Build log of my custom FPV drone built off an old Blade Theory XL
https://www.bladehelis.com/product/theory-xl-5-fpv-bnf-basic/BLH02150.html
Archive of the above link can be found in this repo.
Frame: Blade Theory XL
Motors:Blade BLHA1023 Thrust Series 2206-2450Kv
ESC: 4 x Blade BLH02102 (FlyColor Fairy 30A)
Flight Controller: OMNIBUSF4SD w/ ICM42688P Gyro
VTX: AKK Ultra Long Range 3 Watt
Camera: Caddx Ratel 2
RX: SpeedyBee ELRS Nano
GPS: Beitan BN-880
Propellers: Ethix S3 Watermelon
Battery: 4S 1600mAh Lipo(10m Flight time) or 3S 4200mAh Molicel P42A pack (?m Flight time)
Stock 4mm carbon fiber Blade Theory XL frame.
Originally a Spektrum F3 controller but was replaced with F4V3S clone from aliexpress
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005407722952.html
Originally had a 700 TVL Spektrum camera. Wow this was such a bad camera. Terrible FOV and no OSD support. Replacing with a CADDX Ratel 2. Currently waiting for it to arrive.
Stock 200mw Spektrum VTX is actually quite nice. Range is very good for 200mw. Unfortunately you have to physically turn on the VTX button every flight.
I am replacing this with AKK Long range 3W VTX. Currently waiting for it to arrive.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006955054449.html
The AKK VTX seems really good. I put silicone conformal coating on it, and used SoftSerial to turn Motor5 pad into TX for the SmartAudio connection. I setup the VTX table, but had to manually set 5 bands in the table first. I then transferred the VTX switch settings from my Eachine Cvatar to be able to change VTX power using the 6 button switch at the top of my Jumper Tpro radio.
Ultra Long Range VTX Table:
vtxtable channels 8
vtxtable band 1 BOSCAM_A A FACTORY 5865 5845 5825 5805 5785 5765 5745 5725
vtxtable band 2 BOSCAM_B B FACTORY 5733 5752 5771 5790 5809 5828 5847 5866
vtxtable band 3 BOSCAM_E E FACTORY 5705 5685 5665 0 5885 5905 0 0
vtxtable band 4 FATSHARK F FACTORY 5740 5760 5780 5800 5820 5840 5860 5880
vtxtable band 5 RACEBAND R FACTORY 5658 5695 5732 5769 5806 5843 5880 5917
vtxtable powerlevels 5
vtxtable powervalues 0 1 2 3 4
vtxtable powerlabels 250 500 1000 2000 3000
VTX Switch Based on Aux Channel 4:
vtx 0 3 0 0 1 1175 1375
vtx 1 3 0 0 2 1375 1525
vtx 2 3 0 0 3 1525 1650
vtx 3 3 0 0 5 1650 1850
This configuration changes VTX power based on the position of AUX channel 4. This skips the 2 watt setting on the VTX as I don't want to waste buttons to map out every power level. These buttons can then be reserved for future functionality.
Originally had a Spektrum SPM4649T / SH703X reciever that refused to go into bind mode.
Replaced with SpeedyBee ELRS Nano reciever from amazon
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CTBWQ91P
Stock power delivery board, and 30A BLHeli ESCS (BLH02102) running OneShot125 protocol.
ESCs are kinda bad, but after a custom tune they were alright. They didn't seem to have the precision of more modern ESCS using DSHOT protocol.
I have the parts to replace these, but I'd like to ride these until they die so that I don't make ewaste.
Stock 2206 size motors at 2450Kv
Beitan BN-880 GPS unit for return to home failsafe functionality
Compass Setup:
resource SERIAL_TX 3 NONE
resource SERIAL_RX 3 NONE
resource I2C_SCL 2 B10
resource I2C_SDA 2 B11
set mag_bustype = I2C
set mag_i2c_device = 2
set mag_i2c_address = 0
set mag_spi_device = 0
set mag_hardware = AUTO
save
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6790557
