We regularly get requests about how to get started in FPV. Below are some answers to common questiosn and suggestions on starter gear.
How much does it cost? The initial cost for goggles, a radio, and a drone can be as low as $500 or so. Like any hobby, the cost goes up from there. It’s possible to get started with a controller and a simulator for about $100.
Is it hard to learn? Yes! Flying requires precise movements of the sticks and perfect timing. Unlike camera drones that hover automatically, racing drones are flown in full manual mode. This means they will crash if you let go of the sticks or don’t react quickly enough. Thankfully, they are durable and can survive multiple crashes. Like any skill, it improves with practice. It’s like a video game, only it’s real!
How do you know who wins a race? We use a timing system that measures the video signal from each drone. It can tell exactly when the pilot passes the start/finish gate, and that lets us measure lap times. The video from each pilot is also shown on the race director’s computer to make sure everybody is flying the track correctly.
What are the different classes of drones? Indoors we fly ‘whoop’ class drones with ducts around the propellers, which weigh around 20g and measure 65mm (diagonally) from motor to motor. We also fly “Igniter” class drones following the spec set by the Underground Drone League (https://undergrounddroneleague.com/). When flying outdoors, we commonly fly “Open Class” drones (almost any drone that weighs less than 800g) and “Feather Class” drones (under 250g).
How often do you race? As often as we can! Most of the year we have races almost every week, usually on Sundays.
Do you want me to race? I can barely fly FPV and will be slow! Yes, we want you to join us! The competition is friendly and we want everybody to have fun, no matter your skill level (including absolute beginners). That’s where we all started!
What gear is needed to get started?
At a minimum you’ll need a radio (controller) and a simulator.
Starter radio: We suggest the Radiomaster Pocket Crush (about $100). It’ll work with simulators and with an actual FPV drone (but really, start with the simulator). We also suggest stopping by a race to try out a variety of controllers – they come in different shapes and sizes, so personal preference comes into play with choosing one. Rotor Village is located in Manitoba, is a reputable store and they ship quickly: https://rotorvillage.ca/radiomaster-pocket-crush-transmitter-elrs/ The radio does not come with batteries, though. It’s powered by a pair of 18650 rechargeables (about $18): https://rotorvillage.ca/radiomaster-pocket-18650-3200mah-3-7v-battery-2pcs/
Drones/goggles: We suggest not buying these until after spending some time in the simulator and talking with other pilots. Flying in real life means crashes, and crashes get expensive quickly! We sometimes have loaner equipment at our races if you’d like to get a feel for flying first-hand. If you really want to start flying ‘for real’, micro-drones (“whoops”) are a good start because they can be safely flown indoors and are quite durable.
Practice in a simulator is essential because it lets you fly as much as you want without worrying about crashing and breaking anything. Two are recommended are “Liftoff” (on the Steam store – https://store.steampowered.com/app/410340/Liftoff_FPV_Drone_Racing/) and Velocidrone (sold on its own website: https://velocidrone.com/shop). Each of them is about $27. Liftoff is more “game like” and it has the maps used in the Joshua Bardwell tutorial series (see below). Velocidrone is less of a game and more of a simulator – the graphics aren’t as pretty but the physics are the most realistic. Nearly all FPV racers practice in Velocidrone, and there are regular online races you can join to get more practice.
Joshua Bardwell is the “know it all” of FPV drones and has been making videos on the topic for almost a decade. His “Learn to Fly” series is a great starting point, and is how many of us learned to fly. It uses maps in the Liftoff simulator: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDb7WF6c8lCKhQOTy-Vb9LfW0VAIrTP