Discussions

Hi there,

I read a lot of stuff and did my research for months before buying my first drone (Cheerson CX-20 aka Quanum Nova) and I still consider myself new, so I humbly ask some advise.

As the title suggests, I'd like to build my own drone.

My goal is to have a stable drone* to be used for aerial videos with my GoPro 4 Silver edition. In particular:

1. I want to have FPV.
2. I'd like to fly at a distance of 100 - 300m (so, no need for super distances - now I hardly fly more than 30m away... maybe this will change when I get FPV).
3. No need for mission planning/gps waypoints: I wanna fly mostly manually.
4. A feature to hold the position in the air would be a plus.
5. An automatic return home feature (in case the connection with the transmitter is lost), would be really a big plus.
6. *A drone pilot showed me one time his drone, which has some features like keep the position in the air, or keep the altitude and just move it in one direction (move laterally or forward). I'd like to have some (if not all) of these features. Maybe you can even technically enlighten me on how to call these flying modes...
7. The frame/shell should not be too big: I'd like to carry my drone in a backpack: I currently can do that with my CX-20 and I go by bike in my favorite spots to fly it: I just unmount the propellers and the feet and mount them before flying - I just need 2 minuted to do that. I know most americans go around by (big) car so having a big box with accessories and drone RTF is ok for you, but it's not ok for me... again: frame should be small and it should be easy to ummount/mount propellers and feet.

As said, I already own some components:

• Cheerson CX-20 drone + transmitter
• iMAX B6-AC B6AC Lipo NiMH 3S RC Battery Balance Charger + various cables (I guess I can reuse this)
• 3 batteries (3S, 11.1V): 5200 mAh, 2200 mAh, 3000 mAh. Since I don't like to have the house full of batteries, I'd like to build a drone using the same batteries.
• Walkera G-2D gimbal
• Cheerson monitor, 7 inches + FPV image transmitter I would like to reuse the monitor and the antennas. I can buy new antennas no problem, they seem cheap anyway...
• a spare CX-20 shell

Concerns: a guy tod me that 3S batteries are not enough for a self made drone (heavier?) to carry a gimbal + gopro... and I should get more power, thus 4S (14V) batteries. But my CX-20 is light and can carry gimbal + gopro without problems, even with the heavier battery... What do you think?

Alternative question: can I use my spare CX-20/quanum nova frame/shell and mount my own controller and components there and have a better drone than my CX-20?

I guess the big expenses for a new drone will be:

• new transmitter (as my guess is that CX-20 can't be reused) - I guess between 200 - 300 USD?
• frame kit, engines, propellers etc.
• flight controller (I guess these forums promote arduino, 3ds etc.?) - how much does it cost one for my goals?
• GPS receiver? do I need it?
• other sensors, like altitude etc.?

I'd like to buy the components from banggood as the prices there are good for me, and shipping to Switzerland (I'm Swiss) is for free. In comparison, if I order at hobbyking I have to spent a lot for the shipping and I'd like to avoid...

Can you share... or point me to a thread/blog post/webpage with a shopping list of what I need to achieve this?

THANKS for your KIND answers (I'm a newbie)