Hobsan/hubsan... it all sounds the same to me, but that was a typo. I can only report my experience. If yours is different, lucky you:)
I have know way of knowing if my pretty little thing has a defect and I don't really care... what I'm thinking is... hmmmm that camera view sure looks good.
Hi
I thought I would share my experiences of flying a cheap quad after reading this thread.
My local store (uk) had the Ares Ethos QX 75 for £36 inc tax - they also had the Hubsan at £40.....
Anyway I purchased the Ethos (call me mean).
Now I've been flying RC gliders for eons but have managed to avoid powered planes, so I was super cautious with this as I know that helicopters are very difficult and expected this to be the same.
My first attempt was in the living room from the carpet. Gently increased revs, it started to 'wobble' a few more revs and the wobbling increased and I chickened out, powered down and had a think.
The next and all the following attempts were from the top of a kingsized bed with thick duvet as a soft takeoff landing area.
Every time I revved up the motors to just lift-off speed the 'wobbling' got to a point that I panicked and just gave up.
Eventually I bit the bullet and went for a real take off - as soon as the quad left the bed everything stopped gyrating and just a gentle sideways drift; reduced power, landed (bedded?) and started to breathe again.
Adjusted the press button trim on the transmitter to correct for sideways drift and tried again.
Much better - a tad more confident - almost got to a hover but it started to drift back and my gentle attempt at correction with some forward stick was too little too late and it 'ditched' safely - reduce power - try again.
And so it went.
So now after about six batteries worth of 'flying' I can just about get it to eyelevel hight, correct for drifting and put it down. Actually making it take a prescribed route is still beyond my abilities, but I am improving and it is immense fun. Its survived all my abuse so far.
Altitude control is weird. Unsticking from the ground takes enough power that it goes straight up and hits the ceiling if not corrected, but reducing the power sees it sinking to the ground far too easily and actually achieving a hover is almost impossible - I find I am giving up, then down, then up, then down etc etc.
But I think its just training, me that is, plenty of practice and hope it stays in one piece.
Now I think the Hubson has more sensors that the Ethos which claims to have only a three axis gyro, while the Hubsan has 'Latest 6-axis flight control system with adjustable gyro sensitivity', so I rather wish I had spent a bit more. Nevertheless, they are incredible value and a good incentive to sit down and build my own....(somewhat bigger) quad.
Dave
....- I find I am giving up, then down, then up, then down etc etc.
My instructor says its called "operator induced oscillation". You continue (over) correcting during the lag before the device can respond to the previous adjustment. Make the adjustment, and give it a 3 count before you touch the control again. If you survive, you'll get the feel of it. This is why I don't fly real helicopters.
Hi
I thought I would share my experiences of flying a cheap quad after reading this thread.
My local store (uk) had the Ares Ethos QX 75 for £36 inc tax - they also had the Hubsan at £40.....
Anyway I purchased the Ethos (call me mean).
Now I've been flying RC gliders for eons but have managed to avoid powered planes, so I was super cautious with this as I know that helicopters are very difficult and expected this to be the same.
My first attempt was in the living room from the carpet. Gently increased revs, it started to 'wobble' a few more revs and the wobbling increased and I chickened out, powered down and had a think.
The next and all the following attempts were from the top of a kingsized bed with thick duvet as a soft takeoff landing area.
Every time I revved up the motors to just lift-off speed the 'wobbling' got to a point that I panicked and just gave up.
Eventually I bit the bullet and went for a real take off - as soon as the quad left the bed everything stopped gyrating and just a gentle sideways drift; reduced power, landed (bedded?) and started to breathe again.
Adjusted the press button trim on the transmitter to correct for sideways drift and tried again.
Much better - a tad more confident - almost got to a hover but it started to drift back and my gentle attempt at correction with some forward stick was too little too late and it 'ditched' safely - reduce power - try again.
And so it went.
So now after about six batteries worth of 'flying' I can just about get it to eyelevel hight, correct for drifting and put it down. Actually making it take a prescribed route is still beyond my abilities, but I am improving and it is immense fun. Its survived all my abuse so far.
Altitude control is weird. Unsticking from the ground takes enough power that it goes straight up and hits the ceiling if not corrected, but reducing the power sees it sinking to the ground far too easily and actually achieving a hover is almost impossible - I find I am giving up, then down, then up, then down etc etc.
But I think its just training, me that is, plenty of practice and hope it stays in one piece.
Now I think the Hubson has more sensors that the Ethos which claims to have only a three axis gyro, while the Hubsan has 'Latest 6-axis flight control system with adjustable gyro sensitivity', so I rather wish I had spent a bit more. Nevertheless, they are incredible value and a good incentive to sit down and build my own....(somewhat bigger) quad.
Dave
I believe what you are experiencing is Ground Effect. The pressure off the rotors is greater at slightly off the ground, thus less throttle is needed. Also, the down wash of air off the rotor blades at low altitudes, (rotor wash), causes a lot of instabilities. The controls are more sensitive at low hover.
Certainly sounds like Ground Effect. As an aside, I bought the Hubsan. I can't remember having so much fun with a "toy" before. As Dave did, I started in the house - I think that's a mistake, but the Hubsan is so tiny I didn't think it would be very good outside with any breeze at all. I should mention that I have a ELEV-8 that is currently "in the shop" and also a Blade MQX. Years ago I flew competition aerobatics with powered RC planes so I do know how to fly, but it's been decades.
On Saturday I finally had some time to "play" so I took both of the little ones out. I ran through a battery's worth on the MQX and then went to the Hubsan. I honestly think the Hubsan is more fun to fly. I got to the point where I can land it on my hand, on a small table next to a lawn chair and on the tonneau cover of my Polaris Ranger in the garage. I can also fly it around the yard and am working on "nose in" flying. Actually, I don't see much reason to learn "nose in" except it helps when you lose orientation on the quad. Flying these things is completely different from fixed wing planes. In "expert" mode the Hubsan is a blast. I've managed a few flips, but have more crashes than successful flips. I took it over to my brother's on Sunday for a cookout and managed to bend a prop (still the original props) hitting his deck railings. When I took off again, it flew, but had a weird vibration noise - that's when I noticed the bent prop. Straightened it out and kept flying. This thing is nearly indestructable. I have also flown it in about a 10mph wind. You almost need expert mode to have enough control authority to keep it in place with that much wind, but it isn't hard. The gyros work great, and it will "wobble" a little as it handles the wind eddies. I'm thinking about getting one for my six year old (going on 26) grandson for Christmas but I better talk to his mom and dad first. For the $65 I paid on Amazon (Prime) this thing is a fantastic value.
Forgot to mention. Somewhere on here I saw one of the guys toss the Hubsan up in the air and let it recover itself. That is also a blast and freaks people out when you show them that and then land it on your hand.
Well, I can now say from experience that if you've never flown anything before you don't want to try and learn with one of these indoors Luckily, it came with an extra set of propellers.
After I nearly flew it into my new computer (and I do mean into, as the side was off the computer), I decided to call it quits until the weather gets better and I can go outside. First real rain we've had in a couple of months and it comes on the weekend I get this new toy.
One thing that will help - balance. The most recent one we got (like yours, with the leds) was way out of balance. Easiest way to check balance is to turn it upside down with opposite prop hubs (one black, one white) resting on coins - battery installed and connectors in position (as if connected). Use hot glue or similar to add weight to light side.
I don't remember if balance was mentioned in the ELEV-8 instructions but the procedure applies there as well - except it is better to rearrange components rather than add weight.
Comments
I have know way of knowing if my pretty little thing has a defect and I don't really care... what I'm thinking is... hmmmm that camera view sure looks good.
Let's get some proof!
Look at post #17 in this thread.
Wow, now we can really spy on the neighbors.
I thought I would share my experiences of flying a cheap quad after reading this thread.
My local store (uk) had the Ares Ethos QX 75 for £36 inc tax - they also had the Hubsan at £40.....
Anyway I purchased the Ethos (call me mean).
Now I've been flying RC gliders for eons but have managed to avoid powered planes, so I was super cautious with this as I know that helicopters are very difficult and expected this to be the same.
My first attempt was in the living room from the carpet. Gently increased revs, it started to 'wobble' a few more revs and the wobbling increased and I chickened out, powered down and had a think.
The next and all the following attempts were from the top of a kingsized bed with thick duvet as a soft takeoff landing area.
Every time I revved up the motors to just lift-off speed the 'wobbling' got to a point that I panicked and just gave up.
Eventually I bit the bullet and went for a real take off - as soon as the quad left the bed everything stopped gyrating and just a gentle sideways drift; reduced power, landed (bedded?) and started to breathe again.
Adjusted the press button trim on the transmitter to correct for sideways drift and tried again.
Much better - a tad more confident - almost got to a hover but it started to drift back and my gentle attempt at correction with some forward stick was too little too late and it 'ditched' safely - reduce power - try again.
And so it went.
So now after about six batteries worth of 'flying' I can just about get it to eyelevel hight, correct for drifting and put it down. Actually making it take a prescribed route is still beyond my abilities, but I am improving and it is immense fun. Its survived all my abuse so far.
Altitude control is weird. Unsticking from the ground takes enough power that it goes straight up and hits the ceiling if not corrected, but reducing the power sees it sinking to the ground far too easily and actually achieving a hover is almost impossible - I find I am giving up, then down, then up, then down etc etc.
But I think its just training, me that is, plenty of practice and hope it stays in one piece.
Now I think the Hubson has more sensors that the Ethos which claims to have only a three axis gyro, while the Hubsan has 'Latest 6-axis flight control system with adjustable gyro sensitivity', so I rather wish I had spent a bit more. Nevertheless, they are incredible value and a good incentive to sit down and build my own....(somewhat bigger) quad.
Dave
My instructor says its called "operator induced oscillation". You continue (over) correcting during the lag before the device can respond to the previous adjustment. Make the adjustment, and give it a 3 count before you touch the control again. If you survive, you'll get the feel of it. This is why I don't fly real helicopters.
I believe what you are experiencing is Ground Effect. The pressure off the rotors is greater at slightly off the ground, thus less throttle is needed. Also, the down wash of air off the rotor blades at low altitudes, (rotor wash), causes a lot of instabilities. The controls are more sensitive at low hover.
On Saturday I finally had some time to "play" so I took both of the little ones out. I ran through a battery's worth on the MQX and then went to the Hubsan. I honestly think the Hubsan is more fun to fly. I got to the point where I can land it on my hand, on a small table next to a lawn chair and on the tonneau cover of my Polaris Ranger in the garage. I can also fly it around the yard and am working on "nose in" flying. Actually, I don't see much reason to learn "nose in" except it helps when you lose orientation on the quad. Flying these things is completely different from fixed wing planes. In "expert" mode the Hubsan is a blast. I've managed a few flips, but have more crashes than successful flips. I took it over to my brother's on Sunday for a cookout and managed to bend a prop (still the original props) hitting his deck railings. When I took off again, it flew, but had a weird vibration noise - that's when I noticed the bent prop. Straightened it out and kept flying. This thing is nearly indestructable. I have also flown it in about a 10mph wind. You almost need expert mode to have enough control authority to keep it in place with that much wind, but it isn't hard. The gyros work great, and it will "wobble" a little as it handles the wind eddies. I'm thinking about getting one for my six year old (going on 26) grandson for Christmas but I better talk to his mom and dad first. For the $65 I paid on Amazon (Prime) this thing is a fantastic value.
Forgot to mention. Somewhere on here I saw one of the guys toss the Hubsan up in the air and let it recover itself. That is also a blast and freaks people out when you show them that and then land it on your hand.
Wow, this thing is small !!!
.
After I nearly flew it into my new computer (and I do mean into, as the side was off the computer), I decided to call it quits until the weather gets better and I can go outside. First real rain we've had in a couple of months and it comes on the weekend I get this new toy.
I don't remember if balance was mentioned in the ELEV-8 instructions but the procedure applies there as well - except it is better to rearrange components rather than add weight.