You can get this drone for $60 on Amazon. It came highly recommended by some 'what can I get for under $50 US' reddit thread. Perfect social item, as people want them but can't justify buying them for themselves. Will probably make 10 times it's value in raffle tickets at any reasonably attended social.
The E511S isn't going to fly FPV - or at least it would be nauseating to do. It's a camera drone - I.E., for photography/videography.
I'd recommend this kit from Emax. Googles, remote, and quad. Neither the goggles nor the remote are high-end or anything - if he gets into FPV he will want to replace those, but they will work to get him started. The quad is again, nothing mind-blowing (nothing off the shelf really will be), but very flyable. Emax also has a fantastic reputation for customer service, as well as a US-based support department.
Alternatively, you could get him a good-quality remote that he won't need to replace like this, along with a simulator like Liftoff or Velocidrone or DRL Sim.
If you are fairly sure he is going to stay interested in the hobby, I think the latter is a better option.
You could try the hubsan x4 with fpv camera. It's $150 on Amazon. It's the copter I would recommend learning on, but the fpv version. I just have the h107, personally but that fpv setup looks cheap and dirty and would be a good start for learning how to fly outside of line of sight
Hubsan X4 Quadcopter with FPV Camera Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GSNWB5K/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_C6kKvbM0ARMDQ
Dji mavic mini. Would be great for what you want to do. Around 500 on amazon. Thousands of positive reviews. https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Mini-Fly-More-Combo/dp/B08JGX61H7/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=mavic+mini+2&qid=1619311240&sprefix=mavi&sr=8-3. better deal
Nope not at all, although i will say if you could save up 600 you could buy a brand new mini 2 with a fly more package.
You'll find it cheaper at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cheerson-2-4GHz-6-Axis-Quadcopter-Bright/dp/B00KXZC762
It seems to be a small but capable quadcopter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YysyZBWx4Dk
I bought hte Syma X5C it's just under $50 with one battery.
I've been using it for a while and crashing it a lot to train. It's really durable. Plus the camera can take some shots to get a feel of what they might look like on a more expensive quad.
Dumb question, but I can't really find any info online. Are civilian drones (ie this thing) allowed on Army bases? My friend is currently stationed at Fort Lewis and I was thinking of getting him one for Christmas, I just want to make sure he'll be able to use it.
My guess is they aren't allowed, but I wanted to double check anyway.
I got this model which added with a replacement part kit came out to ~60 bucks. I'm gonna play around with it for a while and try to get really good at piloting, apparently it should be good practice since its so small and prone to needing input to fight the wind and stuff.
I actually own two! They're a lot of fun to fly, especially this guy cause you don't feel bad if you crash it.
But considering most are hella expensive and wtf is your average person gonna do... and commercial applications are being VERY limited by the FAA, that guy is in his own la la land.
Yeah! I got this! EMAX Tinyhawk 2 II RTF Kit FPV... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083PZZSR9?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I am planing on upgrading the headset and the radio controller as I go but this was the easiest at the time.
find someone with a Costco membership. They're selling the Aerial Camera Bundle for around $430, it was originally called the "fly more" bundle, and gives you the drone, a case, 32gb sd card and a spare battery. The new Fly more package (Amazon), gives you everything you want, but costs around $170 more. If you get the Aerial Camera Bundle, you can get a 3rd battery, the 3 battery charger, spare props (everything in the Fly More bundle) AND get a nd filter set, while saving yourself +$70.
Seems like the Ring Always Home Cam is better for that. It gets a clearer mapping I'd figure. I guess they don't plan to sell many of those.
Yup, it's on sale in Canada. Best Buy also has them on sale during Prime Days.
Take a look at the jst battery plug. Sometimes those pins get a little loose and disconnect briefly on crashes. Ive had this problem on 2 different whoops and this was the cause both times. Usually its the female end of the plug
https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Connector-Battery-Inductrix-Eachine/dp/B07NWD5NTN
Based on the reviews, you would probably be better off sticking with normal echos and getting the dystopian attack helicopter when it comes out. Much cheaper.
I used these, they come with wire attached so you don’t have to crimp them and can just solder the two wires to the end of the fan. They come with male and female, I used the female ones to make it easy to remove the fan near the hotend so it is a quick replacement: https://www.amazon.ca/Upgraded-Connector-Battery-Inductrix-Eachine/dp/B07NWD5NTN/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?crid=3EZLLGCG1U6X8&keywords=jst+connectors&qid=1653895918&sprefix=jst+connectors%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-6
Id get closest to. this is what i used for similar application Just make sure the red and black wires are going to correct leads. You might have to flip the wire. You can do that by pushing the pins out and re inserting them into jst connector. Theres plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to do that.
Depending on how much current you need for the pump you could either use this directly or use it to drive a relay.
https://www.amazon.ca/Remote-Controlled-Electronic-Switch-Relay/dp/B08FLZXSD7/ref=asc_df_B08FLZXSD7
Personally I would just buy per-crimped wires. easier but less professional.
If you get an rc aux switch link and plug it into the “AUX” channel, the channel 3 switch on your remote should toggle the lights on and off.
The connector on the board looks like there might be some glue keeping it together. If you are able to disconnect it, you could always just get a new connector and splice the wires.
From the picture it looks like a standard 2-pin JST connector.
The JST connector is the white little piece at the end of the wire that clips it into the board. I forget which one exactly requires it, on the stock board it goes into one of the terminals that you screw in. I think it’s the hotend cooling fan but would be the same even if it’s the part fan.
These are the ones I used. On aliexpress it is like $2 for the same pack so I got them from there, but if you don’t want to wait. If you have any extra fans lying around, you can just snip the connector off also and you would have one of these. It is the piece on the right hand side that you need to add on to the fan, they come in pairs. I used the extra ones to make it so I can detach my hotend from the fan and thermistor by disconnecting them, so it is easy to change fans or parts:
This is the crimping tool with the kit if you don’t want to solder them, but it is much more expensive. I don’t use JST connectors enough to justify buying it:
I believe this is the JST-PH connector. Commonly used in RC
10pcs Upgraded Tiny Whoop JST-PH 2.0 Male and Female Connector Cable for Battery JJRC H36 H67 Blade Inductrix E010 E013 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NWD5NTN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_BB32TPHDRF5QBCK2X1Y1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
With more research my goal is now to setup an FPV sim. Currently my understanding is that the minimum requirement for that is a controller?
If that is the case should I just buy what seems to be a high-end controller? https://www.racedayquads.com/products/dji-fpv-remote-controller-mode-2 or a noob kit https://www.amazon.com/EMAX-Tinyhawk-Goggles-Controller-Beginners/dp/B083PZZSR9
Okay, without a measurement or scale this is just an educated guess but it looks like a Micro JST PH 2.0, a pretty common connector for small hobby batteries so it's not that hard to get. I've used these in the past (since you said you went through Amazon):
Good luck!
Something like this simple one would work fine for lights or a fan.
RC Remote Controlled AUX on/Off Electronic Switch Relay for Car Truck Boat LED Light Drone (4A) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FLZXSD7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_DGJ5WVW2A37YQZR7DFRH?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
there are some that come in the package but besides that you can probably find some on a website, if you love nano drones theres this cheap good one thats better then the Sky viper nano and comes with replacement blades too! Though it has 2 replacement blades instead of 4