Can I fly an FPV drone with a standard RC controller and NO goggles?
I don’t have anyone I could use regularly as an observer, hence the question…
I’m looking to add to my hangar, but a lot of what I seeing are FPV…
TIA
Stay Safe & Warm, Fly Happy!
MDSteve
I am only new to the Avata. I am aware that controller connects to goggles and goggles connect to drone. An expensive way could be that you can fly with the goggles on a table next to you and extend image to a phone, defeats the point of the f p v but when no spotter i guess its better then not flying. One lesson i learnt at big meet was to keep lenses from direct sunlight as it can magnify and damage screen.
Thanks @Foley Yep, that would work, but as you say expensive! I’m looking for a kit build, well semi kit build, one that just has to be assembled to start with.
But they all appear, or at least those I’ve found so far, to be FPV.
While looking for a bigger craft I’m looking to expand my knowledge of drones and how they go together etc…
Any suggestions appreciated.
MDSteve
Flying line of sight can be fun. But with no indication of what’s happening with battery power etc you’ll soon come unstuck
Also latency becomes an issue with viewing on another screen or device
Both end up the same way
Drone v Ground
Depends on the system.
In my experience:
If your drone is analogue fpv and uses an ELRS radio and receiver then yes.
If your drone is a DJI Mini 3 Pro - there is a workaround you can google and it works.
If your drone is DJI digital but is flown via ELRS then yes. These have two separate systems for flying.
If it’s fpv but only DJI then no, because the system has no standalone receiver.
So I’ve learnt something today, the telemetry of battery status etc is fed to the pilot via the goggles using a head-up display type system.
Would that display appear on a DJI RC controller type device?
If you have ELRS on a DJI FPV, a decent ELRS radio can display telemetry data on the radio screen.
Thanks GVG_Air, this is what I’m trying to understand, more research me thinks…
MDSteve
What kind of drone are we talking about?
DJI RC doesn’t work with their FPV system. Although I think someone has published a workaround for that as well.
If you have a DJI non-fpv drone then your telemetry data is shown on the DJI RC.
You can sort of do this with the Avata ( maybe even the Avata 2 with the same setup )
You can plug your phone into the goggles and launch the DJI Fly app on the phone and see what the goggles are doing - you can then get a mount that fits on the FPV controller to hold it but then you have to have the cable running to the goggles for the feed.
I am trying to remember if you see all the info off the goggles - have only ever done it twice but it was more to show someone what you see in the googles so cant fully remember if everything you see in the googles is on the phone screen.
I have not found a way to use any other remotes with the Avata - but then why would you want too - its FPV fly it FPV
There’s no option to use another controller, especially not a third-party one on the Avata.
But third party drones that use a DJI VTX/Camera unit offer optional ELRS support for a few quid.
The reason why you would want to fly via ELRS is to see your telemetry on the radio display, but mainly to use a much more feature-rich controller with full-size, adjustable gimbals, assignable buttons for flying modes, interchangeable antennas for close or wide focus etc.
Thanks Guys, it’s not necessarily going to be DJI based, it was more about if it was possible
Not sure what I’m going to get or even if it will be DJI R-T-F or one I have to build first from another vendor.
Thanks for the info guys…
MDSteve
Here’s a good place to start:
On checkout the price is 324 quid, and Baggood has it for 314.
But do take a look at the Oscar Liang interview as there are some caveats.
But this drone is available with an O4 Air Pro unit and ELRS, so instead of spending 150 quid on the DJI fpv controller you could get an excellent radio like a RadioMaster Pocket or Boxer.
You would still get the full DJI Goggle experience.
It has no GPS onboard and actually very little in the way of sensors so it would best suit someone with a bit of FPV experience. Crashing Cinewhoops doesn’t end well!
This can be done by wireless in the Avata 2 (audience mode) but if you’re flying fast and low there can be some lag
If your quad is betaflight driven, then you can feed the information of the osd (telemetry) onto your remote’s screen using lua scripts running on open or edgetx
Good call. @MDSteve ignore my message… it was good in my head at the time. 
Not sure if i misunderstood you but you can use a controller such as the dji fpv controller such as
with the avata and not wear the goggles you would of course as stated have jurry rig a seperate duspkay so you can monitor the battery life.
Maybe consider starting out with a small analogue tiny whoop.
Something like / similar to the BetaFPV Cetus Lite FPV kit.
It’s not expensive, has some minimal safety / flight assist features and will get you going, until your sure if FPV is for you or not
Hi All
Thanks for all the input, but I think I should have made the question clearer. My issue is not to try FPV, as it’s not something I could do other than at a meet. This is because I don’t have an observer for FPV.
What I was asking was more about building a kit myself, but all the kits I’ve come across are for FPV, thus the question “Can I fly an FPV craft without the Goggles” It would appear from reading the replies, If I chose the right kit with ELRS I should be fine to have some limited telemetry on a phone or other screed.
Many thanks for all the input/advice/suggestions, it’s very much appreciated
MDSteve
Hi Steve
As you are coming to the ‘kit’ world from DJI and want to fly without goggles i.e. LOS (line of sight) it seems to me that you want something that flies with lots of assistance like a DJI craft does.
I suggest then that you get a 5" or 7" kit and run INAV on it, (Arducopter would also be good but it’s very complicated for a beginner, so stick to INAV
INAV will give you
My latest 5" build is as the above suggestion and is actually just what you need.
I’ll bring it to the next meet so you can see it and try flying it.
If you do go down this route, don’t worry about the technicalities of setting it up, there are plenty in the club who are willing to help.
HTH
Steve
