FPV drones
— frame arm broken 2026-05-16 (signal loss crash, Raadi Lennuväli). Replacement frame + VTX antenna ordered. Active build: [build-2-source-one-v5](builds/build-2-source-one-v5.yaml) (planned). See [open incident](incidents/2026-05-16-arm-break-signal-loss.yaml).
Builds
2026-XX-XX → 2026-05-16
First documented build. Components (FC, motors, VTX, camera, RX, batteries) carried forward into build-2 on Source One v5 frame. See incidents/2026-05-16-arm-break-signal-loss.yaml for crash details.
Frame arm broken on 2026-05-16 (Raadi Lennuväli, flight 5, signal loss crash). Frame migration to TBS Source One v5 — see builds/build-2-source-one-v5.yaml.
2026-06-08 → present
Rebuild after build-1 APEX frame failure. Components migrated from build-1: FC, propellers, batteries, RX, camera, VTX (board only). New: TBS Source One v5 frame, T-Motor F60PRO V 1750kv motors, TBS Triumph Pro U.FL LHCP antenna. Maiden 2026-06-08 — 2 flights, antenna validated, no crashes. Antenna note (RESOLVED): initial order was MMCX (Triumph Pro), but Walksnail Avatar V2 VTX uses U.FL → mismatch. Re-ordered correct U.FL LHCP angled version. Confirmed working on 2026-06-08 flights.
Flight log
| Flight | Duration | Max dist | Signal avg | Low signal % | Delay avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 05:01 | 364m | 3.94 | 0% | 30ms |
| #2 | 04:48 | 293m | 3.88 | 1.2% | 30ms |
First session on new build (Source One v5) after APEX arm-break crash. New VTX antenna installed. Both flights clean — no crashes. Antenna validated: flight 1 zero low-signal, flight 2 only 1.2% low-signal with brief range-edge dips, all recovered. Big improvement over 2026-05-16 crash flight (45.5% low-signal).
| Flight | Duration | Max dist | Signal avg | Low signal % | Delay avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 00:11 | 4m | 3.58 | 12.6% | 30ms |
| #2 | 00:09 | 2m | 3.84 | 0% | 30ms |
| #3 | 00:08 | 2m | 4.00 | 0% | 30ms |
| #4 | 02:36 | 125m | 2.85 | 37.8% | 33ms |
| #5 | 03:18 | 178m | 2.62 | 45.5% | 33ms |
First session at Raadi Lennuväli. Session ended on flight 5 crash due to video signal loss — see incident report.
Incidents
Summary
Video signal loss during flight 5. Lost orientation / unable to recover visually, drone went down. One frame arm broken on impact. Crash itself not captured on video — recording stopped before impact.
Cause
visual_signal_loss · low_signal_pct_45_5, delay_spike_96ms, max_distance_178m, vtx_antenna_pre_damaged
Flight 5 telemetry flagged degraded link: avg signal 2.62, 45.5% samples at signal <=2, delay peaked at 96ms (vs ~27ms normal). Likely combined cause: pre-existing damaged VTX antenna housing (taped) reducing gain at range + 9dBi patches possibly mis-aimed during pass. Healthy Walksnail Avatar V2 should comfortably reach 500m+ LoS; failure at 178m indicates significant antenna degradation.
Damage
- frame_arm (APEX 5-inch arm) — broken
Resolution plan
frame_replacement + vtx_antenna_replacement
- order Source One v5 frame + Triumph Pro antenna (done 2026-05-17)
- await delivery (1-2 working days, Omniva)
- strip electronics from APEX (FC stack, motors, VTX, camera, RX)
- inspect all electronics for hidden crash damage
- mount on Source One v5 (compatible: 30.5x30.5 FC, 16x16 motors, 19mm cam)
- install Triumph Pro antenna (verify LHCP polarization on arrival)
- bench power test before flight
- retune in Betaflight on new frame
- low-altitude hover test, then progressive range test
Data sourced from the personal fpv repo and synced into this site at build time. See scripts/sync-fpv.ts.