't like carrying extra weight in the form of additional lipos.. or the added box to tick on my checklist of making sure it is charged before each flight. I'd rather have a wait over that.. so a simple vtx/air unit power switch (or pit mode) is the preferred solution for me.

[@Painless360]

That is another way to do it but not useful for DJI Air Units or when using systems that don't support low power modes for analogue FPV. Happy flying!

[@KatrinaLeFaye]

You can plug your quad into computer which will charge the battery on that GPS mate, just like the full size and micro buzzers.

[@KatrinaLeFaye]

after they are wired up at least...

[@andy1514-g1q]

if your GPS is taking that long to get the first lock (& you haven't moved far from where you last used it) the tiny lithium battery on the GPS module that holds the last satellites info in memory has probably died.

[@termite2691]

Long lock times probably means you've got a lot of noise coming from somewhere ... probably a camera or other noisy electronic board more than the obvious transmitting things..

[@Painless360]

Agreed, if it takes a long time every time. Most often it's due to a cold start from the GPS for the first flight of the day.. I'm planning a video on it to help pilots understand how all that works... Happy flying

[@greatgandalf5233]

Great video! Thanks for the new reviews... great insurance for your valuable ac. I'll buy at least one for each of my planes. My family wants me to put one around my neck 🙄...

[@jamesemery1]

nice!! cheers Lee stay safe

[@blakey271able]

Been looking for a strobe light for my plane but gave up because I couldn't find one I liked. The search is over

[@timbersrcadventures]

I don’t need the gps mate as I got a bn-880 gps and instant connection to satellite

[@JB-cq2wo]

how do I charge the battery ? I have a few of them and there not working ? Seems battery is dead ?

[@greatgandalf5233]

I used one of these to find a plane in a large Pine Tree 🌲. So high up I had to use a DJI Mavic Pro to drop a modified clothes hanger/with a line attached to pull it down, Styrofoam is cheap, your electronics are not!

[@harrypeberdy4090]

Can you please tell me where I can get the vifly in the UK thak you Harry

[@Painless360]

Hobbyrc

[@woogieman02]

How long would the strobe last on a single charge? Would be cool to have one of those on my long range rig when flying with others. If it is easily seen during the day, it would be great for locating people. And is there an option to wire the strobe to a 5v pin on a flight controller

[@VIFLYDrone]

4 hours for strobe mode, 1 hour for flash mode and constant on.

[@softart5235]

Question : Can you use no barometer on gps return to home

[@Painless360]

Baro isn't essential for RTH on lots of firmware. See my various build videos... Happy flying

[@softart5235]

@@Painless360 thank you again

[@taggerung890]

whats the weight with cables for the gps mate

[@MrStevegibb]

Would surely just be better to wire gps to 3v3 or 4v5 so that you can just plug any usb power into fc and get a lock that way.

[@ZeroFPV]

I use a power bank to connect to the flight controller and connect the GPS to one of the pads which are powered through USB.

[@mik439]

and second power bank to gps

[@pablofpv]

Smart phone and OTG cable, USB to FC, gets a really quick lock, then connect lipo! 😁

[@mik439]

i wait for FC with extra battery and motor with extra battery too