Wondering you can help, I had the original DJI Mavic but due to flying restriction and laws I sold it, came back recently with a little NEO but I’m regretting not getting the FPV set up.
So now I’d like to try my hand at FPV and wondering if you guys can help with the cheapest way to get into it.
Is it go out and buy the DJI googles and such for my NEO or is there another way that won’t cost so much.
I’m sceptical to go the NEO FPV route as I plan to upgrade very soon.
And a LiPo charger. And you should probably get a soldering setup, which implies you’ll be tinkering, so a smoke-stopper might be a good idea. And, and, and…
It’s tempting to want noobs to do thier time with analogue, but these days the price gap to digital is far narrower, except DJI, if you’re starting from scratch. If you already have DJI goggles and/or one of their controllers (but only certain ones) then some of the other guys can let you know your options for using these with a “real” FPV quad.
If you have the Neo then goggles N3 and some sort of FPV controller does make sense.
I’m 4 years (ish) into my FPV journey and started with self-builds… I got a Neo for xmas.
I bought the RC-N3 shortly after getting the Neo so I could use it as my first ever camera drone.
It wasn’t long before the O4 air unit came out and I was blown away by what I saw in JB’s video… I’m a long time DJI “hater”, and HDZero lover (I have a lot of HDZero kit and a little bit of WS).
I decided to get the Goggles N3 and Motion 3 for use with the Neo and I can honestly say they’re both a good introduction to FPV, though the Motion 3 is nothing like real FPV, it is certainly not real Acro mode flying.
The FPV Controller 3 arrived yesterday, I have yet to fly it properly. My experience with acro will help a lot I’m sure. However the price point is very high for what you get, when you consider the price of other FPV controllers running Elrs, etc.
So I would say for someone new with a Neo, the Goggles N3 and FPV Motion 3 are not a bad buy (you can pick up the latter second hand at a discount on ebay etc, I paid £57 posted rather than £79)
But then for proper FPV, get a real quad and an ELRS/EdgeTX radio, which you can then use as a controller for a SIM.
The Avata 2 is definitely proper FPV. I would not bother with the original Avata. Avata 2 on their own (Drone Only) can be picked up cheaply on ebay. Their new price is rather high!
It all depends what sort of FPV you want to get into. The Mini 4 Pro can be flown with Goggles. If you’re looking for acro, I think you’ll certainly want to head away from DJI.
See this is where im at, I could get the N3 goggles and then have a little fun with the neo and potentially use them for video on the mini 4 as well, and if I really took to it get the avatar 2 (drone only) down the line.
but then im somewhere near the £350/£400 (without avatar, £750/£800 with) and wondering if Id get the same "feel/enjoyment) over going purely FPV, the kit in that vid above came out around £500 odd and im not tied to DJI.
So sorry for the questions, just trying to get my head around this and learn a little.
If I went Goggles N3, had a little play with Neo, and enjoyed it, could I buy something like the HappyModel Mobula8 HD 2S 85mm Digital Micro FPV Whoop, add a 04 air unit and a radio master pocket control and end up using the N3 goggles with this little quad ?
My thinking is that the quad gets its control signal and video separate, so the video is sent to Googles with 04 air, and the control signal is sent to the quad for control.
would all this work together, or am I completely wrong with how it transmits and receives controls/pictures?
Thanks and yeah I just found that option looking at the quad, I now see how my original question was a little silly and needed way more research before being asked.
I honestly didn’t realise it was so complicated with so many “closed” sets and options.
Think i’ll get the master pocket control thingy, do some sims, then maybe add the N3’s, play with Neo and then in theory I could get the little quad and 04 and id be set to climb down the rabbit hole later ?
Pocket control + N3 goggles + o4 air + quad + batts/charger = £650 (based on new prices)
Also assuming 04 air could be fitted to almost any upgrade quad ?
You need a controller for the Neo as well as the goggles if you want to “play with it”. RC-N3 will not work with the goggles.
Your choice is:
Motion 3 (£79 new or 2nd hand around £50-£60)
Not like real FPV, but fun.
Will work ONLY with the Avata2 and Neo (using Goggles N3 or 3)
(The signal goes like this: controller → goggles → Neo/Avata).
FPV Controller 3 (£139, not really available 2nd hand… I looked for a long time before buying new. That does mean that 2nd hand it keeps it’s value)
Works only with Goggles 3 or N3, but not just with Avata2 and Neo… will also work with both O4 air units. The O4 air units produce an SBUS signal which can be sent to the FC.
(The signal goes like this: controller → goggles → o4 air unit → FC)
Also works as a gamepad for your PC and so with any Sim.
It is usable but an expensive option.
If you’re not going to play with the Neo, then:
ELRS/OpenTX/EdgeTX radio… cheaper, loads to choose from. But will not work with the Avata2 or Neo. Can work with a quad with an O4 air unit as it will talk to a separate receiver (usually about £10) in the quad which is connected to the Flight controller.
(The signal goes like this: controller → elrs tx module* → elrs rx → FC
(*) the elrs tx module is often internal to the controller)
Usually can be used as a gamepad and so can be used with a sim.
A 2nd hand Motion 3 and an ELRS/OpenTX/EdgeTX radio is likely to be cheaper than just an FPV Controller 3…
that did make me chuckle 
