Hello,

I am sure this must have come up before, but i thought I would get a quicker answer if I just posted.
Is it worth buying something like this to learn some basics of flying quadcopters ? :
https://robu.in/product/fs-sm600-6ch-usb-controller-with-supersimx-simulator-mode-2/?gclid=CjwKCAjwiOv7BRBREiwAXHbv3HI_g7Jcbabes8BQjGAwZSTRqPXY64R_YPArWiz8nj9Qo03rz4SqSBoCFyoQAvD_BwE

Or what would be the best way to learn to fly quads, model planes etc.

Cheers
Thomas

From what information I can find online, this is like a joystick only and cannot be used to fly actual aircraft/quads.



If you have decided that you want to put in the effort to learn how to fly quads, and later transfer your flying skills to real life flying rc quads. You're better off getting an actual beginner radio.

         1.Get the flysky fs-i6 which comes with an IBUS receiver like IA6B https://robu.in/product/flysky-fs-i6-2-4g-6ch-ppm-rc-transmitter-with-fs-ia6b-receiver/ INR4900
         2.Get the FTDI232 adapter https://robu.in/product/ft232rl-usb-to-ttl-5v-3-3v-download-cable-to-serial-adapter-module-for-arduino/ INR220
         3.Get some jumper cables  https://robu.in/product/10-cm-40-pin-dupont-male-male-male-female-female-female-cable-combo/ INR160

        Now watch this guide https://youtu.be/_lLa6RrWfoQ?t=427   from around 7:07 to setup your controller as a USB joystick wirelessly. This is the best guide that worked for me. I watched a ton of videos and settled on this one.

If you don't know whether you will like flying or not then go the route the simulator and save yourself some 3.5K.

For me the Learning experience was very similar to learning how to ride a bicycle. On day 21/22 something just clicked in my brain , and it felt natural.

I also have the Radiomaster TX16s hall gimbals version, but I prefer the Flysky-Fs-i6 because it's much lighter, and I don't find any difference in performance/accuracy for basic flying yet.
I learnt about rates, PIDs, setup throttle scaling(this is a godsend for unruly quads with too much power), switch multiplexing (for PID tuning/adjusting rates the quad while flying in real life).
Tried out different quads in the simulator, camera angles from 5 to 70 degrees, higher camera angles make you pitch forward more to keep the horizon in the center of the screen, increasing the horizontal thrust vector making you fly faster.
I struggled to control the speed initially, but then you can control the speed to quite an extent by looking at the sky or the floor.
I've found FOV at 110-170 to be a lot easier to fly than lower FOV. Using a lower FOV makes me more twitchy on the sticks.
I now fly at almost linear rates at 400 deg/sec. Make sure this remains constant, because the rates you use will build muscle memory in your fingers.
I used the hybrid-pinch grip style of holding the sticks, gives more control than using just the thumbs like a game controller. This is more of personal choice.

Happy Flying!

I did this for 30 days using Liftoff simulator (about INR 600 on steam) and on day 31 I flew the real thing(a betafpv beta75s tinywhoop INR 5000 from rcmumbai) for the first time.
See how I did on day 1 compared to day 32 here:


30 days of practice
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjiEDJhmMaWU_HbQpPpXUupNTjKMOI35Z

Hi Arul,
Thanks for the time you took in making a really informative post !!

Just a few quick clarifs :
1) So you practiced for about 30days with a flight simulator and not an actual physical drone ? That's some commitment .
2) I would prefer to invest less initially , so I guess I could use the "FS-SM600" with  "Liftoff simulator" till I get enough confidence to go for the real thing ?

Cheers mate and thanks again for your reply!
Thomas

The best way is to buy the TX you plan on using to actually fly the craft, flysky Fs i6 is pretty budget friendly and then you have frsky qx7, jumper and radiomaster which are on the higher end side.

once you have purchased your TX you then need to buy the simulator (USB dongle with aux cable) this system will connect your laptop/desktop with your TX. Phoneix RC is the simulator that you get, this is best suited for fixed wings and helicopter training, it has handful of multirotor so yeah!

The concept of having the actual TX and simulator is to learn the relative orientation of the craft while flying, trying new manuvers  and most importantly muscle memory!

so if you buy a TX specially for flying on sims and use another TX while flying the actual craft then your muscle memory wont work well to get you out of tricky spots!

regards,
Mohammed Naveed

I did try the real physical drone on day 1(because keeda), and immediately realized I couldn't fly it. I stuck to the sim for 30 days.

Yes, if you want to invest less then yes go for "FS-SM600", but do remember that the "FS-SM600" cannot be used to fly real physical drones and will be used with simulator only.
 Of course you can sell it here later, if you decide that flying quads is not for you.



I streamed every practice session live on youtube, just to keep track of my progress.


Thanks,
Arul

Thanks Mohammed,
Great point.
Hi Arul,
Lol @ "keeda"