So here’s a question… what ratio of fpv flyers do we think use analog/digital?
I’m talking about freestyle drones here, there are obviously millions of fancy videos on YouTube of guys ripping through ‘bandos’ using very expensive digital setups, and of course filming with GoPros.
So when I go flying with my boxy analog setup - its always disappointing. Maybe its because I’m still flying too high for fear of hitting something.
Am in the majority…or do i need to think about going digital to ‘keep up’?
I fly analogue. I don’t have the mega bucks needed for digital.
Also if you break a cam its £14, break a vtx, £15, break an antenna £7-10 (or less). Where as if you break say a WS whoop board its £70, new camera £40, etc. Digital is nice, but you should really be a shit hot pilot before you get it, so you aren’t spending hundreds in the first year on replacement parts.
Also you can’t fear hitting stuff, it just happens. Or as a pilot I watch said, “Either be a ninja when flying, or be prepared to repair your quad”. But sometimes it isn’t avoidable.
If you have a good job, no family and the spare cash to drop £400+ on digital then go for it. But just be aware if you break it, it’s going to hurt your pocket.
I enjoy all my flights on analogue and knowing that if I smash my camera, it won’t cost me a kidney, helps get rid of some of the nerves.
I’ve been flying FPV for nearly 15 years, I do have a few digital systems but I’m still primarily an analog user.
The digital systems I use are DJI, Connex, and Skydroid.
The Connex system came out around 2014. I would liken the experience as having HDZero image quality with only slightly better latency figures than the DJI system.
The Skydroid system is unusual as the control and video are both sent on 2.4GHz as a multi-carrier frequency hopping transmission. This has the benefit of providing an impressive range, but the latency is too great for threading the needle type flying, and really only suitable for slow flying camera ships and fixed wing slow cruising. It’s also only compatible with Pixhawk and Cube flight controllers.
I use the DJI OG system on just the FPV Drone and a couple of self built quads. I’m not going to invest too much time and effort into it as it’s a closed system. Instead I’ll wait for my current analog goggles, Skyzone O4X, to breath their last and then invest in the HDZero goggles due to their versatility.
I like the ease of setup and use of analog. If I need a video system quckly I can rummage around in my bits box and find a camera and VTX, and not worry about compatibility issues. Even if I destroy something out at the field I can be back in the air in a few minutes after a rummage in the junk box, rather than spending around £150 on a new digicam and VTX, waiting for it to be delivered, then having to register it, install new firmware, etc etc.
I like digital as I can upload it and it looks good without a gopro. But my real enjoyment is in the moment flying. I got that with analogue the same as I do now in digital.
To get the fun out of any of the systems, you need to fly close to things and take risks. You can do that with analogue no problem.
I think this might be a key point… close up, analogue looks good, far away everything seems undefined and rubbish, I just heed to get better at flying!