TEST: JJRC X1G the FPV version of the JJRC X1

[Drone News]

INTRODUCTION

After the popular JJRC X1, probably the first cheap FPV racer introduced in the market (now can be found under 100USD), Here is the FPV variation, i.e., the JJRC X1G. Almost all the same incredients for the flying machine are the same: powerfull 1806 brushless motor, a relatively lightweight machine, 2S system… but now they added a 600TVL-120 degrees FPV camera coupled with a 350mW VTX. For the transmitter part, a 4.3″ FPV screen with a builtin DVR is also added. Let’s discover this new bundle.

BOX CONTENT

+ 1 x JJRC X1G (with a 2S 1300mAh LiPo with JST connector)
+ 1 x Transmitter (using 4xAA batteries not included)
+ 1 x Charger
+ 4 x Spare props (2 CW, 2 CCW)
+ 4 x Prop gards
+ 2 x Landing gear
+ 1 x 4.3″ FPV monitor
+ 1 x FPV monitor mount
+ 1 x FPV camera
+ 1 x 5.8G VTX + cable
+ 1 x Linear antenna
+ 1 x Screwdriver
+ 1 x Instruction manual (English/Chinese)

OVERVIEW

Strictly indentical machine, with a full plastic body painted with a carbon style paint. With this full plastic solution, as for the former model, don’t expect miracle if you crash your machine at very high speed. Clearly less robust than the XK X251 carbon elements. Installed props are still some 6040 type.

-FRONT VIEW
After clipsing the two latteral feet, the X1G offers the same ground clearance than the former of X1: 6cm. Be sure to well push the landing gear to not loose one mid-flight.

and with the FPV rig installed

2cm left before touching the ground.

-SIDE VIEW
One could dream to see a microUSB port for this novel edition…. unfortunatly it’s not. It means that electronic is still the same… a closed system without possibility to ajust any settings.

-REAR VIEW

The battery bay welcomes the JST connector for the battery. No microUSB somewhere.

We can guess the NFET of the ESC located on the bottom side of the 4-in-1 internal board

When the battery is inserted, all the room is occupied

-UPPER VIEW

-BOTTOM VIEW

The bottom side have been modified to welcome both the VTX and the FPV camera mounts.

Still one unique camera port. This port will be used to power both the VTX and the camera

More, some transparent caps were added to increase the light diffusion effect

Brushless motors are attached via these 4 screws

-WEIGHT

A Final total weight with all the FPV rig installed of 313.6g so versus the 270.1g without it’s an extra 43.5g, a little bit less than 25% of extra weight…. It’s a lot

Motors

Same 1806 2280 brushless motors

LiPo

The same 2S LiPo of the original model, a 2S 1300mAh model with JST connector. No discharge mentioned for this model.
IMHO, no really more larger model can inserted into the battery bay.

A 64mmx30mmx16mm

Camera module

A 600TVL FPV camera with a 120 degrees FOV lens so compatible perfectly with FPV racing application. The signal is broadcasted in NTSC format.

No possibility to ajust any setting or change to PAL format.

Good news, you can ajust the up/down tilt angle manually.

Video transmitter

A 350mW 32CH VTX must be clipsed into the two hooks located bottom the X1G. Be aware to not force when you clip them to not break the pastic elements. To desinstall the VTX, also push rear the VTX gently but with a nominal force to disengage the hooks.

The VTX comes with SMA connector. I advice to install a short CL antenna like (W-type SMA):

http://www.banggood.com/FPV-5_8GHz-Circular-Polarized-VTX-Antenna-RHCP-Short-p-961732.html

One unique button. Short press to cycle between the 8 Vfrequencies inside the current band. A long press to select the Band. The race band is not supported.

The connexions with the FPV camera and camera port

Disassembling

Super easy to open the machine: 4*3+2=14 screws to remove

The same incredients are here. A XN297 nRF24L01 RF chip is here. The 6axis stabilization job is done by a invensense MPU6050

Transmitter

The same radio chassis than the former X1 model. A basic one without LCD display.. so no way to programme new settings with dislike the XK X251.

The throttle trim buttons are used to set the idle speed. You can even stop motors by this way. The front right vertical trim buttons are used to trigger potentially a external camera like the syma X5 FPV kit. For the X1G these two buttons are useless since the FPV camera don’t include a buitin HD recorder. To arm the machine now, you simply to push the left stick in lower right position during 3s. Much more easy than former arming sequence. To desarm hold more than 3s in lower left position. To calibrate gyros & accelero, push both stick in lower right position until LEDs start to flash.

The left shoulder button cycles between the three speed mode. The right one order a 360 flips. Two beeps are emitted than you have to indicate with the right stick the direction of the 360 flip.

Expect around 200m of control range. You can increase a bit with a Devo radio compatible DeviationTX modded with a nRF24L01 RFchip.
I observed some weird controls of the yaw direction with my Devo 7E. Maybe they changed something in the current radio protocol. I will try to capture SPI data to eventually update the current protocol with this envetually new protocol variation.

FPV monitor

A basic 4.3″ FPV monitor with a buitin 5.8G antenna buit including a builtin DVR.

Five panel buttons are present. To power the monitor, you have to hold pressed more than 3s the power button. The same to power off.
The menu button enters/exit to/from the meny. The “<" cycle between the camera & photo moto. The ">” incremente the current Vfreq among the 8 when pressed shortly. You incremente the race band when pressed longer. The “Enter” button start/stop video/photo recording. In the menu, just basic brightness settings are available. You can replay recorded videos or photos in corresponding modes.

The left side welcomes a microSD slot and a microUSB port. No microSD card is given in the bundle.

An standalone 400mAh 1S LiPo battery with microLOSI connector feed the FPV monitor. With this battery you have 20-25min of autonomy.

Recorded videos are unfortunatly in Interleaved VGA format at 20fps only…..

20 fps is just already incompatible with FPV racing applications… and a problem never comes alone, you have also a latency > 300ms… Weird… The problem comes from the OSD informations processing added. The VCU must be really creap to not be able to record more than 20fps and to introduce such lag..

Good news, with a real FPV monitor, the frame rate is perfect and the latency much smaller… The FPV monitor is definitively the weakest element of the X1G packaging.

At least, you have the whitesnow when the signal is gone but in practice when the signal starts to be weak, some black screen transitions can appear.

FIRST USAGE

With the 44 extra grams, it was obvious, the X1G is less nimble, agile but nothing yet catastrophic. Don’t worry in expert mode, you will still find its sporty attitude. It’s a still a fast machine. WIth the FPV rig attached, the punch out are less impressive of course.. With the super laggy FPV monitor, only the first/beginner speed mode shoud be used…. What’a pity to have a racer completly limited by this element.

Let’s talk about the most annoying thing…. the yaw behaviour. In some situation (fast descent or a sequence of fast alternating yawing turns), sometime the yaw command is not taken into account. You need to return to the center and reapply the command to be this time executed… Can be potentially dangerous of course. Luckely, it happened rarely but happens….. and it’s already too much.

CONCLUSIONS

If 80 USD extra dollars for a complete FPV solution to the former JJRC X1 would have been still acceptable, it’s not really the case here since the FPV monitor despite including a DVR, is clearly incompatible with FPV racing mode. The FPV camera is not bad as well as the VTX but 44g extra grams is too much. With a DIY solutions, you can probably divide by two the extra weight. It’s also a pity, they didn’t fully solved the yaw problem. Ok the yaw lag seems to be gone, but another yaw problem have been added instead … The JJRC X1G lost the occasion to win the battle versus the XK X251. By the way, I won’t be surprized to be a FPV version of the XK X251 in addition of the official FPV Kit. In conclusion, I advise more to pick up the XK X251 instead with FPV kit to be modded with a wider FOV lens.

UNBOXING & QUICK ANALYSIS

PROS

+ Full RTF FPV brushless packaging
+ Still sporty in expert mode despite the 25% extra weight
+ Easier Arming/Disarming sequence
+ 0.01Lux FPV camera with 120 degrees
+ Same X1 radio protocol
+ 10min of flight time
+ Both control & FPV range around 200m

CONS

– Yaw turn command can be not executed
– Still full plastic body structure
– Any radio settings can be ajusted
– 20fps displayed by the FPV monitor
– ~300ms of latency for the FPV monitor
– Interleaved FPV recording
– Heavy FPV kit (44g)
– Slow yaw rate in beginner mode
– Poor instruction manual

RCgroups thread: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2761376

This quadcopter have been courtesy provided by Banggood in order to make a fair and not biased review. I would like to thank them for this attitude.
You can find it actually for 180USD at http://www.banggood.com/JJRC-X1G-5_8G-FPV-With-600TVL-Camera-Brushless-2_4G-4CH-6-Axis-RC-Quadcopter-RTF-p-1081037.html

Cet article TEST: JJRC X1G the FPV version of the JJRC X1 est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!.

View the full article