HobbyKing is now selling much cheaper versions of some 3DR products:
(*This is an update of my old post which only referred to the two products available at that time.)
The latest addition to the list is especially well-timed because the 3DR Radio Telemetry Kit is currently out-of-stock, making HK the only place to get this item at any price right now. This could bring a welcome change to the tone of the DiyDrones Twitter feed as buyers stop venting their frustration with shortages and simply buy elsewhere.
HobbyKing changing strategies?
Even as HobbyKing is adding more ArduPilot accessories, the MultiWii and MegaPirate autopilots which they were selling are now being liquidated or have already been removed from the site entirely. It is easy to imagine that this pullback is the result of the rather infamous support nightmare they suffered when the entire run of MegaPirate boards shipped with an unworkable voltage regulator installed.
This shift in autopilot lineup could mean that HobbyKing has decided to get out of the autopilot business, sticking with accessories and staying away from complicated autopilots which have so many parts that can fail. A more likely explanation is that HobbyKing just wants an autopilot solution that works, and they're clearing the shelves to make room for something else, maybe ArduPilot, but probably DJI.
Personally, I like to imagine that somebody at HobbyKing is a rabid ArduPilot fan who clones a different 3DR part every time 3DR goes out of stock, just to make sure he can always get his fix.
Your ideas?
Last time I posted on this topic, I was expecting a rather dry discussion of the effect of clone manufacturing on the 3DR business model. That suggestion was rightly ignored, so this time I'll just ask: Do you plan to buy any clone hardware yourself?
For myself, I think my next purchase will be a 3DR PX4 with HobbyKing's telemetry and GPS. Frankly, buying the autopilot feels like enough of a donation to the developers without paying double for the accessories, as well.
Comments
You can power the Rx off the USB port of a 1.4 using the "Jason power hack". Both of mine have it done.
As for this clone, meh.... a cable connecting an antenna to the GPS processor? No thanks. What else have they bodged together?
As for HK in general, I love it. I've spent a lot of money there, never got anything from there that was crappy, except for a foam airplane I got. But given the price, and the fact it was a foam airplane... no surprise here. But I tend not to buy any of their really cheap stuff. Only the higher end stuff. Usually Turnigy stuff is good.
APM 1.0 from 3DR in stock.
I just wish they would start cloning Paparazzi autopilot boards :-)
BTW, this is one of the best, smallest and cheapest GPS modules I have found. Unfortunately there is no schematic provided and the supplied red and black wires are not connected to power/ground pins. But with a little reverse engineering it is a great performer: http://www.goodluckbuy.com/gps-receiver-module-with-ublox-chip-buil...
And, according to the photos, this board is "designed and assembled by 3DRobotics in California": http://www.goodluckbuy.com/apm-2-5-ardupilot-mega-2-5-multicopter-h...
I've got one of those NEO-6M GPS. It works fine with the 3DR configuration file and the ArduIMU. One thing I've wondered is whether I could use a different antenna since it uses a connector on the board. That way I could have the antenna outside the plane and protect the board inside the plane.
I'm really interested in seeing how this development will affect the 3DR business model and our community. There have been others making clones of Ardu-products but none with the supply and marketing power of HobbyKing. Right now, people flying clones are a small subset of this community. If HobbyKing starts selling APM clones, people flying genuine hardware will end up being the minority.
It's still possible to thrive with competitors stealing your product. There are open-source software enterprises that seem to turn a profit despite the fact that the clone supply is practically infinite. It just involves collecting profit from different parts of the product cycle.
Some ideas:
Any other ideas?
I'm sorry I didn't have much time to refine my post when I wrote it, or I would have put this up there.
I think that the next year we start to discus about hou fight the china clone. Is not possible that our community work hard to develop new exitment technology and these guys clone our work and resell without respect our work . I see the post of Sandro on HK website and the reply .... in italiano si dice che sono degli inpuniti !!!!
Stop ! With clone !
I've had good luck with some things from HK others not so much. Couple of golden rules with HK:
1) NEVER EVER buy anything on backorder! (They can't or wont give you any idea if it will be days weeks months maybe even never)
2) If you do need to cancel and order that hasn't yet been shipped you MUST speak to a person live to get the order credited back to your CC or bank account. If you don't and just cancel it online you'll be stuck with a credit to your HK account.
That said have to agree with Michael overall. Although my personal experience has been OK, I've had to work hard to make it that way. An example of the quality issues would be the HK Bixler2, the plane is fine but the hardware and servos are junk. The prop adapter is total junk and had to be replaced before I could fly. I've read numerous complaints about the Turnigy motor bearings being low quality and either falling out when the engine is warm or being rough from the start. I've ordered about 30 LiPo batteries from HK and not one has given me trouble, but I've seen several orders arrive for friends with dead cells and HK's only offer is for you to pay to send them back for replacement! They were DOA and the cost of shipping was more than the cost of the battery!
I guess the advice in general is buyer beware you get what you pay for and be prepared to accept the fact that eventually you will have to absorb some purchase as a cost of low prices.
just my 2 cents
Regards,
Nathaniel ~KD2DEY
Michael, virtually ALL problems reported on this site ARE with original hardware... since there aren't many clones flying yet.
Shipping on hobbyking is $3 if you stay under 100g, which the gps and minimosd do. I've never waited more then 3 weeks for my stuff (granted, 3DR was faster for me). Customer service of 3DR is no better then that from hobbyking in my experience.
But feel free to order where you like. If you're an american, do the right thing and support your own economy.
Hi Thomas, your description fits 3DR just the same in my experience. I do think it's commendable to support your own economy. I'm no american however.
Nice !!! More cheap hardware for me to experiment on! I hope the APM2.5 and telemetry radios show up at hobbyking soon also.
This will considerably open up the market for uav's :-)
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