New Product: Little Bee 20A BLHeli S

FVT is at it again and with their latest offering you’ll be finding that they have followed the BLHeli S craze and came out with a small form factor ESC with 25A burst capability! 

These Little Bee 20A BLHeli SESCs are compatible with the latest BLHeli S code and are designed to give you excellent performance with minimal out of pocket costs. Keeping up with the trend of better performance the guys at BLHeli have changed some of their code and this change in code requires a change in hardware so Little Bee have upped their game to keep up with the changing times. Using different MCUs is the way they’ve had to keep up with the changes and no longer are the focused on software pwm...the updated MCUs are now featuring hardware PWM that is synced to the duty cycle and this give these new ESCs the ability to write the values to the motors at double the speed when comparing to software pwm. 

Here’s what SSKAUG has to say about the improvements: 
BLHeli_S is an improved version of the base BLHeli code.

BLHeli_S delivers a throttle response that is Smooth as Silk, and the main factor contributing to this, is that it uses hardware to generate motor PWM. Two MCUs support this for BLHeli_S, namely the BusyBee1 at 24MHz (EFM8BB10F8) and the BusyBee2 at 48MHz (EFM8BB21F16).

BLHeli_S will have the same good Sync holding properties as base BLHeli. Maybe even better.

BLHeli_S generally does Startup better than base BLHeli.

BLHeli_S does damped light. Only.

BLHeli_S has motor PWM that is Synchronous to the MCU master clock, as it is generated by hardware. This makes the motor Silent.

BLHeli_S has very Small throttle Steps. The resolution varies between hardware configurations (MCU clock speed and driver type), and is between a nominal 512 steps and 2048 steps.

BLHeli_S supports very high motor Speeds. A BB1 MCU will support 350k erpm, and the limit of the BB2 is not yet known, so the code is set to limit at 500k erpm.

BLHeli_S supports regular 1-2ms input signal, as well as Oneshot125, Oneshot42 and Multishot. Autodetected when the ESC sees an input signal.

Last and by no means least, is Simplicity. If you have a regular setup, just install and go fly (calibrate if your throttle range does not match BLHeli_S default). Or if you need to configure or update, just do so with the Simplicity offered by connecting to your ESCs through the FlightController, using BLHeliSuite and a USB cable.

ESCs will be available from several manufacturers in not too long.

You can follow the RCGroups thread to read up about them and see what others have to say here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2640796

Check out at http://www.fpvmodel.com/littlebee-20a-s-blheli_s-esc_g1166.html for genuine ESCs from FVT. 

New Product: FPVModel 5.8G Explorer Dual Diversity Receiver

Built around the open source Pro Diversity open source design for a dual diversity setup with a large design footprint with good separation between modules and better heat dissipation, this all in one package is designed to give you great signal reception rather you are flying long range or inside confined indoor tracks and need help dealing with likely multipathing issues.

FPVModel 5.8G Explorer Dual Diversity Receiver features an OLED display (Organic Light Emitting Diodes), automatic channel scanning, spectrum analyzer, and built-in dual diversity receivers. All of the features are controlled via a main jog wheel that enable the user to navigate the menu and sub screens with ease. 

Here’s a list of features that can be controlled via themenu system: 

SCANNER
Scan the spectrum of all 40 channels forFPV usage.

Jog Wheel Navigation
Three way navigation wheel. Up, down, pushinward.

Search Mode
Search channel based on strength.

Manual Mode
Set the channel manually.

Save Channel
This feature allow the system to start upwith the last used channel being saved into memory.

Pilot Display
This screen displays call sign, signalstrength, and shows current used receiver.

Settings Menu
Set call sign name, calibrate RSSI, selectfrequency order, save channels. 

Dual Diversity

FPVMODEL 5.8G Explorer features two built-in receivers and this will give the user an additional level of protection and allows for combining antennas that can be used to suit the given application such as directional and omni-directional, allowing for great signal reception rather you are flying near and around yourself or going for long range and need that directional antenna to get you there. The two modules work together and do not need any special adjustments to be completed by the user, simply put they just work together.

In conclusion this package is designed to give the user an affordable alternative to a clear view of their FPVfeed. Small enough to travel with and large enough for good antenna separation this package will give you the sight you need while you’re up in the air, find it at fpvmodel.com and get yours today. 

For more information of the product, please check it out at http://www.fpvmodel.com/fpvmodel-dual-channel-5-8g-40-channel-competitive-version-receiver-built-in-dvr_g1167.html. 

ZMR-X210 Mini Quad Review By Oscar Liang

This is a review on FPVModel's ZMR-X210 mini quad frame by Oscar Liang.

The ZMR-X210 is an evolution of the ZMR design, in keeping up with the changing times this ZMR was re-worked from the ground up. We are not just modifying the arms to give a "X" type of layout, we have re-worked it entirely to provide what the modern user wants.

ZMR-X210 features an X design which is currently the most popular mini quad layout. This mini quad frame has nothing like the old ZMR250 and it was created from the ground up.

Get your ZMR X210 Frame from FPVModel. The frame was built by SiRDoGG8u.

Unboxing

First thing that I noticed during unboxing was how well the frame was packed. All carbon parts were packed separately so there was no way for the carbon to get scratched, All hardware was in different bags, which made it easy to sort the screws needed for the build.

I do like to say I am very impressed with the carbon and how it looks, with no jagged edges.

Weight: 97g carbon fibre parts without hardware – 145g assembled.

Quick Release Fixings

One great feature is the what I would call “Quick Release Fixings” aluminium mounting hardware, it allows you to swap out arms more quickly. Basically they are threaded spacer that are shared by multiple bolts, when you unscrew one bolt the spacer will still be supported by other bolts and stay where they are, therefore you only need a screw driver and no pliers required. You don’t even need to remove the top plate to change arms any more.

I started to build and attach the arms using the quick release fixings when I came across
the centre fixing for the arms wouldn’t screw into mount, after examination and removing the arms, i found the mount that holds the middle screws for the arms, the holes didn’t line up (below picture).

So without getting the Dremel out to drill the carbon and make the holes too big I scrapped the mount, and just used M3 locking nuts , only issue with doing this is you can’t do a quick swap if you break an arm, so that is the first negative point I found , hopefully they will sort this out soon.

Arms

They have done a nice touch with the spacers that are used between the 2 bottom plates: the spacers are threaded, and you don’t lose the screws and spacers, when the standoffs are removed for any reason.

The ZMR X210’s arms are sandwiched by a double bottom plate structure like the good old ZMR250. However on this design you can optionally use only 1 bottom plate to save weight, the trade-off would be reduced strength against crashes.

Comparing to the good old ZMR250 arms.

2 Camera Options

Similar to the DemonRC NOX5, you get 2 different options of FPV camera mounting.

This is the for cameras with a case.

And the mounting plate is for board cameras.

Building

Finally after fully building the ZMR-X210, I found the 2nd mistake to this frame.

I painted the edges of the carbon fibre with white colour “Tyre Marker”. You can also use nail polish but tyre marker is easier IMO.

3 standoffs wasn’t threaded enough to take the screws provided, so in the end
I had to use washers as I never had M3 screws that was short enough.

Here is the parts list I used in this build:

• Naze32 Rev6
• Littlebee 20a
• Skyzone TS5823 200mw
• Fatshark 700tvl FPV camera (Metal Cased)
• T-motors MN2204/2300kv
• Props: DAL 5×4.5×3 V2
• Delta8 PPM RX

Picture of it fully built:

The next issue I had was when installing the motors to the arms (t-motor 2204/2300kv) I found that you have to be perfect with the lining of the shaft as the C-clip rubs the whole drilled in the arm. But with cobras and many other motors that should not be an issue.

After that the frame was a joy to build with no other problems, the frame is nicely designed and has some similar looks to the Lumenier raceblade. No where near the same but some nice touches and detail to attention on this frame.

Pro’s and Con’s

Positives

• The frame looks strong and carbon is cut very good indeed, I was impressed and I think it’s worth the money if the few negatives get sorted out
• Clever solution for quick arm release, and some nice touches for simple fixing and breakages

Negatives

• Unless it was just the one I received but the holes on the quick release fixing for the centre of arms don’t line up
• The standoffs thread needs to be tapped deeper, at least the length of the screws provided
• And may be the holes where the shafts sit on the arms need to be 1mm 1.5mm bigger

Overall the frame is a nice looking frame and well worth a buy imo

 

Here is a test flight.