What to build

[Tecnic]

APM is open source therefore there are no "fake" one's, just different manufacturers, though they should only be named "Ardupilot" if they are made by 3D Robotics, the Chinese of course ignore this

[gavnthat]

No I didn't mean the 3dr one I meant this one

http://www.rctimer.com/product-818.html

or this one

http://www.rctimer.com/product-1170.html

with this gps/compass

http://www.rctimer.com/product-1165.html


current sensor

http://www.rctimer.com/product-1125.html

osd

http://www.rctimer.com/product-862.html

about $127 dollars plus a couple of dollars postage for all you need, £20 dollars less if you get the mini apm, they also have cases and gps stands etc

There are others from ebay and hobbyking but I would get this myself.

[macck]

Well that sounds like a deal. Im wondering what about taxes on the border

Oh and the other thing, about sony CCD - what lens do you suggest? 2.1 or 2.8 ?

Okay if rctimer considered
i figured this setup :




and "eleres" radiolinks, turnigy 9x,turnigy multistar 2216-800kV motors, 5000mAh lipo 20-30C, sony CCD and that's pretty much it
But stiill i have no idea about size of the frame or materials, but I'd rather have X-copter than +Copter

[gavnthat]

I have ordered lots from rctimer and never been charged  by customs but I have been charged when I have got stuff from HK and myrcmart. No guarantees really.

I have only flown with 2.8mm lenses on my cams

[macck]

Do you live in europe?
What example values you ordered? via HKpost?
Do they for example sending part as a gift etc?
We have 23% tax in Poland and well... no worries if value below 60$ but above that ...

[gavnthat]

I'm in the UK I have ordered many times from HK and only ever b een charged by customs once which was recently I think the value was around £40 They used to under declare the value of your order and mark it as a gift so you wouldn't get charged but they have stopped doing that now that is why so many people are getting charges.

[macck]

Ok emailed store about some gift-wrapping :-D

What do you guys think about current setup?

[MK1G4V]

Is there any reason that you plan to use 5.8ghz for Video? I'm just wondering. You can get a fairly decent 1.2ghz setup for around the same money. I haven't use 5.8ghz myself and maybe shouldn't  comment.. But I think a 1.2ghz TX/VTX setup might just be better for you at your required range.. Although the 2000mw TX/VTX 5.8ghz U have listed sounds like a lot of power. And people have gone out 2-3-4-5km on 5.8ghz with 500-800mw units.... Will You be flying direct LOS Or will you be flying behind trees ect?  The 1.2ghz will penetrate better than 5.8ghz In this instance and Is generally a better frequency for any sort of  lengthy range...

Also will you be only buying One lipo battery? Its really best to buy 2-3. You will have what feels like an eternity to wait for a single 4000+ mah lipo to charge at a safe 1C rate between your short 10-15 min flights..

[macck]

Well accualy i have an idea that lower frequency equals better penetration through objects etc, though I need to make an little research if 435MHz TX/RC would have frequency conflicts with 1,2GHz sicne 2,4GHz have problem working with 1,2 FPV TX/RX.
Though you can send more data with 5,8GHz
Well 2W radio is overkill, but it costs just 10$ more than Hobbyking 600mW link and i could buy it from RCTimer... but thats thing to reconsider anyway.
Im going to buy few lipos dont worry ;-)
At least 3-4 :-)

[MK1G4V]

Uhf 433mhz -459mhz have very little in any conflicts between itself and 1.2ghz..Its recommended In most cases and Is very popular here.

Good job with the lipos

[macck]

Still im not sure if using 430-440MHz is fully legal in RC systems, for PMR yes but here...
still a lot of people are using this frequency.

[gavnthat]

http://rctimer.com/product-1055.html

That's a decent cheap frame  I have one plenty of room for stuff and a an to vibration mount for hd camera or gimbal.

I think 30amp ESC would be a better choice than 20amp
http://rctimer.com/product-779.html

If your thinking about 433 UHF these are worth a look I use them on a mini quad and about to use on my wing, flash them with better firmware and put better antennas on them and you have a cheap 433 UHF LRS that will go further than your quad ever will.

http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__27096__OrangeRx_Open_LRS_433MHz_9Ch_Receiver.html

http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__43852__OrangeRX_Open_LRS_433MHz_Transmitter_1W_JR_Compatible_.html

http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__53619__RMILEC_UHF435MHz_SRC771_1_2_Wave_Length_UHF_Antenna_w_9XR_Mount.html

The transmitter module fits straight into the back of the turnigy 9x and 9xr

You really don't need a 2000w transmitter its proper overkill, if you go 5.8ghz 600mw will be plenty. Although I would say go 1.2ghz for video as it will give you better range and object penetration.

http://www.surveilzone.com/8ch-video-audio-800mw-wireless-transmitter-receiver-WS1120

This will do the job nicely.

[gavnthat]

I have that frame the UHF those ESC and use a very similiar video tx and rx , my quad runs on 3s 4400mah 2830 1000kv motors, 10x4.5 props and flies for bout 7 mins but its on the heavy side with a gimbal and go pro
 if I took the gimbal off and used the 2216 800kv motors you want to use with a 5000mah 4s I would easy get 2km range and would be close to 15min flight time to give you an idea of what's possible.

[gavnthat]

Pics of frame

[macck]

What about durability?
You had some accidential crashes with that thing?