by James Singleton
•
15 March 2023
Building a DJI digital FPV drone can be a challenging yet rewarding experience for drone enthusiasts. With the right equipment and some basic knowledge, you can build your very own high-quality drone that delivers seamless and immersive FPV experiences. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of building a digital FPV drone. Prepare Your Equipment To build a digital FPV drone, you will need the following equipment: I will be using these parts in this tutorial. These are affiliate links, when you make a purchase using these links, it doesn’t cost you anything extra, and I will receive a small commission which will help keep this blog going. TBS Source One V5 Frame - https://amzn.to/3Ti9FCg Diatone MAMBA MK4 F722 APP flight controller stack Iflight Xing E Pro 2207 1800kv motors - https://amzn.to/3TkTzb3 Runcam link Wasp kit - https://amzn.to/3JbU16U HQ 5×4.3×3 V2S props - https://amzn.to/3Je7H1c Soldering iron - https://amzn.to/3ZRIcd7 TPU parts (optional) : bumpers, GoPro mounts, arm bumpers and guards, available on eBay or Etsy. We recommend using a high-quality soldering iron to ensure your connections are secure. One option is the Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station. You will also need the following tools and supplies when building an FPV drone: Soldering Iron and solder Hex screwdrivers set A small Phillips head screwdriver A pair of scissors for stripping and cutting wires Electrical tape 3M double sided foam tape Digital multimeter A load of 2mm wide zip ties (ideally 15cm or longer,) Cloth tape (15mm is a good width, great for wrapping motor wires but can be replaced by electrical tape, buy from Amazon) Frame I opted to use the latest Source One V5 frame for this build, not only because of its affordability, but also because it's an open-source frame that has been continuously improved by the community over the years to meet the latest hardware requirements. In my opinion, the TBS Source One V5 frame is a great choice for building a digital FPV drone, and you can check out my review of it below. Another exciting feature of the Source One is the plethora of free 3D printing designs available on Ebay and Etsy that can be used to enhance the frame. FC and ESC I prefer going for an "FC stack" that includes a flight controller board and a 4in1 ESC board as it requires minimal soldering, is mostly plug-and-play, and provides a seamless experience. That's why I opted for the Diatone MAMBA MK4 F722 APP flight controller stack, which is currently one of the most cost-effective options available in the market (as of March 2023). It's loaded with features such as built-in Bluetooth for Betaflight configuration from your phone, making it an excellent choice. Motors Nowadays, motors with a similar size tend to have comparable performance, with the build quality being the main differentiator. When selecting motors for a 5" FPV drone, options such as 2306, 2207, and 2208 are all suitable. I decided to go with 2207 due to its perfect balance of power and efficiency. DJI Digital System I have gone for the Runcam Link wasp kit for my build but you could use the Caddx Vista Polar or similar. This is a DJI Digital System build and you will also need the DJI Goggle V2 or the new Goggles 2 and the DJI Original FPV remote. Another important factor to consider is the motor KV. For this build, I opted for 1800KV since I plan to use a 6S LiPo battery. KV ranges between 1600-1900 are typically used for 6S batteries, and a higher KV provides a more aggressive and power-hungry experience. Additionally, 4S batteries are also a popular option. DJI Digital System I have gone for the Runcam Link wasp kit for my build but you could use the Caddx Vista Polar or similar. This is a DJI Digital System build and you will also need the DJI Goggle V2 or the new Goggles 2 and the DJI Original FPV remote. Another important factor to consider is the motor KV. For this build, I opted for 1800KV since I plan to use a 6S LiPo battery. KV ranges between 1600-1900 are typically used for 6S batteries, and a higher KV provides a more aggressive and power-hungry experience. Additionally, 4S batteries are also a popular option. Make sure you get a Micro Camera not Nano other wise you will need to buy an adapter! Assemble the Frame Begin by assembling the frame of your drone. This involves attaching the arms to the main body and securing them in place with the included screws. Make sure to attach the arms in the correct orientation and to tighten the screws firmly. This will ensure that your drone is stable and reliable in flight. Install the Flight Controller and ESC Next, install the flight controller and electronic speed controller (ESC) onto the frame. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to connect the ESC to the flight controller, and make sure to orient the flight controller in the correct direction. This will ensure that your drone is able to fly in the correct direction and respond to your control inputs. You will need to solder the included XT60 connector together with the wires and then solder them to the FC and you will also need to solder the Provided Capacitor to the same terminals as the XT60 lead. Make sure you solder the Red (Positive) and Black (negative) wire to the correct terminals Install the Motors Install the motors onto the arms of the frame. The motor wires should be facing towards the center of the frame, and the motors should be installed in the correct orientation. Secure the motors in place with the included screws. Make sure to tighten the screws firmly to prevent any looseness that may cause issues during flight. You can then solder the motor wires to the FC. Ideally solder them in the same order to the FC but it doesn’t really matter as you can just configure the motors to spin the correct way in Betaflight but it just makes your life easier in the long run. Testing ESC and Motors It's time to put your build to the test by plugging in a LiPo battery for the first time! However, before you do that, it's important to check for continuity to prevent any electrical shorts. To do this, use a multimeter in continuity mode and touch the probes to the positive and negative terminals of the XT60 or directly on the solder pads. If the multimeter beeps continuously, there's a short circuit that needs to be addressed before proceeding. One common cause of short circuits is excessive solder on one pad that may have spilled over onto neighboring pads. If the multimeter beeps for a split second and then stops, it could be due to the capacitors charging up when you touch the probes to the pads. This is normal and shouldn't be a problem if the beep doesn't continue. It's highly recommended to use a smoke stopper for the first time plugging in a battery to avoid any damage to your components. This simple device is a worthy investment that could save you from releasing the dreaded "magic smoke"! Once you've connected the battery and USB cable to the flight controller, go to the Motors tab in Betaflight Configurator and spin up the motors one by one to verify if they're spinning in the correct direction. If not, you can change the motor order and directions inside Betaflight Configurator, eliminating the need to do so in BLHeliSuite and resource remapping in CLI. If you encounter any issues, such as motors not spinning at all or only one not working, check if the battery is connected, the ESC beeped when the battery was plugged in, and if the ESC is receiving a signal from the FC. You can also try swapping a working motor with the possibly faulty one to narrow down the issue. Install the Runcam Link Wasp Kit Install the Runcam Link Wasp kit onto the frame. This kit includes the camera and the digital video transmitter (VTX), which is compatible with the DJI Digital FPV System. Secure the camera onto the designated spot on the frame and attach the VTX to the back of the camera. Use zip ties or a TPU mount to keep the VTX in place. Make sure to route the antenna away from the carbon fiber frame to avoid interference. The Runcam Link Wasp kit is an essential component for achieving high-quality digital video transmission, which is a key feature of a digital FPV drone. Pair the Runcam Link Wasp with the DJI Goggles V2 and Remote Controller To use the DJI Digital FPV System, you will need to pair the Runcam Link Wasp with the DJI Goggles V2 and Remote Controller. The process of pairing can be different depending on the specific equipment you are using, but there are plenty of tutorials available on YouTube to guide you through the process. Just search for "pairing Runcam Link Wasp with DJI Goggles V2 and Remote Controller" and you should be able to find helpful videos. Once paired, you will be able to enjoy high-quality digital video transmission and a seamless FPV experience. Configure Betaflight Once everything is connected, you will need to configure Betaflight, the software that controls your drone. Connect the flight controller to your computer using a USB cable, and use the Betaflight software to adjust the settings and calibrate your drone. This step can be complex and may require some research, so don't be afraid to seek out online tutorials and With these steps completed, your digital FPV drone should be ready to fly! Ensure to take safety precautions when flying and to keep improving your skills as a drone pilot.