Starte mit FPV diesen Frühling!

Hi,

Lexie here aka MaiOnHigh! In this article, I would like to explain the most important steps for getting into the FPV hobby. I'm guessing you found this blog post because you're ready to take the big step and fly a real FPV drone. Congratulations and welcome aboard! :-)

Let me guess: You heard about FPV some time ago and decided to give it a try? Maybe you've already bought a simulator and tried out your moves on it? Read this article to find out about the most important steps on your way to becoming an FPV pilot.

Before I start with the main part: if you're more of a visual learner or just like watching videos, take a look at our YouTube channel. For example, you can learn how to solder properly, there are product reviews, troubleshooting support and building instructions for your own drone.

You can also find a free Skillshare course on my channel, where I tell you all about drones, individual parts and which ones fit together, how to actually fly them and much more. Take a look!

And now let's start with the basics:

The radio control (also called RC transmitter)

If you don't have a radio yet, this is the first thing you should get. Most radio remote controls now have a USB port so that you can connect them directly to your games console or computer. This allows you to fly right from the start in the simulator with the remote control that you want to use later outdoors. If you have friends who fly FPV, just ask if you can try out their radio to see which one you like best. Here are a few tips from me:

The cheapest remote control and certainly sufficient for beginners is the BetaFPV LiteRadio. It is a simple controller that is similar in shape and handling to game console controllers.
The TBS Tango2 is popular and handy. It is one of the most popular remote controls and is already equipped with a TBS Crossfire Link. In short, this ensures the greatest possible range. However, make sure that your drone is also equipped with Crossfire.

Find out more about Crossfire in this video

The versatile Radiomaster TX16S has become a classic among remote controls. It offers you lots of possibilities as it is equipped with a multi-protocol and you can connect it to almost anything. There is also a module slot for upgrades! The only downside for me is that it is quite large and therefore significantly heavier than the other two models.

The goggles

If you want to fly FPV, you need FPV goggles. As the name suggests, FPV (First Person View) refers to a variant of RC model building in which the model is controlled from the perspective of the remote-controlled model, as if from the viewpoint of a pilot, using camera technology. However, buying FPV goggles can be a little more difficult, depending on your budget. Before you buy a pair of goggles, you should ask yourself a few questions:

Do I want to fly digital (HD) or analog? Or maybe both? If you want to fly digitally, one of these options might be for you:

DJI FPV Video Goggles

What is your budget? This is probably the most important question. If you opt for a cheaper model, you will find a few good models below, albeit for analog flight:

BetaFPV VR02 FPV Goggle

Order now

Fatshark FPV Goggles Scout

Order now

Do you wear goggles? There are plenty of us who wear glasses and don't want to switch to contact lenses for every flight. With some FPV goggles you can even use corrective lenses! For example with the OrquaFPV or the Fatshark Goggle. Another option is the Fatshark HD02, which allows you to adjust the focus and distance. However, you need to be sure that the adjustment options are suitable for your eyesight.

The drone - build or buy?

This is a recurring question in the FPV hobby. At the moment, we at FPV24 recommend: buy the first drone, build the second yourself! If you want to go full throttle - we recently made a YouTube video on how to build your own drone.

but, as already mentioned, I would recommend that you buy your first drone. Especially if you're not yet 100% sure whether the hobby is really for you and you'd rather start flying than spend hours building the drone. Try a starter set. This includes goggles, radio and copter and are already coordinated with each other.

gEPRC TinyGo Racing FPV Whoop RTF Kit

Order now

betaFPV Whoop Racing Cetus Kit Pro

Order now

If you already have a remote control and even goggles, here are my suggestions for a few freestyle and racing drones:

Freestyle

Racing

Learning to fly

The first tip is always: practice in the simulator first. This saves money and gives you a first impression of the hobby. In addition, you can practice in a simulator completely independent of time and location. A lot has happened in the field of FPV simulators in recent years. The flight feel of the simulators is usually very realistic and they are well suited to training the first basic flight maneuvers and movement sequences.

The training sessions on the PC are suitable for both beginners and professionals. Advanced riders, for example, can practise new tricks safely on the PC and save themselves expensive crashes. There are also many video tutorials about flying with drones on YouTube, where you can learn the right technique.

Of course, you can also take off directly with a drone. Small drones and micro drones are particularly suitable here. They are much safer and easier to handle for beginners. A micro drone is usually fitted with a special frame that protects people and the surrounding area in the event of a crash. These drones are also particularly robust, so they shouldn't mind the odd crash.

Whatever you decide, at the end of the day, you should enjoy flying! That's the most important thing with any hobby. The FPV community is great and I highly recommend joining a Facebook group, for example. Being part of a community has many benefits and allows you to get useful information quickly.