Well, again, it’s time to take a break from the headphones and a little fly. I looked for some interesting model from the budget segment and stopped at Utoghter 69601: inexpensive, dolgoletie copter with height gauge. What else is needed in the role of toys for the summer?
Not to break tradition, let’s start with the packaging — a fairly compact cardboard box with color printing. It somehow printed what the flight time is 11 minutes, but this is a unique case, when the Chinese producers have lowered characteristics, without FPV camera copter safely fly 16 minutes, sometimes even more (depends on the speed in the first place), which is more than enough to stop playing. The battery traditionally is about 2 hours.
In the box, under the protection of plastic are:
- the quadrics,
- remote control,
- pair of replacement propellers
- legs
- protection for propellers,
- screwdriver
- mounting screws (and who only guessed pour in one packet of screws in two sizes? Look carefully to select the most appropriate)
- great “pin” for attaching the smartphone to the console
- FPV-camera.
If you are a novice flyer, I advise you immediately to protect and “chassis”, they obviously help you out in many situations. Mounted easily, but this time the producers have provided for the locking of all the controls with the screws that reduce the chance of the loss of “kit” in the nearest bushes and the grass.
Before the flight is to study the remote and read the instructions, the benefit she brief. The control panel is not particularly ergonomic shape, but not so much that it could be called inconvenient. Functionally it is quite standard:
- two stick, spring-loaded on both axes (there is a height sensor), the left is responsible for the height and turns, right — for movement horizontally;
- two buttons on top, one controls the speed, the second for flips;
- the four buttons near the right stick is used for trimming;
- four buttons in the left are responsible for photo/video (in this model they are irrelevant since the camera is only for FPV), the inclusion of “headless mode” and automatic return (traditionally works is not so hot);
- in the center is the power button, next to which is placed a button automatic take-off and landing.
Preflight preparation in this model is minimal, it is necessary to charge the battery inserted in the remote controller 4 AA batteries (not included) to calibrate the position sensor, as described in the instructions.
For takeoff it is necessary to include the drone, turn on the remote and then move the left stick as high as possible (peep) and down as much as possible (squeak). Starting the engine is carried out by dilution of the sticks down to the outside. After start-up, you can either move the left stick up to climb, or click autovalet, then the copter will rise and crash at the height of about five feet. Another fun option is taking off with a throw, throw the copter up (try to do this, keeping it more or less horizontally) and raise the left stick, the machine itself stabilizes in the air. Planting can be done either automatically by using the buttons on the remote, or just carefully reducing the height to zero.
However, I ran forward, without telling anything about the copter. He’s similar to older models DJI, but decreased about 2 times (the distance between the ends of the beams only 28 cm). The plastic quality is good, light crash, he tolerates without any problems. In the rays of the installed LEDs showing the direction of flight, the battery compartment is closed hinged lid with a projection. In General, the case when some outstanding design, but without it, everything looks quite neat.
Complete the camera is decent quality, but since it does not install a MicroSD card to use it only for FPV. To do this, use the companion app, which allows you to connect to the quadrocopter via Wi-Fi to broadcast the video from the phone screen. Also this application provides a number of additional functions like voice control and control of drone using the accelerometer. However, all this is useless and not really applicable toys.
The range of Wi-Fi in open areas without interference-type transmission line is 60 meters, remote control with “demand” meters 120-130. If the permissible range in the case control with the remote control copter quite gently landed on the place where it is located, in the case of Wi-Fi landing was hard enough. In any case, do not suggest this experiment.
But, of course, the most important is flying. At the first speed quadrics quite impressive, perhaps, is the most suitable option for a beginner and fly home or outdoors in calm weather. If you enable the “high consumables” speed is markedly increased, but the drone remains well-controlled and fly with some smoothness (however, after 3 Mini MJX Bugs me, everything seems smooth). Managing the flier responds clearly and quickly, without any surprises.
Once again, I note that in models for beginners height gauge is a highly desirable option, it allows slightly to relieve the brain, reducing the number of simultaneously monitored parameters. After calibration of the gyro and trimming, Utoghter 69601 showed that he is able to hold the position, though not perfectly, and only in the absence of wind.
In General, I would summarize. A very successful model for those who want to fly just for fun, with no pretensions to racing or aerial stunts. Adequate for a beginner to manage and quite a long flight is exactly what we need an inexperienced user. Wi-Fi FPV is an added bonus, allowing you to add some fun feeling when other forms of entertainment become boring. By the way, about the price. Now this copter is 51 per dollar, but with the coupon U69601 the price will drop to $ 10.
Buy Utoghter 69601
Browse quadcopter Utoghter 69601 — an inexpensive option for beginners
Pavel Dmitriev