About 6 months ago I got into FPV (first person view) drones and realized the initial setup, getting started, and process that I wish I followed could be useful to others. This guide is for someone who doesn't want to spend a lot of money to get into the hobby or is on the fence about getting into it and doesn't want to spend a lot right away.
Also, I live in one of the larger cities in the US, so if you do as well, this might also apply even more. If you're not in the US and reading this, you might have different radio options like LBT (Listen Before Talk) instead of FCC (Federal Communications Commission) . Double check these.
Phase 1: Shopping
Step 1: Get an ELRS Radio
The sooner you get an ELRS (ExpressLRS) radio, the sooner you can start flying simulators while you decide on other things or wait for shipping from China. I was able to pick up a RadioMaster Pocket (ELRS/FCC) on eBay for about 10% off. It shipped fast. If you want an upgrade or the Pocket style radio isn't for you, then do some research on RadioMaster's website.
Batteries for your radio? The Pocket uses 18650 batteries. Other RadioMaster radios have more options. Buy them online or if you want to upcycle, check inside your old vacuum or maybe you can pull a battery pack from the hardware store recycle bin. I had a Dyson V6 Stick vacuum that had 6x Sony 18650 batteries in it which I have been using to power my radio and goggles.
Step 2: Simulator
I've tried The Zone, Uncrashed, and LiftOff. I don't really have a major preference as they all seem to have pros and cons. They aren't super expensive. If you want to follow along exactly with Bardwell's video, get LiftOff. His playlist is here
Step 3: Goggles
The "Type" of radio system I'm recommending is Analog. There is only one kind of analog so anything analog is cross compatible between brands. There are many kinds of Digital and most of it is not compatible. As for analog, there are many options here. A descent beginner goggle is the BetaFPV VR04 (non-HD). I haven't used these but if I was to do this over, I would have gotten these. I have Cobra SD goggles. There are lots of opinions on what makes good goggles. If you get VR04s then you can probably order the drone at the same time. Keep reading....
Alternatives to VR04? Everything else is going to be more expensive. In my opinion, I would get the VR04s or go straight to the top of the line. If you want to go high-end here, you'll have to do some research as there are multiple brands, modules, etc you could go with.
Battery: The VR04 has a built-in battery you can use to get started!
đź’ˇ Pro-Tip: Install a 16GB or 32GB microSD card in your goggles. Cheap goggles don't handle large SD cards well. Learn to use the recordings in the goggles. If you crash, you can replay the video to see exactly where you went down. It might be the difference between a lost drone and a found drone.
Step 4: Which Drone?
Start with a "Tiny Whoop", a micro drone with propeller guards. Don't let the size or fact that they have prop guards fool you. These are very capable.
I recommend getting one or two Air65 II (Racing Edition). (2nd is for backup and if they both break, you can use parts from each broken drone to make a 3rd working drone). It's surprisingly durable. I and many people have slammed these straight into the ground trying to powerloop and the most damage is to the battery. This smaller 65 variant can be flown indoors. When buying you might want to get a frame and a canopy, though not required because it comes with some props and canopy. You can see the freestyle version up close here.
Alternatives? Air75 II. Not as easy to fly indoors but more capable in wind and outside. The 65 can power through a breeze no problem, it'll just get thrown around more.
Step 5: Required Accessories
Air65 Batteries: For the Air65 II, get the LAVA II 1S 320mAh 1S batteries from BetaFPV. These are not LiPo (Lithium polymer) but LiHV (Lithium High Voltage).
Air65 Charger: ViFly Whoopstor V3 on Amazon. BetaFPV sells a HexaCharger which might be a good option, but I haven't looked into it. Also, I think you can charge one at a time with a USB adapter from BetaFPV. Charging one at a time is painful since the flight time is so short.
Fan: Get a desk or battery operated Fan to cool the VTX in the drone when tinkering on your desk. You do not want to allow the drone to sit stationary for too long which will damage the VTX by allowing it to overheat.
Phase 2: Setup and Flying
Step 1: Getting your drone setup
Before your first flight, you’ll plug your drone into your computer using Betaflight software to configure it. You'll be watching videos online to bind, setup, configure etc. Keep these three tweaks in mind:
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Throttle Limit: Set your max throttle to 60% - 80%. Tiny whoops are surprisingly fast indoors or in small yards. Capping the power will keep you from rocketing into orbit and slamming into the ceiling while learning control.
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Rates: Use "Actual" rates set to 100 and a max of 400, with no expo. This keeps your stick movements smooth and predictable and not extreme.
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Enable the Beeper: The Air65 II doesn’t have a physical buzzer, but Betaflight can make the motors beep when you flip a switch. It’s not incredibly loud, but it’s better than nothing when searching through grass.
⚠️ CRITICAL WARNING: GET A FAN!
Whenever your drone is plugged into a battery/USB on your desk and not actively flying, the Video Transmitter (VTX) gets incredibly hot because there is no airflow. DO NOT OVERHEAT YOUR VTX. Point a desk fan directly at the drone any time it's plugged in and sitting stationary for a bit (aka not being flown).
Step 2: Your First Real Flight
When it's time to pull the goggles down for the first time, set yourself up for success by following these ground rules:
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Avoid the "Wet Killers": Drones and moisture do not mix. Stay far away from puddles, kitchen sinks, toilets, wet morning grass, and—surprisingly—succulent plants. Smashing a juicy succulent will instantly coat your electronics in conductive sap.
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Fly Outside in Zero Wind: Micro drones are light; a stiff breeze will put the wind in partial control.
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Commit to Acro (Air) Mode: It’s harder at first, but you have been using the simulator! Switching back and forth from Angle / Acro mode creates bad muscle memory. Rip the band-aid off.
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Choose Your Terrain Wisely at First: Find a large, open space with a soft crashing area. Think , tanbark, carpet, astro-turf, or short but dry grass.
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Beware of Thick Vegetation: Trees and tall, bushy shrubs love to trap tiny drones. The leafier the bush, the higher the chance you'll need to dig through brush looking for a tiny thing. Also, you setup the beeper in Betaflight right?
Closing Toughts
Here is the best part about starting with a tiny whoop: No repairs. In your first month or two, this setup is so light and simple that you rarely break anything major.
However, keep these final thoughts in mind:
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What if it breaks? If you only have one drone and it goes down, your flying days are paused until parts arrive. Many pilots eventually buy a backup clone of their favorite quad for this exact reason. I ended up buying a second Air65 II.
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The Learning Curve: This guide is a high-level look at the major pain points. I didn't cover the step-by-step process of binding your radio to the drone, but there are endless resources out there to help.
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Building a Drone From Scratch: My 2nd drone was a custom build. If I was to do this again, I would not have done this. There are SO many extra tools and doodads I needed to buy it just kept delaying things. I should have gotten a larger BNF (Bind and Fly). BNF drones include some spare parts and doodads to add to your collection so you might want to get a 2-3 inch BNF later that has some of these doodads. An example of some of the doodads I've purchased for building drones: grommets, 2mm screws of every length (4mm to 8mm), capacitors, nylon nuts, battery straps, battery pads, smoke stopper, soldering iron tips, scale, magnifying glass, etc. The list of tools and parts you need when doing a custom build goes on and on.
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Is something you want out of stock or discontinued? Yes, this is a common problem with FPV gear. Very annoying, but it's the world we currently live in.
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